Classroom Diversity

This week I saw a magazine cover which indicated that an enclosed article was about diversity. The picture on the cover was of a black woman and a white woman smiling and shaking hands. This got me thinking about the definition of diversity. Many people seem to think that diversity is only ethnic diversity. Even in ethnic diversity, we need to remember that our country has many ethnicities, not just black and white. Diversity in the classroom is all kinds of diversity!

When I was in college (way back when), I had a class called Multicultural Education. The class was not as the name suggested. It was really about blacks and whites in the classroom, and black history in America. The class did not discuss any other ethnicities. I also had a class called Exceptionalities in the Classroom. This class was about learning disabilities (recognizing them, knowing what to do to help, and integrating the students into the classroom). The class did not include behavioral issues. That was discussed in Classroom Management. Today I imagine that the behavioral issues would be covered in the Exceptionalities class. Today's teachers need to be prepared for all types of diversity in their classroom, school, and district.

In the classrooms in my area, I have seen all kinds of diversity. Yes, there is a little ethnic diversity in our school district, but other diversities stand out more in my mind. One class had an Amish girl. That's very unusual since the Amish have their own schools. As a substitute teacher, I have no knowledge as to why she is attending public school (and it's none of my business).  There are other religiously diverse students in our area too.  In another school, there are several hearing impaired students. Some of these students need the teacher to wear a wireless microphone which is connected to their hearing aides. In a couple of classes, I had students with Asperger syndrome. In many classes, there are students with various behavioral diagnoses. Even being left-handed makes one diverse! All of these are challenging to the regular classroom teacher as well as the substitute teacher.

Even though I live in a small town, we have very diverse classrooms.  We may not have a very ethnically diverse community, but we are very diverse none the less.  People need to realize that diversity is more than the color of one's skin.  Diversity covers a great deal of areas - more than what I have encountered here or discussed in this post. We can do as these children do: have fun with each other and get along, no matter what makes us different! They see each other for who they are as people, not for what makes them different from each other!

Technology in the Classroom

The use of technology is everywhere today. The classroom is no exception. Students and many teachers like to use technology to help reinforce topics. In the school district where I substitute, the district has been participating in the 21st Century initiative for quite a few years now.  There are smart boards in every classroom, 8-12th graders have a laptop computer that they can take home.  middle school students have use of a laptop in the school, 2-3rd graders also have use of laptops in their schools, and K-1st graders have use of iPads in schools!  Teachers take advantage of this in different ways. As a substitute, I have had to attempt to use these technologies in class!  It's not always done successfully!  Most commonly, students use their computers or iPads during morning work or some other specified time in the day.  They have certain games to play for math and reading.  Sometimes they can use their computers or iPads during indoor recess.  Then they can play other things on them. These devices have apps or bookmarked websites that the students use. Sometimes a computer isn't working properly, and I have to try to help.  Luckily, there are always more computers than students, so I often have them get a different computer to try.

On occasion, I have to make use of this technology.  All the classrooms have some type of Elmo projector to use.  The newer ones are the most user friendly.  One teacher left me instructions on how to use this to project worksheets or textbooks onto the smart board. I was so grateful for that! These instructions helped me in her classroom as well as others that had the newer Elmo projectors.  I'm still trying to figure out how to use the older Elmo projectors.  These must be connected to a school laptop before use.

Other teachers have been helpful in this area.  The carts containing the laptops and iPads are locked every day.  I have always been fortunate enough to have another teacher unlock the one I would need.  Teachers also have helped me to get an Elmo working.  Even with all this help, the technology still does not always work.  Recently, I was to show a video from the internet onto the smart board.  Another teacher set it up for me at lunch, but by the time I needed to show it, the computer had turned off and would not turn back on again!  So no video!  We just moved on with the next part of the lesson!  During another day, the internet wasn't reliable in the school that day!  The teacher I was subbing for had submitted lessons by email to another teacher, but we couldn't get them without the internet!  I came up with a list of things to do for the day based on newsletters, but after we started with this, the email came through.  The students were to work on their laptops for their computer special, but they were having trouble because of the internet issue.

This technology can be a helpful, useful, engaging tool, but sometimes, nothing beats a chalkboard and chalk!

The Custodians are Your Friends

A piece of advice from a teacher friend was to be friendly to the custodians.  They are there for you when you need help the most.  I have taken that advice to heart.

The custodian is always at the school early.  I arrive at the school 45 minutes before I have to be there.  The office staff is not always there that early.  Several times, when I've been in a school that is new to me, the custodian has shown me where my classroom is, where the substitute form is, where the office is, etc.  I am always very friendly to them - smiling, saying hello.

In a first grade classroom, the soap dispenser and the hand sanitizer dispenser were empty.  Luckily, I had a little container of spray hand sanitizer with me.  When the students were lined up for lunch, they held out their hands and I went down the line, spraying every one's hands.  During lunch break, I mentioned the dispensers to the custodian and he happily refilled them.  In a kindergarten classroom, I talked with the custodian about the little ants that were coming in near the carpet (a sign of spring!).  He couldn't do much about that though because of rules related to pesticides.  In a different kindergarten, when a girl got sick, she was, fortunately, right in front of the trash can!  We didn't need the custodian then, but I am sure that if she were needed, she would help!  In yet another kindergarten, twins had a birthday celebration and brought cupcakes!  Cupcakes plus kindergartners equals lots of crumbs!  When snack time was finished and the students went to their special, I found a broom in the closet and swept the floor after wiping off the tables.  Custodians don't have to do it all!

So thanks to the custodians for all your hard work and dedication to the care of the building and its students and staff!  You are appreciated!

That Early Morning Phone Call

In our school district, substitute teachers usually get called to work around 6:15 a.m.  Since I work other part time jobs as well as this one, I have told the district that I am available on Mondays and Thursdays.  So on the night before these days, I try to get to bed earlier than usual in case I get that early call.  Some days I get a call between 7 and 9 a.m.  This call is usually asking me to sub that afternoon only.  In the first part of the school year, I didn't get called very often.  In the months after the New Year, I've been called very often!  Once in a while, I have an early notification for days to sub.  These calls are nice since my family and I can do our planning better for meals, etc.

I understand that in some other school districts, this "early phone call" is done differently.  Some places have their substitutes report every day.  When they are needed in a classroom, they go there.  If they are not needed, then the substitute is assigned office work to do (sorting mail, making copies, etc.)  This way, the district knows that it will have subs for the classrooms, and the subs can count on a regular paycheck.  In some school districts, they post the substitute needs on their website.  Subs have to check this page every day and choose where they want to sub.

It's hard to say what ways work better.  I just know that I need to be ready for that call when it comes!