Topic: Got eatin' alive-my first day of subbing. Calling all teachers.
2roads
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It was not easy and I had this really out of control volunteer Mom in the class that day who reported to the principal that the room was "wild and out of control".
The principal told me the next day. He did say considering who it came from to "take it with a grain of salt", and he tried to encourage me. I do a lot of volunteering and I think he knows my heart is in the right place.
So, I went to the drawing board and wrote up my own set of rules, the reasons for them and a discussion of consequences. They are attention clapping, sentence on board which, results in either something fun or not fun the last part of the day if any letter is still up there. Letters get erased when rules are not followed. Stickers to reword good behavior and an acknowledgement that names will be handed to the teacher for next day consequences if they are not getting it.
Any teachers on the board that can offer further advise. Not sure how to keep them under control at the start before the pledge and the early circle time of rules.
Hope my new strategies work. Any advise?........
Anything. Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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"They are attention clapping, sentence on board which, results in either something fun or not fun the last part of the day if any letter is still up there. Letters get erased when rules are not followed."
please explain
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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2roads
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OH TuTU.........
It was Kindergarden. I requested to sub for K-2.
When the class is loud you can do a rhythmic clap and stop and wait. They drop everything and do the same clap back. Then quiet attention.
The sentence on the board can be anything. Not sure what to choose, but somewhat long. If a letter is left on the board they get a reward. Letters are erased when rules are broken. They could also get a punishment, but I would like to make the glass half full, not empty.
It's harder though to give in a structured classroom then to take away. Recess is scheduled in and time can be partially spent inside for bad choices, but there's no time in the schedule to play a game and reward, especially when the teacher expects the sub to follow her day planner. So, I'm not sure where to fit in a reward or what it should be. Plus, every class and schedule will be different.
I was thinking about soliciting vendors for free drinks, a one time free day pass to a event or museum....I don't know, not sure if it even exists. But, something I can pass out that won't take any time but still reward. I bought "Good Job Certificates" but judging by some of the personalities I saw, it will probably mean as much as...well even toiler paper's more of a necessity. Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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2roads
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ew,ew ....I just got an idea for the sentence....."I wanta go home". Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
OH! The clapping idea is really good for that age group! That's a new one on me! I was forced to retire 17 yrs ago due to my health so I'm kinda out of the loop.
The sentence idea is good too.. but maybe too abstract for a 5 yr old.
So your main trouble is with the whole group.. not individuals? I taught mostly 4th grade, but have taught everything from 1st to 5th. Most of my discipline problems were with the individuals. You get them under control and the whole class is OK.
But with 5yr olds it's a whole other ballgame.
Can't think now of my positive rewards, but maybe you can snowball off of this idea:
We used a jar and put in a marble each time they did something right. When it's full or at a certain point, they get a reward. (you can put in as many marbles as you want) I think ours was usually extra time at recess or a treat .. can't remember .. but you'll think of something!!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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2roads
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Member # 4409
posted
I can't think of anything Tutu.
I don't have room in the schedule to do extra recess or a game. They stress following teacher protocol.
I don't want to have to buy anything. I am giving stickers for random spotted good behavior. I asked about ice cream coupons at the local ice cream shop and the owner was really rude when I told her what I was going to use them for. She set them aside for me to pick up, but I went and bought ice cream and said thanks but no thanks for fear I would get myself into trouble. I thought she might benefit as well, because others in the family may want ice cream. But, I realised it may have some legal ramifications.
I hope she doesn't call the school over it now.
Anyway, I can't hand things out everytime for good behavior, they need to learn it's expected of them. Ideally I would add a little recess or do something special at the end of the week. But, I'm a sub and only there usually one day of the week.
I guess I just have to write the word RECESS and take 10 minutes from everyone if the letters get erased.
Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Discipline is the hardest part of teaching. That is for sure.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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canefan17
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With all the medicating, sugars, junk foods, etc - I don't know how ANYBODY can teach K-8th
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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2roads
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Well, yeh, I forget all the meds they come on as well.
