Sunday, February 26, 2017

Substitute Teacher Top 10 Tips

 http://teacherink.blogspot.com/2017/02/10-tips-for-substitute-teacher.html
Did you ever wonder how a great substitute teacher got to be that way?  

Whether you’re a sub, or a regular teacher setting up a sub binder, you want tips and lots of 'em!

Ready? Here are my top 10 tips for a sub, AKA your Crash Course for Great Subbing: 
 http://teacherink.blogspot.com/2017/02/10-tips-for-substitute-teacher.html
1)  Be safe. That means good behavior management and routines. You'll want to give clear, specific instructions for every action, starting from the moment your kids enter the room. You'll describe and demo each routine, let one kid try it, then a few kids, and finally the whole class. 

Be sure to have a "stop" signal to bring the kids back to attention. You can say, "Give me five, four, three, two, one," with a hand raised and each finger lowered in turn; or say “Ready to Rock?” and have kids answer “And Roll!” Or you can briefly turn off the lights.

Safety goes double when you move through public spaces like the hall or cafeteria. Try walking backward at the head of the line. Trust me, it works. You don't want to be the sub with a cloud of wild children trailing you. 
 Class Rules - Renee Dawn
2)  Make a personal connection. Tell a story about yourself, and ask kids to say something about themselves. Tell a joke. Don't think of yourself as a "sub!" You're "the teacher for the day," so try to make it enjoyable—even inspiring

Find the regular teacher’s Sub Tub. Yes, they'll call it that, or a Sub Folder or wall chart. Look for a behavior guide, seating chart, and lineup list; or make your own, and call the kids by name. Remind them that their regular teacher will get a full report, and will be happy to hear they were wonderful.
 http://teacherink.blogspot.com/2017/02/10-tips-for-substitute-teacher.html
3)  Teach! Follow the regular teacher’s lesson plans, whenever possible. Give a mini-lesson and instructions for work, then circulate to help kids stay on-task. Want to keep your sanity? Feel free to differentiate. For instance, allow one child to focus on artwork and another to write more words.
  http://teacherink.blogspot.com/2017/02/10-tips-for-substitute-teacher.html
4)  Pack a tote. Bring a few fun books, graphic organizers, and enough high-interest lessons to last a day, in case you need them. You can celebrate a holiday or season with a book, art, writing or simple craft. Also, pack sharp pencils, stickers, rewards, a 6" sponge ball for a quiet-pass game, baby wipes, a flash drive with PDF lesson files, music and educational videos, a laptop with speakers; water and a snack for you. Yep, better to be over-prepared.
   http://teacherink.blogspot.com/2017/02/10-tips-for-substitute-teacher.html
5)  Be organized. Ask yourself, “What absolutely must get done?” Take attendance and collect notes for the teacher. Watch the clock; be on time for lunch, specialty classes, and dismissal. Leave plenty of time for transitions. If you find you have extra time, you can do a quick “bell ringer” activity, sing, chant lines from the lesson, or do callbacks.  
 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Counting-1-100-Song-MP3-1413676
This relaxing Counting Song MP3 is Included 
In Your Sub Kit

6)  Be flexible. Extend or shorten a lesson, and take a brain break to calmor energizethe class. Let kids dance to a pop song, or breathe deeply and massage their own faces.
   http://teacherink.blogspot.com/2017/02/10-tips-for-substitute-teacher.html
7)  Be kind. Let the kids earn game-time, extra recess, or a quiet-ball pass, with good behavior. It's easy. Just keep adding dots to a paper game-board and the kids'll perk right up. Every 20 dots they can win a brain break, like jumping in place twenty times. One of the best “rewards” is to say, “Thank you for helping to make the day rock!”  
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Management-Reward-Tags-FREEBIE-4029920
These Reward Tags are stylish, fun, easy, and effective behavior management tools that kids will love! 

