A Packet For Substitute Teachers - 5

Tell a student, "I´d like to know you better. Please write a half page for me on this topic:
•If I won a million dollars, I would . . .
•The best time I ever had was . . .
•What I like most in a friend is . . .
•I would like to be an educated/uneducated person because . . .
•What worries me most in the world is . . .
•In my spare time I like to . .

Review The Curriculum

Review the curriculum. A good cooperating teacher should know what topics you will be responsible for and on or around you starting dates for these lessons. Ask for a teachers editions and workbooks to gather facts and ideas.

After You Sub...

Leave a note for the teacher telling them what you did while they were away.
•When subbing in a Middle or High School classroom, leave the teacher a list of who was absent from class that day.
•Close and lock windows and doors.
•Return any and all AV equipment to the proper place.
•If you have a bad day subbing sit quietly in the room until you feel better.
•Wait until after the students leave before leaving the teacher a note as to how the day went.

Substitute Self Preservation

When I gave my speech on what was expected, I gave it like a Drill Sergeant. I even had kids ask me if I had been in the service. Then later, when they were well behaved, I would loosen up and have fun with them.
I´ve never, ever, had it work when I went in as a loving, giving soul and then tried to get tough when things fell apart.

Tips for Effective Student Teaching

Set aside time each day to plan for classes. Have a plan ready for your first day.

A Packet For Substitute Teachers -1

Keep a list of assignments that can be listed by number on the chalkboard. When a student is ready for something new, and the classroom teacher did not provide more work, turn his or her mind to one of the numbered items on the chalkboard.

Relaxing!

A natural way to relax before tests and exams is to drink camomile tea.

Building Rapport With Students

•Get to know your students as soon as possible. This includes learning something about each student and learning to deal with various personalities.
•Enter the classroom with confidence. If you seem insecure, the students will realize it and you´ll never have control over the class.

Respect?

Show and require respect in the classroom at all times. Do not back down on this one.

Successful Student Teaching

Get to know your students as soon as possible. This includes learning something about each student and learning to deal with various personalities.

Need Financial Aid Help?

To get the Ambitious Student´s Guide to Financial Aid, write to:
PO Box 2748, Dept. P, Alexandria, VA 22301.

Saying No

Children don´t like to hear the word "No". Instead of saying "No", tell the child under what circumstances he can get a "Yes" answer. For example, your child wants to watch TV. The dishes and homework are still not done. Rather than say "No", you tell the child that he can watch TV after the dishes and his homework are done. It is now the child´s choice and not your decision.

Homeschool - Traditional Tradesman Crafts

Investigate or even try your hand at some of the traditional crafts and trades that might enhance a related history unit. Try candle-making, spinning, textile-dyeing, weaving, broom-making, rug-hooking, carving, etc. A good resource (though out-of-print) is Edward Tunis´ Colonial Craftsmen. Visit local artisans and tradesmen such as weavers, blacksmiths or potters. If possible, visit a historical village such as Williamsburg or Sturbridge.

Naming The Problem

Memorize students´ names right away. It shows respect and a sincere desire to reach them at their level.

Graduate School

If you don´t know exactly what graduate school to go or which discipline to study, pick up a job hunting guide (available at most libraries) and check the requirements for jobs you´re intersted in.

FinAid - Portfolio Tip #1

Be prepared for the merit based scholarship search by starting a portfolio, which documents your activities, interests, and successes. Keep a chart of all extra-curricular high school activities in which you participate and the positions of leadership you assume through these activities

Interviews

Read the brochures and other information you´ve been sent. Know the material well enough that you won´t ask questions that have already been answered in the material. Read them one at a time, at breakfast, before each interview.

Interviews

Sometimes college interviewers will quiz you on current events so read the newspaper.

Teaching Listening Skills

The best way to teach listening skills is to have young children repeat what you have just said. As they get older, having children write what you said teaches the skill as well. As a parent, be careful to state instructions to your children in language that they understand, then immediately ask them to repeat the instruction - in their own words. This is a key since it shows that not only did they hear the instruction, but they are synthesizing the material as well.

Variety is the key

Keep students occupied to the very last bell by offering a variety of interesting choices of activities for kids, especially for when they finish work or have down time.

Pringle´s Notes

Pringles cans with lids are great for getting important notes home to parents. Clean them out well. Have the child color a picture then glue or tape the picture on to the can, making sure the child´s name is visible. Cover with clear contact paper. Voila, a good sturdy device for getting those papers to the parents.

