No Teacher Tip nor a Sound Off last week-end and I apologize. As most of you know
all three of you, there are definite hazards to teaching. The first being all the BAJILLION of unidentifiable
grody germs that we are exposed to on a daily basis. The other is the extreme exhaustion and feeling of being overwhelmed in the midst of fighting the valiant battle against those germs!
Ah, yes! Ms_Teacher had a cold. It is one that is finally starting to reluctantly leave its host. I stayed home on Monday, but seriously, I probably could
should? have stayed out for at least another day. The good news is that for the most part my students were relatively well-behaved for the sub, which I attribute much of that to the sub that I had. She was good or as the kids put it, she made them work and didn't put up with anything.
The best part for me when I came back to school on Tuesday? Her copious notes of the few students who managed to give her a hard time. I cannot stress this enough. If you are sub, please, please let the teacher know WHO caused you problems. Sometimes I have subs who
are lazy or out of their minds I think want to be "friends" with 6th graders and so, will tell students they will not put their names down as long as they are good for the last 2 minutes
second? miliseconds? of class. Seriously! It doesn't help me as a teacher to address the situation if the sub doesn't let me know who is causing problems. If anything, it just creates more problems for the next sub who comes into the classroom.
This next week, I will be out of class two days! The first day is for bargaining and the second is to attend a conference. I am so
willing to do almost anything hoping that I get the sub I had this past Monday for both days.
So how are YOU doing?
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16 comments:
Glad to hear you are feeling better. The downfalls of being a teacher is that we catch whatever is floating around the schools. :-)
Our subs in our school are HORRIBLE! They are inappropriate with the kids, never do any of the work that we leave for the kids to do, and things are always missing from desk or room when I return. And, they try to be friends with the kids (just like at your school). I don't get it . . . don't the kids have enough friends in their life???
Everyone is sick here too and the kids have had so many subs in the last few weeks.
When I sub, I tell the kid who is causing problems that I am writing them up and exactly for what behavior. I tell them that if they wish to remove their name from my list they have to dramatically improve their behavior. When I write my note to the teacher, I write down any and all incidents from the day including if the student shaped up for the rest of the day. I think it's always important to document everything, how it was handled, and the resolution to the class period/day.
Hope you feel better!
I will follow your advice since I will probably start out subbing next year.
I do as Cassie does--immediate, appropriate punishment for the infraction. My students know in advance that any infractions against a substitute result in hour detentions. It certainly helps; however, there are only three subs that I request that do the job correctly. They follow my plans, which are usually more than enough for the time alloted, and they complete a comment form that I leave regarding student behavior.
My biggest frustration is the number of days that the administration asks you to be out of school in our district. We have eight staff development days in our contract, and they are still insisting, in some cases, additional work beyond those.
My children have been sick all week; my five-year-old with double ear infections, and my three-year-old with walking phnemonia. Now, I can feel that my turn is coming. Having strong subs is important after putting hours into a lesson plan for them to follow.
I'm glad you're getting better!
Glad you're feeling better. I hope you were able to suffer through a good book or some brain-rotting daytime tv while you were home.
Wouldn't be nice if you could infect the problem children so they might be gone for a few days?
Glad you're feeling better. As to how I'm doing, I have a week off, but with the knowledge that going back to school will mean the announcements of upwards of 40+ positions in our district (almost the same in most of the neighboring districts) will be gone with the budget crisis. I am too close to the bottom not to be full of anxiety, but there are people who are in worse states all over NY.
Oh the germs! I walk around with hand sanitizer!
Feel better soon!
I'm in college getting a degree in middle grade education. I hope my future students will realize how important school work is and help their subs understand what needs to be done and do it without giving him/her trouble!
Here is a great tip since the flu season is here, and kids are no doubt spreading germs around! There is a new program out there to teach young children: Germy Wormy Germ Awareness for Germ Transportation Vehicles ages 2 –7! It is a mom-invented and safe way for them to learn how to both avoid AND keep from spreading germs around. Schools and daycare centers are raving about it!
http://www.germywormy.com Give kids a PLACE to give their germs to – instead of you!
I am terrible--I leave notes for a sub with the names of the trouble-makers and tell her/him to call out their names and to tell them I am expecting a report on them. This has worked with at least one kid.
There's nothing to do about the subs who do nothing, except never leave a quiz, which I learned the hard way. He made it into a group project.
Take care of your cold. And, just like with our own kids, we can't control every situation. Leave the plans and leave for the day.
I am a first year teacher suffering through my first illness. The doctor said that I am going to have to miss tomorrow in addition to today. I live in fear of what my 6th grade English and Language Arts class hass done to my room. Our subs are not the greatest, but they try to do the best they can. We have to call our own subs, and I think that I picked a good one. I am just upset that I am missing two days of class time with the writing test for the state coming up so fast.
I've been on vacation! And I was out scoring the state exam for 4 days total in the 2 weeks prior! So I hope I remember how to teach :p
This is simply wonderful. I never knew how to use that 'strikethrough' in a web page. Wonderful.
I am an English professor and translator from India. Please see my blog, http://issuesinacademics.blogspot.com
Roomy Naqvy
I agree with the laziness of subs today. At times it does seem as if they want to be "friends" with the students and not act like an authority figure.
I hope to remember, if I ever sub, to write every detail down of what happened in the classes.
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