8)  Ask for help. Ask the kids where to find things, or how the routines go. Ask an organized child, or ask the class. Say, “Raise your hand if you know…” Of course, ask another teacher if necessary.
   http://teacherink.blogspot.com/2017/02/10-tips-for-substitute-teacher.html
9)  Don’t raid the shelves. Please...don't use up the class supplies, crafts, pre-printed worksheets, or specialty notebooks unless the teacher requests it. You may use plain copy paper if there’s plenty of it, or bring your own.
  http://teacherink.blogspot.com/2017/02/10-tips-for-substitute-teacher.html
10)  We'll end with the Golden Rule: Respect the regular teacher’s room. It goes without saying, right? Leave it clean and tidyand don’t leave open food containers, torn posters, or running electrical equipment. Give each child half a baby wipe to make the desktops gleam at the end of the day. Remember to leave a “While you were out” note, with a summary of the day and your contact info.

 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Substitute-Teacher-Guide-Substitute-Teacher-Plans-and-Printables-2894188
…And one for the road:
 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Substitute-Teacher-Guide-Substitute-Teacher-Plans-and-Printables-2894188
Substitute Teaching is a language that you can learn to speak fluently. You can master this—be prepared, firm, flexible, and kind all at once.  
 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Substitute-Teacher-Guide-Substitute-Teacher-Plans-and-Printables-2894188
Whether it's your first year subbing, or you simply want a step-by-step guide for taking control of a classroom, I can help show you the way.

NOT JUST FOR SUBS. Are you a regular teacher? This makes a great refresher course, or a sub binder for the days you're absent, with lessons that will last a full year.
 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Substitute-Teacher-Guide-Substitute-Teacher-Plans-and-Printables-2894188

I’m a New York City public school teacher with over twenty years’ experience. I’ve observed hundreds of subs and teachers in action, and was a sub myself for three years prior to teaching full time. Now it’s my pleasure to pass along all I’ve learned to you.

The Ultimate Guide for the Substitute Teacher includes hundreds of tips, teacher scripts, lessons, and printables that you can use all year.
  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Substitute-Teacher-Guide-Substitute-Teacher-Plans-and-Printables-2894188
  As always, I'm wishing you all the best! 

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Number Chart Robots with Bling

Number Chart Robots with Bling...
...were just the thing I needed for my 100th Day of School celebration.

I knew kids would be portaging 100th Day Projects twice their size...
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/100th-Day-of-School-Activities-and-Mask-1643780
...with pieces falling off and needing re-gluing.  

So I set up a "Do Now" to give me time to organize their displays.

I showed them my easiest Number Chart Robot up on the SMARTboard.  I said they should color the same number-squares that are colored here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Number-Chart-1-100-Number-Chart-Robots-2012880
Will you color number 1?  No!  Number 2?  No!  Number 3?  No!   Number 4?  No!   Number 5?  Yes!  That's all they needed to get started.

I said, you can color the head one color and the body, arms and legs another color.  Or, you can color each square differently.  You can even draw a design inside a square before you color it--like a heart or a star--with your pencil.

Who wants a fancier--and more difficult--robot?  I named a few kids, and said, "I'll bet you'd like this one!"  I handed them a printout of a complex robot to re-create.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Number-Chart-1-100-Number-Chart-Robots-2012880
Then I handed out blank number charts, and the kids got busy.  Some kids huddled together on the floor to try a trickier robot, and to help each other out.  A couple of kids messed up the first time, but they all made a robot--and were thrilled to pieces over it.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Number-Chart-1-100-Number-Chart-Robots-2012880

They were even more thrilled over the bling we added later in the day.


And they seemed pleased with the shabby-grunge vibe they got from sloppy coloring--born from excitement to start the activities of the 100th Day.    

I noticed that some kids will focus more on the number sense with their creative robot variations.  Others might concentrate on story-telling, and burn up a trail on the fancy lined paper included.  And there's always the show-stopper who will groom, adorn and accessorize like it's a red-carpet event.  That's differentiation, folks, and kids eat it up like candy.  

We'll do Number Chart Robots again sometime!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Number-Chart-1-100-Number-Chart-Robots-2012880

 Number Chart Robots r dawn

 Number Chart Robots R Dawn

 Number Chart Robots R Dawn

 Number Chart Robots R Dawn

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Number-Chart-1-100-Number-Chart-Robots-2012880

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Number-Chart-1-100-Number-Chart-Robots-2012880

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Life at Home Printables

Life at Home Printables were so useful to me, I'm giving them away, but only to you--my loyal homies:

Life at Home Printables

THEY'RE FREE THROUGH PRESIDENTS WEEK - and if you do download them, won't you kindly leave a feedback comment - Thank you!