But, I find the biggest problem with kids today is they can't behave to just behave. Some of them can, but there's a whole wave of kids who have been brought up with conditions. Either something is added or taken away. That seems to be all they can understand to redirect.
Maybe that's not true, I have yet to sub again and try out my incentives/consequences. But, it sure seems like it makes sense with the research I've been doing.
I wrote out my 6 rules for the class. I have convinced myself that I am not a sub to the children, only the school. I am their teacher for the day. I came up with my three consequences. One, good behavior gets the special sticker cup to pick out a sticker. Two, the word "recess" gets erased for bad behavior (letter by letter) and they stay in for part of it if the whole word disappears, lastly a list with two halves for the teacher the next day to decide upon each fate. One side is exceptional kids, the other is the horrificly behaved kids. I do my hand clap and "o" shaped raise hand for "o" level voice when their excitement is turning loud.
I explain why rules are important and hopefully our day is off to a better start. After all, I'm supposed to be teaching, not baby-sitting.
Oh please wish me well. My confidence is so knocked and I'm used to my own kids.
Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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payne
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oh, through the eyes of a teacher... i enjoy the insight, and the efforts of those who lead in teaching our youths.. as an old prison guard, i see many values that need to be in our future.. I use to slow the routine down, to say GET their Attention... as meal lines or yard brake time would occur, i could find myself involved with other task and the inmates, would have to find good behavior and patcence in getting my attention... so, good behavior would be followed with my attention to get you to say the phone lines or chow...store even library...calls.. sad, to have to compare our children with the children(adults) in prison.. its a donimo effect for sure.. \my daughter is a sub for 3rd graders.. maybe use the word RESPECT... and PRIDE/Proud or CONFiDANCE
-------------------- TULAREMIA/rabbit fever ? Posts: 1931 | From mid-michigan | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
Kayak... When I first read that, it sounded like you had repeated kindergarten 7 years!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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sammy
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Member # 13952
posted
Kids always like to be first, that might be another reward. First to stand up, line up, answer question out loud, lead class to lunch, lead to recess, lead to the bus, etc...
They also like to help. Good behavior could earn them a helper job like passing out books, collecting papers and such.
You could also get some fun colored pens. If they are good for one task they could pick a special color to use for the next writing type assignment.
You could get some sort of activity/puzzle book, before school starts blow up and copy some of the activities. Then if the kids are good they could pick one out to take home later.
These are just ideas I thought might work, I do not have any teaching experience. I've only worked with young sunday school groups and VBS.
Good luck!
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Remember that no control can be established, no routine followed, no learning can occur before you get their ATTENTION. I always found this principle more powerful than any reward system I concocted.
Find positive, no ethics-concerning ways to grab attention. The more you keep kids guessing what you'll do next, the more they will watch you. I know it's tough to plan ahead if you're the sub, but things like dressing up as a funny character come to mind for the age. Oh, the questions kids that age will start asking--encourage it.
Or suddenly busting out in a dance. Tell them you're shaking the sillies out and ask them to join you. One minute is all you need. "And now that we've shaken our sillies out, did you know that 'sillies' starts with 's?' What else starts with 's'...
Speak low so they have to get quiet to hear you. We have a tendency to do just the opposite to be heard, but that's actually quite counterproductive.
Give kids who have a tough time settling for quiet activities something to hold. Sometimes a kid just needs to be moving to learn. A squeeze ball can work wonders, just hand it to them without saying anything.
Give kids jobs. Got a runner? "I could REALLY use your help today! You are so speedy and energetic--could you make sure every one in class gets this worksheet and a set of crayons? You are awesome; thanks so much!"
Got a tornado? "Everyone, let's see how fast we can clean up the centers. Last time I heard it took five minutes. If we work together, we can get it done in two and have a few more minutes to ____ (whether these statements are true or not is not the point--with K you can get away with their lack of time sense).
Read about classroom management. There are many excellent sites online.
