Sub Prep For The School Year

Hey everyone!

It's never too early to get ready and prepped for a sub! You never know when you might get sick or have to be gone.

What do I have in my sub binder/tub?  My binder has my classroom procedures, daily schedule, specials schedule, rainy day schedule (I live in Oregon, it can rain whenever), class list, seating chart, emergency procedures, and school contact info (secretary names, office number, helpful teachers to call).

Then I have a few pages for reading groups.

These can go with any book, which is what I love! They're something that any of students can do, no matter their level.


My students love to free write, but I wanted some choices for them for writing and I felt these were good topics for them to express their opinions.

When I was a substitute, teaching for social studies and science was usually the hardest. Math and reading they generally knew what they were doing already, but social studies and sciences were harder. That's why I'm including this in my binder because it's nonfiction, it's a high interest topic for my kiddos and a lot of activities are included!

Reading passages, comprehension questions, multiple choice, and interactive flaps!


I also knew for math that my kids most likely would finish something they'd been working on previously, but just in case, toss in a few fun pages in my binder. My kids love dominoes and they always need multiplication practice, so this is perfect!

 Where do I keep this? I have a sub tub and a binder. Here is mine from last year.

Nothing pretty, but it worked! Mine is cuter this year, with a printed cover. Last year was just a trying to survive  year haha!

I usually stick my read aloud book (or a different, fun one), some extra time filler papers, and Scholastic Readers as a treat. I try to make it seem like it's so fun to have a substitute (which it can be!)

If I know I'm going to be out ahead of time, I prep the kids and then leave this hanging out on the board as a reminder. I got the idea from here.

The pages are from my Upper Elementary Sub Pack on TpT.

0

Substitute Preparedness: Summertime Roll

Hey everyone! It's that time again!

Events this month: 

• Cinco de Mayo May 5
• National Teacher Day May 6
• Mother's Day May 11
• Memorial Day May 26

Teacher Tip: It's the end of the year and the kids can smell summer vacation. Have a little fun with sight words by turning off the lights and grabbing two flashlights. Have kids race to find a sight word by lighting it up with the flashlight.

Sub tip: School is nearing the end. Hang in there! And remember: smile!

Here are some things that might help you get through school until summer:

Summer Themed Sub Plans:

Summer Writing 

Summer Poems

I think this is the last roll in the series, summer roll.  After this, the holidays and seasons are covered (I'm pretty sure!)

Click here to grab it!

0

Substitute Preparedness #7: Sub Binder

Welcome to my monthly series here on Journey of a Substitute Teacher!

So I know I usually do a sub tub freebie thing to add, like the math games. Don't worry, I still have a freebie! Today I'm going to talk about the sub binder (or folder). I love coming into a class that has a sub binder with all the info I need about the school and class in one spot. One of my schools used to require this for every class. The binder has student names, map of the school, list of phone numbers, and different sections for each subject that the teacher put extra copies for fillers in, also a generic lesson plan.

Another one of my schools has a sub binder with the school special schedule, phone numbers in the school, emergency info, and then the teacher can add what they want to the binder. A map is stuck in the front.

My two other schools in the district have folders with phone numbers and maps and the info for logging into Powerschool for attendance.

Some teachers I sub for have their own binders with all the info tucked in pretty and neat. I'm at the point in my career that I'm just happy with lesson plans haha! But you never know what kind of sub you will have. This may be their first time!  And it's never too early to get ready for the sub binder! 

Here are some sub binder ideas:

And if you have a long term sub:
Here is the freebie I created for you! It's a simple and basic sub binder with blanks for you  I also gave two options for the covers, one with white frame and one with black frame.

Click the cover or here to grab the freebie. I hope you enjoy!

37

Blog Swap and Hop Guest Blogger

This is part of the Blog Hop and Swap!

I am so excited! Here is my first guest blogger. Give a big welcome to April! ~Ms. T




Hi Everyone!


I'm April from Grade School Giggles and I'm super excited to be writing this guest post about preparing for a substitute. 

