Sub Plans

I've posted before about the different behavior plans in the classrooms where I sub. Today, I want to write about sub plans. Since every teacher is different and has a diffrent teaching style, it is expected that teachers will have different styles for their sub plans. What amazes me is the vast difference in the amout of details teachers leave.

Since I am a teacher I can pretty much go with the flow no matter what the sub plans, or lack there of, look like. However, I do appreciate plans that give lots of details. When I enter the classroom I want to accomplish everything the teacher has planned for the day. I don't want her to come back the next day to a mess or to find out nothing was done the way she had imagined. With that being said, I am not a mind reader. If you want things done a certain way, please let me know.

Monday I subbed in a Fourth and Fith grade classroom. The teacher had known for over a month that she would be out I know because I had scheduled the day a month in advance. I enter the classroom to find Hand written (or more like scribbled) sub plans that took up 1 1/2 sheets of paper. In fact, I copied them down with this post in mind and in my writing they took up less than one page.

Sub plans for

Monday, April 25

7:30-8:00 Read silently

8:00-8:30 Read Health Pg289-297 answer questions on pg 297

8:30-9:20 Computer Lab/ Special Area

9:20-10:30 Math packets

*Complete and when done read. NO games

10:30-11:20 Science Weekly and finish Health from this morning

11:20 Switch classes

_______________________________________________

11:20-12:05 Math complete Math packet

12:05-12:45 Recess or Lunch

12:45-1:15 Finish Math from ths morning

1:15-1:45 Science Weekly

1:4-2:20 Health Read pg 282-287 discuss and answer ?'s on page 286

That was it. That and a stack of worksheets. Oh yeah and the bus evacuation drill schedule (guess when, right during my planning) No classroom procedures, I had to hunt for her behavior chart. No roster. No seating chart. Not even a "thanks for coming." Obviously her plans left me with a few questions. Especially what she meant my recess OR lucnch. I can only imagine what it would have been like if I wasn't a certified teacher, or if it was my first day subbing. So, I would like to give all of you teachers out there some tip from a sub on what helps us have a productive day.

1. 
   
   Typed sub plans are normally easier to follow double spaced also gives us room to write notes about how the activities went.


2. 
   
   Please leave a list of the classroom procedures (things like entering the classroom, unpacking, sharpening pencils, classroom rules and disipline...)


3. 
   
   Make sure I know what to do about: attendence, homework, tardies, and how to work equipment.


4. 
   
   Make sure I know where to find a roster, dry erase markers, paper, pencils and the emergency kit and procedures.


5. 
   
   A seating chart is wonderful because it allows us to immediately call the students by their name. It also helps with attendance. If you leave a seating chart please make sure it is current. (I've seen some where the room arangement isn't even the same)


6. 
   
   
   

   Please give accurate times for special areas, lunch and recess. Also, let me know what my duties are during these times. Should I sit with the kids, do I have recess duty?


7. 
   
   Finally, please give as much detail as possible when writing your plans. There's no such thing as to many details. Am I supposed to read to them or do they read it? Aloud or silently? Should the work independently, with a partner, or as a whole class? If there's part of an assignment they shouldn't do please let me know, even if it's a section they class normally skips.

There you have it. 7 simple steps to helping ensure your sub has a good day. Many of these things could be typed once and left in a sub folder (just make sure they're still there after each sub visit).

I hope this helps. Let me know what you think!

JoAnne

My happy place

Whenever people say "go to your happy place" most people picture the beach, the mountains, etc... It's normally somewhere far away from their home. I realized this weekend where my happy place is as I was taking these breath taking pictures. That's why it's been so hard for me to say goodbye...

Camp Congaree was a place many Girl Scouts experienced camp for the first time. What a BEAUTIFUL place to fall in love with mother nature!!

And of course I had to have one more S'more before it was all over. I also got ashes of friendship from the fire and we lit eternal flames. I'm really glad I was able to spend one more day out there. Even if I did threaten to sit down on the ground and refuse to leave. Regardless of what our council plans to do in our area, to those of us who grew up doing the "Congaree Wig Walk" there will never be anything close to Camp Congaree.

And the winner is...

Gladys at Once Upon A Time in First Grade! Congratualtions Gladys and thanks for following my blog! Please contact me so I can send you the file. Want a chance to win more goodies? I will have another give-a-way when I reach 10 followers! Thats only three more, so tell your friends :) I hope everyone had a great weekend. I spent Saturday with my two younges nieces and my Daisies at Brownie Daisy fun day. This is a great event that our local girl scout service unit puts on each year for all of the Brownie and Daisy Troops. The girls are split up from the rest of their troop and put into groups with girls they may not know. This years theme was "a day at the fair" so the girls visited 7 stations including facepainting, fishing, ringtoss, balloon pop, bean bag toss, musical chairs, and a pie eating contest(whip cream and sprinkles). After the girls had visited each station they were given a snack of popcorn, chips and cotton candy. The girls LOVED it and made lots of new friends. This coming weekend, I am throwing my girls a surprise party at build-a-bear. I decided to do this for several reasons. I'm not sure if I told you but our local Girl Scout camp was sold and our planned campout was canceled. My girls were heartbroken, we had told them about all of the history at the camp and this would have been many of their first campouts. We decided to have a sleepover at the church where we meet because many of the other camping sites around our town are very pricey. So, I'm using the money we would have used for our cabin rental for the party. My second reason for wanted to do this is so the girls will ALL have a stuffed animal to bring to the sleep over, their won't be any teasing. One of our girls wasn't going to be able to come because Her mom had to go to NY for a play she is in and she was really upset about missing the sleepover. I also thought doing the B.A.B party the week before would work because she could take her bear with her to NY. Her trip has actually been canceled so she will be able to come to the sleep over after all. On a related note, There will be a farewell party at our camp this Sunday giving us a last chance to walk the trails take pictures and sing the songs I grew up singing at that very same camp. Most of my girls will not be going to this event because, even thought they wanted to camp there, they never have before and do not have the attachment to it that many of the older girls and adults have. I hope your week is off to a great start! JoAnne

My first GIVEAWAY!!

Hi everyone, I hope this blog finds you all well. I also hope you'll forgive me for my long absences from blogland especially since I'm about to give one of you a gift :)! I'm currently working on my Sub bag - a tote with must haves for all subs. Lately, I find myself with free time at the end of the school day. I hate giving the kids extra work and depending on the age of the kids independent reading can only last for so long. So, last night I spent a few hours working on what I hope is the first of many projects. I have created a 6-in-1 Math Bingo game! I created a bingo game for up to 26 kids that will work for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. The game contains Calling cards and 26 bingo cards that will adapt for 6 math operations: 1) Number Recognition (1-31) 2) Addition 3) Subtraction without Regrouping 4) Subtraction with Regrouping 5) Multiplication 6) Division I'm sure it could be adapted for even more. So, Who wants a copy? There are two ways to enter!! 1. Become a follower leave a comment on this post. (Or, comment and let me know that you are already a follower) 2. Mention my blog or this giveaway on your blog, then comeback and leave a comment letting me know! This giveaway will end at midnight this Sunday and I will do my best to announce the winner Monday. I hope you all have a great weekend! JoAnne