-------------------- ------------ It took 20 years to find out I'm not crazy. New bite in 2010 pushed my body over the edge. Positive for lyme, babs, bart, and myco. I am not a doctor and happily offer only my own opinions. Posts: 357 | From The Beach | Registered: Feb 2011
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I was always curious what would happen with the hard line approach and just tell the kids that if they disrupt the class that they will be escorted out of the room by security and sent to a holding area and their parents informed. If I can remove all the kids that disrupt the classroom that allows me to focus on the children who want to be there. Whether the school would allow this or not I don't know, but they should in a private school. A government school might have to put up with lower standards in order to keep the numbers high enough.
Just remove any student who disrupts to a significant level. I'd rather not spend time thinking about appeasing people who violate the rules.
Young kids, I don't know, they should still be well behaved. I guess they want you to take on two roles as a teacher at that age.
Posts: 136 | From arlington, VA | Registered: Jun 2010
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randibear
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i have a friend, conover, who says that she uses a game. it's sort of like a search game. she comes up with questions or riddles or something and they have to find the answer.
sort of like hide and seek only it's like poems or places, or something.
and she has little prizes.
says it works for her group. but then again maybe they're well behaved.
thank heavens i never had kids.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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quote:Originally posted by applewine: [QB] I was always curious what would happen with the hard line approach and just tell the kids that if they disrupt the class that they will be escorted out of the room by security and sent to a holding area and their parents informed. If I can remove all the kids that disrupt the classroom that allows me to focus on the children who want to be there. Whether the school would allow this or not I don't know, but they should in a private school. A government school might have to put up with lower standards in order to keep the numbers high enough.
Just remove any student who disrupts to a significant level. I'd rather not spend time thinking about appeasing people who violate the rules.
- nope .. can't do it for various reasons .. and would have ZERO effect on kindergarteners
It would be almost impossible to decide which/what rules would cause removal from the school. You can call parents till the cows come home and most parents couldn't care less.
oh... private schools COULD do this .. and you could do it at any school if you're talking about kids breaking a law.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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sbh .. those are good ideas for little kids!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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2roads
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Thanks immensely everyone. Subbing is such an impromptu type of thing. It seems like a bag of tricks moment, every split second.
I also googled "classroom management" and got some additional techniques to couple with my consequence list based on levels of behavior skills in the young.
I have been called to sub, but as a TA in a Special Needs class. The children are moderately handicapped. There are a few things I don't agree with in the way they care for the children. The first one is placement. Three of the 9 should not even be in that room. They are so much more capable. They tend to be bored and exposed to all the dysfunction which makes me sad for them.
Then there is a little boy in a wheel chair. At first I thought he was unreachable, just a drooling head. But when you get a trained ear to what he's trying to tell you, you realise he's more aware and conversive then most in there. He asked me last friday if I'd be there on Monday. When I said I couldn't, his whole demeanor changed. He was loaded onto the bus, and head down, he was transported away. I just wanted to cry. Cry for him, for me, for my kids......just sob.
I'm in there three times next week. It can be such a loooong, boring day though. Seems like they have so little to work with. Atleast this Friday I sub in my sons class. It's a blended class of 46 kids and two teachers. I will fill in for one. I feel pretty confident with that, as I volunteer all the time there. I will probably have to work through all the hugs I usually get, as I will be the teacher......dum,dum,dum,dummmmmmmmm Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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kam
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It has been a long time for me too. All I recall is the atttention span was really short so activities were really short.
It seems I also had some kind of transition tool/sound and let them know when there was only so many minutes left before time to stop whatever it was they were doing.
REally helps if you have a teacher who leaves you with a good lesson plan and the kids are use to what is coming next.
Trying to recall the verb, adjective books I had and who wrote them but can't recall them right now.
I just recall the kids really liked them...bright pictures.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
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As far as a parent not helping in the classroom....have some prep work for her to do outside of the classroom.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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Aww, 2 roads! Be sure to stop by and tell the little boy in the wheelchair hello when you can! He's probably very bright .. just has other problems.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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