This is what I say to myself when I leave the school parking lot after subbing in a particular class for the first time. It's always emotional for me... I leave reflecting on whether I was a babysitter or if I actually taught something.
I like to think that these emotions are quite normal. When I walk into the classroom, the first thing I always look for in the teacher's plans, is the management piece. I need to know what signal is used to get the students attention, if there is a system for misbehavior, good behavior, etc.. If I know what the teacher does, then I can do that too and then be able to teach. If I don't know any of this, then I have to fumble through what works or doesn't work and then I end up feeling like I was more of a babysitter because I spent so much time dealing with classroom management. Last week was like that...
They were first graders. They weren't terrible, just loud. They interrupted, they talked when I talked, they argued amongst each other, etc... I truly felt that I was struggling just to get through the day and felt that if I just knew the teachers system, things would have gone much better. Toward the end of the day, I had to open my "sub bag"
I quickly looked through it at all the things (bribes) I had. Books they could look at once done with an assignment, candy (many subs do this, I prefer not to), games, stickers, etc.. I decided on the stickers. They were 6 year olds! As I walked through the room I would stop and give an animal or dinosaur sticker to those that were quietly working. Soon, everyone was quiet!! I then announced that I had a very special sticker that would be given out to the one student I chose at the end of the day who was quiet, raised their hand, had a clean desk, etc... I then placed this giant sticker up on the board so they had a visual reminder. At the end of the day, I chose the ONE student and everyone was OK with that.
So, as I drove home I thought... Ok, I babysat in the beginning but once we established classroom management rules and expectations I was actually able to teach! The next time I sub in that class, I won't have to figure it all out, I'll know what to do and who they are and they in turn will know who I am and what my expectations are.
Note to all you teachers: PLEASE include your classroom management piece in your lesson plans. We can't teach unless we know what the expectations are for your students because as a sub, I want to teach, not babysit.
I like to think that these emotions are quite normal. When I walk into the classroom, the first thing I always look for in the teacher's plans, is the management piece. I need to know what signal is used to get the students attention, if there is a system for misbehavior, good behavior, etc.. If I know what the teacher does, then I can do that too and then be able to teach. If I don't know any of this, then I have to fumble through what works or doesn't work and then I end up feeling like I was more of a babysitter because I spent so much time dealing with classroom management. Last week was like that...
They were first graders. They weren't terrible, just loud. They interrupted, they talked when I talked, they argued amongst each other, etc... I truly felt that I was struggling just to get through the day and felt that if I just knew the teachers system, things would have gone much better. Toward the end of the day, I had to open my "sub bag"
I quickly looked through it at all the things (bribes) I had. Books they could look at once done with an assignment, candy (many subs do this, I prefer not to), games, stickers, etc.. I decided on the stickers. They were 6 year olds! As I walked through the room I would stop and give an animal or dinosaur sticker to those that were quietly working. Soon, everyone was quiet!! I then announced that I had a very special sticker that would be given out to the one student I chose at the end of the day who was quiet, raised their hand, had a clean desk, etc... I then placed this giant sticker up on the board so they had a visual reminder. At the end of the day, I chose the ONE student and everyone was OK with that.
So, as I drove home I thought... Ok, I babysat in the beginning but once we established classroom management rules and expectations I was actually able to teach! The next time I sub in that class, I won't have to figure it all out, I'll know what to do and who they are and they in turn will know who I am and what my expectations are.
Note to all you teachers: PLEASE include your classroom management piece in your lesson plans. We can't teach unless we know what the expectations are for your students because as a sub, I want to teach, not babysit.
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