Education Short List

Okay, so you’ve gone through the whole process and now you are about to start your first day of subbing. Here are some pointers and tips to get you through the first day, as well as the others, without a snag.

1. Show up early
a. Most schools ask that you be there 30 minutes prior to the start of school. From my experience, it would be wise to be there at least 45 minutes early. You will appreciate that extra time to get settled. You also don’t know what surprises could be waiting for you (aka, morning duty) that would take away from your prep time.

2. Eat lunch in the teachers’ lounge
a. Although it may sound overwhelming to go into the ‘teachers’ lounge; it’s a smart move for your career as a substitute teacher. Here you will learn more about the teacher and class of students you are working with, You can ask questions, seek advice or assistance; but most importantly is this. By making yourself know to other educators and instructors – you will have a greater likelihood of getting on those teachers preferred substitute pick list.
b. If you are subbing in a school you are familiar with (live near, have children that go to school there, etc) make sure to keep all conversation on a professional course. You don’t want to engage in gossip; you never know who you could be talking to or about. Plus, you don’t want to ruin your chances of being asked to come back to the school.
c. Play Meet and Greet with all staff and faculty that you meet along the way. Make your presence known on the campus; these could be your future co-workers; but at least, for today, they are your guidance to a successful day.

3. Notes for you, Notes for the Teacher
a. This is the biggest portion for me, as an educator. By leaving detailed notes of what you accomplished and what happened today – you are helping me to then be able to flow seamlessly into the next day. But when I don’t know how the previous day went, I spend more time the next day, before each class, playing catch up.
b. Be sure to also take detailed notes for yourself. Mention the students you liked or didn’t; what you liked about the classroom, things that you would take away from the day and put into your own room. Make notes of the school environment, other teachers, principal and school staff. These are all valuable points to note, especially if you plan on being a teacher in the future.
c. On a side note, I spent 4 years substituting. So these pointers come from solid experience.

4. Remember It’s Not Your Room
a. Act like a guest in your best friend’s parent’s house. It may not be your taste, but it’s still someone’s home right now. Be respectful of the way it is laid out and set up. Realize too, that the teacher isn’t always aware of what you, as a new person, need in the room. Take your time to find books and paper; ask the students for assistance – or another teacher.

5. Bring some time filler activities
a. Find time during the day to play with the students, or offer free time
b. It’s been my experience that having a few extra activities that can fill empty time are always a plus. These activities have been successful for me. Play around the world with math flashcards, give extra recess, have quiet reading time, for younger kids read them a story, have them clean up the room for candy.
c. Teachers know that some lesson can run fast or be longer than they anticipated. But it’s easier for the classroom teacher to deal with that than it is for a substitute. For that reason, it’s good to have some time fillers.
d. You could use the ‘Caterpillar Game’ http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Caterpillar-Word-Game

6. Know Your Audience
a. These students sitting before you are excited to have you there; skeptical of what you are going to make the day like, and hoping to get away with things that their regular teacher wouldn’t let them.
b. Now to the reason why you are there – the students. Think back to when you were in school and how thrilled you were to have a substitute teacher. These students sitting in front of you are thinking exactly the same thing. Furthermore, these students’ main teacher knows exactly what their students are thinking too.
c. Keep in mind that you are there to teach, not to dictate. Don’t take an iron first approach; but don’t walk in wanting to be their best friend. If you want to make a career in education, or subbing, know that teacher recommendations – not student ones – are the ones that get you back in the classroom.

7. Bring Your Own Lunch
a. Kind of seems like a ‘duh’ but you would be surprised at how many people waste their lunch town scrambling to find something to eat. By already having your lunch, it allows to you eat and relax with the other educators. Plus you will have time to get prepared for the on-goings in the afternoon.

Remember to relax and breathe. It’s almost a guarantee that there will be a surprise the first day; and it’s almost as likely that no one but you will notice it. I really believe that subbing is a fantastic way to get into education. I learned more from my days as a sub on how to be a teacher than I did through the whole of my graduate school program.

Another blog that I like that discusses how to become a teacher and substitute teaching is Road to Teaching, http://roadtoteaching.com/

This past weekend The New York Times ran two articles about the company Teachers Pay Teachers. One singing the praises of the company, the other questioning the right of educators to sell their lesson plans and other classroom tools. What are your thoughts?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/education/15plans.html?_r=2&hp

http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/education/15plans.html?scp=3&sq=winnie%20hu&st=cse

Here is my account on their site, Teachers Pay Teachers

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Rosshalde-Pak-4/About-Me

This is an article I wrote last month about Teachers Pay Teachers.

http://educationshortlist.com/2009/10/teachers-pay-teachers-website-review/

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/

Something new that I am going to be doing on this blog is to do website reviews. The title gives it away really, but it’s going to be going through the pros and cons of working with this site. If you ever have a recommendation for a site review, I’d be happy to look at it.

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Teachers Pay Teachers

Here is a really fantastic resource for educators, or previous instructors. I stumbled upon it about six months ago. I consider it to be like an Ebay for educators. They call it, “an open marketplace for teachers.” Basically you can post lessons, worksheets, any education-related tools on there. Then you decide if you want to sell them for a price or for free. For each item sold, you earn money.

The two things that I love about this forum is that, one – I can find reliable and tested products from real educators. And two, that I can show my wares and creations to other teachers to earn a little extra moola.

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Here is my profile on Teachers Pay Teachers

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Rosshalde-Pak-4

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/

Here is a game that I created when I was a substitute teacher and I needed a time filler. Eventually this game became a tool that I used in the classroom on a periodic basis; and now I use it as an instructional tool for tutors and other teachers.

I call it ‘The Caterpillar Word Game.’

First I will tell you the directions, then ways to expand upon it for your own classroom and students.

Step 1: Find a polysyllabic word
The one I started out with was Caterpillar (thus the name of the game). I’ve also used kindergartners, discombobulated, antidisestablishmentarianism, lightheartedness, misanthropic, philanthropic, etc.

A. I always used a word that had multiple syllables, as the students are more likely to make more word combinations out of it. There is also a likelihood that the students may not know the larger word, and this provides teachers with an opportunity to teach their class on how to say the larger word and to learn its meaning.

Step 2: Give your students the rules
The Rules are as follows: [I will use ‘caterpillar' for examples]
A. Use only these letters [pill is OK, map is NOT]
B. Letters can be put in any order [later]
C. All words have to be at least three letters [tap]
D. No proper nouns [Cate]
E. English language only words (or whatever particular language you are working on) [eta]
F. No foul language
G. Brains are your only resource; no dictionaries or friends to help

Also, make sure that for the word you start out with, you provide your students with an example of each rule. This helps them, especially when it is the first time, to comprehend what it is that they are doing.

Step 3: Time out the lesson
Designate how much time you will allow your students to work on it. For me, I used it for 30 minutes at a time, or in the afternoons after state-mandated testing. Give your students an amount of time that works for your needs.

Step 4: Decide on a prize for the winner
Here, I always had two stages of winning.
A. The person who has the most correctly spelled words will be allowed to decide what we do for P.E. this afternoon
B. If there is someone who has found more correct words that I, the teacher, you will decide what we do for the rest of the day, or math class tomorrow, etc.

To view the product and purchase it, click here:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Caterpillar-Word-Game