Attention Grabbers

Wow, it's been a month since I posted here. But honestly, that's the time it's been between my sub jobs. It's not like the phone hasn't been ringing, it has, almost off the hook. I just haven't been able to take anything. That's one of the things I LOVE about substituting: there's no backlash for not being able to take a job. At least that's what everyone tells you. This is becoming more the likely with the automated sub calling systems. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't have any qualms about telling a computer "No." I always felt bad telling a person, and even when I'm already booked, I still feel bad telling a person, versus the computer.

Anyway, I wanted to write today about Attention Grabbers.

As the substitute teacher, you may or may not know how the regular classroom teacher gets the attention of the students. Not knowing how to get the attention of the students can be rather scary at first. You can always fall back on the basics of clapping a rhythm and having the class repeat it. Or you could flick the lights. Or you could count to a certain number. These all have their pros and cons. For me, well, I've decided to try something different.

I came across this post on Pinterest:

So I decided to give it a try with my next upper grade class. I figured something like the McDonald's one or the Goodbye one would well with them. So this past week, I taught fifth grade and gave it a try. There was another one that the kids came up with:

Teacher: Red Robin

Students: Yum!

Now there is a reason I wanted to try it on an upper grade class. The reason is because I knew it would take a little explaining that even though these were fun and different, I was still trying to get their attention. So when they would reply, they would have to be quiet afterwards. I would have to say, it worked pretty well. I would suggest picking a few and keeping it simple. Something like "Goodbye" may not go over well. The only student in the class I was in that knew the correct response was probably one who spent some time at football games. (She was wearing a cheerleader top on Friday for Spirit Day.) Something like "Great Balls of Fire" probably wouldn't work without snickers in a fifth grade classroom. Not to mention the kids may not know the song. Kids may also not know "ABC." I decided to go with the most recognizable ones since I was substituting only for one day. This way, I wouldn't have to have them remember something totally different.

There are some of these attention grabbers that would work really well with younger kids. I might try them the next time I'm in a younger classroom. I'll see how that goes when it comes.

Mrs. C

The Sub Bag

One of your biggest tools as a substitute (besides your knowledge) is your Sub Bag. It is literally "Mary Poppins Carpet Bag." Remember how Mary Poppins had all those AMAZING things in her bag? Well, you should too!

The inside of my Sub Bag.

I decided this year, that I wanted to change my bags. I was tired of the messenger bag. And instead decided to use the backpack I had bought several years ago when I was pregnant with my son to take back and forth to school.

 Now here is what is in my Sub Bag:

1. Office Supplies! I LOVE Post-It Notes. They are awesome for leaving notes for the teacher on papers and on the lesson plan itself. Maybe there was something the students didn't understand on a worksheet. Post-It! Something you didn't get finished? Post-It! I have different sizes and colors. I also have pens, scissors, an Expo Marker, a highlighter, a stapler, a small ruler and paper clips.

2. Mini First Aid Kit! This was given to me by the county in which I substitute in. It's a little first aid kit with band aids and gauze. Plus there is an emergency care guide so I know what to do until help arrives! This is AWESOME!

3. Name Tags and Filler Paper! I don't use name tags in any grade except Kindergarten. And the only reason I use them there is because usually in a Kinder class, the kids are moving around SO MUCH to different centers and activities that I can't seem to keep them straight. I also only do this the FIRST time I substitute in a Kinder class. The filler paper I have is wide ruled. I hate wide ruled paper, but most classrooms use it, so I always have some in my bag, just in case.

4. Clipboard! A clipboard has literally been the best thing I have had. The first thing I do is clip the day's lesson plans on it. I also usually make a seating chart (if one wasn't left for me) and attach that too. This way I have both things to refer back to. On my clipboard currently is a game I found here! (Rick Morris's ones have cool backgrounds. These are just printed on plain paper so I can put them up on the document camera.)

5. Extra Stuff to Do! This book literally has saved my day sometimes. I don't know if it's still available in print, but I found it at a yard sale years ago. It's got all different kinds of games and HOW TO PLAY THEM! This is important. Want to know how to REALLY play tether ball? This book will tell you!

I also have file folders of extra stuff to do. I'm lucky. I have access to a copy machine. (Husband bought it for me when I was preparing for a long term sub.) So I usually have extra things to do already printed. This folder has stuff I have stolen borrowed from other teachers. If you're wondering about the Post-It Notes (I told you I loved them!) inside, well, that was a seating chart of one of the class I frequented a couple years ago. If you are going to be subbing the same class a lot (say, a teacher REALLY likes you), I highly recommend this. I put every student's name on a different Post-It and put them where they were sitting. this way, when I went back, I could just move the Post-It to where their new seat location was. Another thing I keep in my file folders is my Note Sheet. I created one specifically to leave for teachers. The biggest thing on my Note Sheet is that it has my phone number and email address. I feel this is important because it allows the teachers direct access to you if they have a question. (And yes, I have had a few teachers call me DIRECTLY to see if I could substitute in their classrooms.)