I always try to be prepared for a substitute because sometimes emergencies happen. The last thing I want to do when I'm sick or have a sick child is struggle to get last minute plans together. So, I prepare for a substitute before the first day of school. It's really not that hard either!


One of my desk drawers is labeled "Substitute." It holds two Bingo games, small stickers, candies, pencils, and awards. You'll also find a big binder. The binder is my key to being prepared. I'm going to walk you through it and I'm sharing the forms to make it simple to create your own binder. You can get the forms as a PDF here or as an editable Power Point here. Either way they're free!

The first thing in my binder is a welcome note. I explain my binder and let the sub know who to ask if any questions come up. Next, I include a page with important basic information including the school hours, the times for recess and lunch, where supplies are kept, and important people or locations. I include a notes page, the class schedule, student transportation, and information on my classroom management procedures. I also include a map of the school. (I just copy the emergency exit map). 

I also include forms for medical information and special needs information. If I have students that are supposed to get accommodations then the sub needs to know what they are. I don't put the eligibility categories or I.E.P. goals, but I do list the accommodations and behavior plan information.

 My school has a section in the staff handbook about fire drills, tornadoes, code red drills, etc. I copy the procedures and include them in the emergency procedures section. I also include a classroom roster in this section. 

Finally, I include a section for lesson plans and a section for emergency plans. If it is a planned absence I will write specific lesson plans, put them in the lesson plan section, and set everything the sub will need on top of my desk. Otherwise, the welcome note directs the sub to use the emergency plans and follow the classroom schedule. I have a page for each subject that I teach in the emergency plans section. I write down where the materials for the subject are. I also write down a must do lesson and activity. It usually consists of reviewing a basic skill and completing review worksheets that are copied and stored in my notebook behind the directions. Finally, I list an activity to complete if the class finishes the required stuff and there is time left. I usually will leave an easy whole group activity such as Bingo, a writing assignment, or a BrainPOP.  


That was a long post! Thanks for taking the time to read it. I hope it was helpful. Feel free to stop by my blog and check it out.

Wasn't she fantastic? Great tips April! Thanks for guest blogging.
I'm guest blogging over at Third Grade Bookworm! 

 To check out the other swaps, take a look here (oops don't know why the right column is cut off, but you can still hop to them!):

8

Schedules, Suck-ups, and a Scoopin' Math Pack

Ah kinder. Kinders are certainly an interesting breed lol. Seriously though, if you need a pick-me-up, they'll have one for you.

A little suck up cutie patootie came over to me. She smiled and said, "Yesterday you looked nice. Today are you so beautiful. And I just know that all the time you look good." And she walked away, leaving me grinning. Well I was dressed really stylin' today if I do say so myself. I had the layered look with a white cami and silver ruffled t-shirt on top and a jean jacket paired up with jeans and black boots. And my favorite pair of silver earrings.  Should have taken a picture!  I also was told that I was a good reader. Aww :)

Yesterday I talked about being organized. The teacher also had a few things that I loved. The kids today were all about the schedule! I love having a schedule and will write it on the board because I don't like walking around with lesson plans to check for the times.

I find that the kiddos love having a schedule posted because they know what is coming next, there are no surprises, it's a routine, and it feels familiar. Even if the kiddos are in kinder, they can have a schedule with words and pictures, even if there are no times posted.

I wanted to post something that was SUPER helpful to me yesterday. The teacher had a list of names with the kids' pics with them. I was able to memorize a few so that when they came in, I felt like I already knew them :)

She listed their names alphabetically by first name. This would be also great for writing if they want their friends' names.

Now on to my Scoopin' Math. I was inspired by a few classes I've been subbing for lately who are studying fractions, percents, and decimals. Some of those kiddos are not connecting the three together and so I decided to make a beginners pack, mainly focusing on 25, 50, 75, and 100 but I think I threw in a few thirds in there.

I included posters about what each are and 8 problems for each and a final activity/review  that combines all three topics.  And the theme is ice cream. I am in love with how it turned out.