We read Life at Home: Then and Now, as part of our ReadyGen Reading Program.  I needed high-interest, differentiated activity sheets, so voila!  


A home outline for kids to draw and label activities in a home, then and now--two pictures of each.

The advanced kids also wrote a sentence on the bottom: I prefer this or that, because... (and yes, one kid preferred using a washing board 'cause then he could sing while he washed--FUN!!)
You could also use this as a unit assessment, or for drawing family members: draw one or more person in each room, or draw family members doing different activities in each room.

I differentiated:

  • Group 1 used the house outline  
  • Group 2  drew a unique house, free-style, using the empty border sheet and inspired by the house outline  
  • Group 3 drew a smaller picture, and wrote extra on the lined paper provided 
One caveat: I always tell the other groups that they can take a house outline later, at centers time.  They all want one.

Hey, this also works for Presidents Day--you know, comparing life in colonial times and now.  Hmmm...would kids actually prefer life back then?

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Valentine's Day Paper Bag Robots

Valentine's Day Paper Bag Robots sound like heaven to me...

Valentine's Day Craft Robot
  ...and to my kids!
  Valentine's Day Robot Craft
A simple card would've been easier for everyone--but not nearly as memorable.

This is an action figure.  Kids practiced talking with robotic voices, saying "I...love you for-ever...Mom," while moving their robot heads with their hands.

Valentine's Day Robot Craft

It was pretty easy.  I pre-cut the rectangles to fit the head and the body, and one heart per child (six hearts per 9 X 12" paper).  Then I cut scrap rectangles that the kids could cut up for arms, legs, buttons, hats, antennae, etc.

I showed them how to put glue on the top of the bag, and place the head.  Then put glue on the bottom of the bag, and add the body.  Next, a heart.  And finally, the robot details.
Valentine's Day Robot Craft
Angry Bird eyes, yellow shark fin, and patched up heart, anybody?

In the last few moments of class I improvised a song:

I'm in love
I'm in love
I'm in love with a Love-Bot

One kid spontaneously added a high falsetto tag line, which we all took to like Motown Masters.

I'm in love (Can you feel?)
I'm in love (Can you feel?)
I'm in love with a Love-Bot

That's what Valentine's Day is all about, folks. 
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sight-Words-Heart-Necklace-1689617
Would you like to wear your Valentine's Day Sight Word Craft Heart on your sleeve? 

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Presidents Day Neon Money Banks

Lincoln and Washington never imagined this:
Presidents Day Neon Money Banks!
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-Day-Crafts-1695285
...that I can hang from the ceiling on strings!
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-Day-Crafts-1695285
...and watch them twirl and dance in the heating system's breeze!
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-Day-Crafts-1695285
So easy to make: I just taped the string through the money bank slit before gluing the last panel shut.

Big question: why do neon Presidents Day Money Banks make me--and my kids--so happy? 
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-Day-Crafts-1695285

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

TeachersPayTeachers Sale!

It's all on sale--the whole TeachersPayTeachers store!

Teacher resources at 28% off--there's a lotta love here!

Please stop by and look around...



https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Substitute-Teacher-Guide-Substitute-Teacher-Plans-and-Printables-2894188




https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-Day-Crafts-1695285



https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/100th-Day-of-School-Activities-and-Mask-1643780
 






 Number Chart Robots



 Number Chart Robots


I'll see you there!

Sunday, February 5, 2017

$10 Gift Card for Teachers Pay Teachers

Please join me in a $10 Gift Card Giveaway!

Simply comment on the Blog Post below -- 7 Keys to a Great Lesson -- or choose another entry point, for more chances to win $10 of great resources for teachers.

It's a Rafflecopter giveaway!
 
Thanks for joining the fun! 

Contest begins 12 AM Monday and ends 12 AM Tuesday. 

Even sweeter:

Teachers Pay Teachers is having a SALE--up to 28% off everything--Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb 7th - 8th.  


https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Renee-Dawn

ENJOY, and see you there!!