Deciphering a Classroom

To pop into a classroom for a day or half day, a substitute teacher needs to be able to figure out how the classroom is organized as well as the routine in the classroom.  Written out agendas from the classroom teacher is extremely helpful!  In my experience so far, I have had these agendas on most of the days.  On a few of the subbing days, I have only had a post-it note.  Sometimes I only use the formal lesson plans.  Having a written agenda is most helpful to me because it has the most information included.

After finding and reviewing the plans for the day, I usually walk around the room looking for a class list (if one was not in a sub folder or agenda), lunch count and attendance routines, behavior chart(s), class helpers, and bus schedule for dismissal.  I also look for teacher manuals, worksheets and other materials.  I often find these things.  Sometimes I have a hard time finding the materials for the day: teacher manuals, worksheets and other materials.

Often another teacher nearby stops in to see if I am finding things alright.  That is very kind and helpful! The custodians are very nice and helpful too! They are usually in the building early, and I try to get to the classroom at least 40 minutes before the students are due in the room.  So I am there early too!

Of course, crazy things can happen!  One time, there were no plans at all in the room! The teacher obviously was not expecting to be out. The internet wasn't working in the school either.  Another teacher found plans from the previous week, so I at least had times and subjects.  We found a class newsletter for the week, and a specials list too.  Based on these things, I was able to come up with a plan for the day.  Luckily, after I had started the day, the teacher who was helping me was able to connect to the internet and printed off the agenda the teacher had emailed!  On another day, I couldn't find the science book with the desert pictures in it for the students to see during the science lesson.  During lunch and recess, I searched the many books in the room for one on deserts! I did find one and found a way to use it with the lesson!

A substitute teacher has to be ready for anything and be flexible to adjust to the ways of the school and the classroom!

First Day on the Job - Kindergarten!

After graduating from college way back in 1992, I was a substitute teacher in three school districts in eastern Pennsylvania. My husband and I began our family and moved to Punxsutawney.  With no one to babysit on an as needed basis, I found other work while my children grew up.  Now I am back on the substitute teacher list!  The 2015/2016 school year is my first school year subbing since those first years after college!  A lot has changed in 20 years!

My first day as a substitute teacher in Punxsutawney was in the beginning of September, only 8 school days into the year.  I was assigned to a kindergarten for the morning!  That was quite an experience! The class size is large, and there are several students who have a TSS worker with them.  Being so early in the school year, these kindergartners didn't know their way around the school, the routine of the classroom, how to behave in class (raising hands, not talking when others are talking, etc.).  This was quite a challenge!  Luckily the lunch room was just across the hall, so the student delivering the lunch count found her way.  The students didn't know where the nurse was to deliver the attendance list.  I just kept the list, and someone from the office came down for it!  One boy had a severe case of separation anxiety.  He had a note in his folder from his mom reminding him that she loves him. It was very sweet, but when he saw it, he started to cry.  He told everyone at his table that his mother died that morning!  I didn't know about the separation anxiety, so his story and crying made me anxious!  Luckily, one of the classroom helpers came in and told me about his issue!  The students at his table were quite supportive of him (when they thought his mom died).  They offered condolences in their own ways.  He would have moments of not crying, but anything could set him off.  His little post-it note from his mom tore.  He came up to me crying about it until I taped it.  We were in the hallway, lined up at the bathroom, when he saw a picture of his brother on the wall.  He started crying about that too!  I was glad that this day was only a half day!  

I was in this classroom two months later, and it was such a difference!  They knew the routine, where places were in the building, how to act in class!  Crying boy wasn't crying anymore - he was smiling and happy!  

Kindergarten teachers have a very difficult job!  They lay the foundation for all the students for their entire school career!  Thank you kindergarten teachers!