Included:

• 8 fraction problems
• 8 decimal problems
• 8 percent problems
• 3 answer keys
• 3 posters
• 3 record sheets
• Match Up activity

It's at my TN store and I've listed it for $2 :)

As usual, I will giveaway some copies of my new pack. I'll give away to the first 3 that leave a comment with their e-mail!

Pin It

7

Applie pie gum is yum!

I love, love, love Extra Dessert Delight's Apple Pie gum! Seriously tastes like apple pie in my mouth :D
They have other flavors. Chocolate chip mint is pretty good and strawberry shortcake. They have key lime, but I'm not a huge fan.

Here's a little thing I whipped up that you can put in your sub folder/binder. I know for me it's helpful when I get this info. I love knowing if there are special signals the teacher uses, the helpful students, and the students I need to keep a closer eye on. I'm not going to instantly assume they are 'bad' but just know they may need more of my attention. Knowing that has helped me in the past.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q4jZZ9YgNS18ktPFWjIUBC5mIdnyUOF7lNmVPOIoDfs/edit?hl=en_US

Still don't know how to do the darn pic for it instead of the ugly link hehe.

0

Books

I just got my copy of Instructor in the mail. I love seeing what books they put in there to read to kiddos. This article was books for back to school.

I have favorite authors and books so I always look forwarding to seeing new books in there. I do carry some books with me subbing. I try to bring books that are either a favorite, or something new which makes it exciting for the kids. I've even had teachers leave me books for read aloud that are new, to get kids excited.

One of my favorites is Miss Nelson is missing. The kinder teacher even had me have students guessing why their teacher was gone. And she had them write a sentence and draw a picture of what they though happened to the teacher. That had to have been one of the cutest lessons and creative answers I've ever seen.  There were responses from her being sick in bed, to being in Hawaii, to maybe being on the moon!

It was fun for me as a sub and a learning activity for them bu tthey got to draw and write. It was also great because I was one of the first substitutes they had too, as kinders.

Do you have any books you like subs reading to your kids?

0

8 more days...

I can make it right? Another full week of subbing (8 weeks now in a row woohoo!) and I'm tired!
Today I had a 5th grade class and they were getting so disrespectful. And darn marbles issue again...I tell ya, doesn't matter which school! Two boys were arguing over a marble.

 At lunch recess, I got to leave as I only subbed a 1/2 day. There are 5 trees in the black top area and around the base of each, were 5 different marble games going lol.

Substitute tip of the day.... if you have a student that's acting up first thing, when you take attendance, make note of that child so you know their name and can use it a lot. Kind of freaks them out if you know it and haven't subbed for them before lol. I've used this trick since my first year and it never grows old!

1

It's nice to be wanted

As a sub, it can be hard fitting in at a school. You're somewhat an outsider at first. This is my 4th year as a sub so I have an establishment now and I get requested for jobs, which I greatly appreciate. In fact, I've mostly been at one tiny school this year. This week makes 7 solid weeks of work woohoo! In fact, I had 2 teachers request me tomorrow, but 2 different schools. One school I've only been at 3 times this year. The other one is the one of I've been at mostly.

Now I let that fall into account. The other one is also 1/2 day while the one at my 'regular' school, NM, is a full day job. It's a tough class, but it's also early release tomorrow, and I'll have lunch and specials thrown in, so I know I can handle it. I have to also consider that with this summer, any extra money helps so that also takes into account.

NM just makes me feel like I'm part of their family. I get invited to events, school functions, and got personally invited to retirement parties last year and this year. The staff knows me, my likes, about my family, just as I know about them and their lives.  I can tell you for a fact the teacher I'm subbing for is not sick lol.

We had a new sub in the building. I took her under my wing and showed her the ropes. Today was her second day here ever, and she seems pretty comfortable now.

If you have a new sub in the building, a friendly smile or hello is most welcome. I tell you that from experience and it can really make a difference in the day :)

2