6. Rewards/Discipline System! Let's face it, not every classroom you walk into is going to have an easily displayed or understandable discipline systems. Some classrooms I have been in don't have one at all! (Hail to those teachers!) But as for me, well, I like to use tickets, especially in grades 3-6. This seems to work well on several levels. I start out by telling the students that they will get tickets throughout the day for being on task, answering questions, helping, and whatever other behaviors I want to spotlight. I instruct the students to put their name on the back (I don't need addresses and phone numbers as some of the tickets state) and to leave them on the corner of their desk. Several times during the day, I pick up all the tickets I see and put them in my bag. (I like the Starbucks handled bag because I can fold it up and fit it in my bag.) At the end of the day, I draw 5-6 names for a reward. (Usually pencils, but I'm a little low right now, so I threw in some stickers as well.) With this system, I have never had issues with a class pushing their limits. Handing out tickets means I have to keep moving around the room a majority of the time, so I am in close proximity to the students most of the day and thus stopping a lot of behaviors before they start. Not to mention, all the students want to win whatever it is I have and they know the more they behave, the more chances they will get.

7. Books! These are two of my favorite picture books to read to students. I love them because they deal with students having a substitute teacher and there are so many things you can do with them.

8. Business Cards! Okay, I'll admit, I didn't want to give this trade secret up, but when I went to training three years ago, the trainer was the first one to say something about it! Dang! Oh well. Now, you could go and buy business card paper and print your own, or you could do what I did: go to a print shop. I got a box of 500 cards for under $40 and they were professionally done and I didn't have to sit there and figure out how to do it. The other great thing about working with a local print shop is they MIGHT do all the letter head and business cards for the local schools. (Mine did!) So they'll know what color the schools are using for THEIR business cards and be able to help you choose something to stand out, which is what you want if you want jobs.

Now that you know what I keep in mine, what do you keep in yours?

Mrs. C

Welcome to the New School Year

First off, welcome to my new blog.

A little bit about me: I'm a credentialed (licensed) teacher in the state of California. Unfortunately, I am no teaching full time right now. That is why this blog is called Teacher Without a Classroom. I am currently a substitute teacher in something like 4 counties. Yes, this means I travel quite a bit when I'm subbing.

I am also a part time librarian in a small town. This gives me about two to three days a week to substitute. This works wonders for me. It supplements my income from substituting, which to be honest, isn't a whole lot these days.

The school year officially started about two weeks ago (well three for one school district I sub in). Of course, it take a little while for the phone to start ringing once the school year starts. So far, I believe I have had 5 calls. I have only taken one job. Why? Well, the answer has to do with my job as a librarian and my daycare situation. Like I stated earlier, I can sub about two to three days a week. Therefore, if I get a call on a day I'm already working, it's obviously going to be a "No" to the sub caller (which in most cases here is an automated system). There was also a job that was on a day when my husband works and as of this point in the school year, my daycare provider is full most days of the week. This is a problem that I know come later on in the school year will rectify itself. Otherwise, I am available to sub.

So, I got a job the other day for tomorrow. So I thought this would be a great time to go over some tips for being a substitute teacher:

1. Do whatever you can the night before. This is important because sometimes schools will call you and leave you very little time before the school day starts to actually get ready and get there. So pack your lunch the night before (especially if you know you are going to be subbing the next day). Also, lay out your clothes. If you don't know if you are going to be subbing, keep a section in your closet with clothes that are appropriate for teaching.

2. Check your Sub Bag of Tricks. Many teachers tell you they have a "bag of tricks" to pull from. Most of the time, these are figurative. With substitutes, this is a literal bag of tricks. I like to have lots of different things available at my fingertips: including office supplies, a form for the teacher to let them know how the day went, goodies (in the form of educational type things) for the kids, a couple of books, and various other things.

3. Keep a calendar. Whether you sub in lots of school districts like I do, or you just have a lot going on, a calendar can be your best friend. I keep one in my bedroom near my bed. Mine is even color coded so I know what days my husband is working and what days I'm working where. This way, when you get that call that wakes you up at five in the morning, you can quickly check and see if your available.

4. Stick to the plan. This is by far the biggest piece of advice I can give you. As a classroom teacher, I had any number of substitutes. Some were awesome, some weren't. The ones that weren't were the ones that didn't do what I had laid out and instead did their own thing. The classroom teacher probably took a lot of time to lay out what she wanted you to do. Remember, you are there filling in for the regular classroom teacher. In general, students will lose at least one, if not two days of learning whenever there is a substitute. Do you best to stay with the plan so that the students don't fall behind their peers.

5. Be flexible! This is the biggest thing I can say about being a substitute. There will be days when things will happen that you are not prepared for and are not in the plan. For example: fire drills. So try to go with the flow and relax. The calmer you are, the calmer the students will be.

Mrs. C