Free Teaching Kits - K-12

Teachers, does your classroom need a boost? TeachFree.com offers free and low-cost teaching kits for public and private school teachers. These kits include posters, worksheets, videos, and, of course, curriculum materials for you!

Building Responsibility

Try a cardboard box to help make your child responsible for school belongings. Have your child choose a place for the box-near the door or in his room. Every afternoon, his first task should be to place all belongings in the box. When homework is finished, it goes in the box, too. In the morning, the box is the last stop before heading out the door.

Reading With Preschoolers

When reading to your child, let your child turn the pages.

Principals

As you gain confidence and classroom experience, invite the Principal to write an observation for you. Working with your co-op and practicing and preparing carefully could land you the job you want.

FinAid - Scholarship App. Help

Apply only if you are eligible. Read all the scholarship requirements and directions carefully, and make sure that you are eligible before you send in your application. Your application will not be considered if you aren´t qualified to apply.

Parents

As a teacher, keep an open door to parents. Invite parents in to visit.

Student Aid

Take advantage of tuition prepayment discounts. Some colleges offer up to a 10% discount for early payment.

September 4 Activities

•Anniversary of the Founding of Los Angeles, California - In 1781, founded by decree and called "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula."
•Newspaper Carrier Day - Anniversary of the hiring of the first "newsboy" in the US - 10-yr-old Barney Flaherty.
•Sarah Childress Polk´s Birthday - (b 1803) Wife of James Knox Polk, 11th president of the US.

Diary Keeping and Captain Logs

Have the student select an individual connected with the unit study topic, and keep a diary as if they were that character.

Homework

Have a regular place for your child to do homework. Use a desk or table in a quiet room. Be sure there´s plenty of light. Find a regular time for homework. You may want to make a rule, "No television until homework is finished." During homework time, turn off the TV and radio.

Teaching Geography At Home

Parents can enhance their child´s knowledge of geography by advocating its emphasis in the school curriculum, but learning should not be restricted to the classroom. Games, maps, and other activities are informal and easy ways to encourage geographic awareness and lay a solid foundation.

Cutting College Costs

Search for free money. And since every little big counts, you should also apply for scholarships. Use the FastWeb.com scholarship search to help you find awards and then apply! To learn more about all your funding options, visit FinAid.org.

Cutting College Costs

When applying for college, ask about application fee waivers and special discounts. The cost of applying to college, taking standardized test scores, and having those scores sent can add up. If you´re strapped for cash, consider asking about application fee waivers.

Building Rapport With Your Cooperating Teacher

Meet the cooperating teacher as soon as possible after you receive your assignment. Visit the classroom to learn more about the teacher´s style and find out about supplies in advance.

School Safety - Riding in a car

Safety belts are the best form of protection passengers have in the event of a crash. They can lower your risk of injury by 45%. You are four times more likely to be seriously injured or killed if ejected from the vehicle in a crash.

Free Book!

Sign up with atlaskids.com and receive the free book, Father Bear Comes Home. No, really, completely free! Sign up today!

Teaching Citizenship

Parents can help their children learn more about citizenship by: setting a good example. Participate in the political system and volunteer for community service projects. Invite your child to join you.

Reading with Preschoolers

When reading to your child, let your child sit close to you or on your lap.

Arts/Crafts - Back To School Crafts

The first day of school give each child a purple plate. Have them turn the plate into a picture of themselves by adding eyes, hair, a mouth, etc. Once dry, arrange the plates on the board in the shape of a bunch of grapes. Add a stem and leaves along with the title "What a ´Grape´ Bunch of New Students".

Flash Cards

Flashcards - Flashcards can be easily created using clip art and index cards. There are a multitude of uses and potential subject matter for these aides, normally reserved for drilling math facts. How about musical instruments? The animal kingdom? Dinosaurs, plants, insects, art masterpieces and many other possibilities abound. Use flashcards for learning names, classifying into like groups, foreign language vocabulary, and more.

Getting To Know Students and Parents

Prepare a letter introducing yourself to your students and parents. This does not have to be lengthy, but it should include your role in the classroom, educational background, and it should stress your appreciation and availability to students and parents.

Memories and Keepsakes

At the beginning of each year, give each parent the option of sending in a disposable camera, marked with the child´s name. Keep the cameras all year long and take candid pictures of the children at work and play. It is a great keepsake! Parents love it!

Travel Brochures

Creating travel brochures can be a unique way to spice up a geography unit. Stop by a travel center and pick up a few brochures to use as templates. Have your child research your country under study and create a travel brochure.

FinAid - Scholarship Scams

The urgent need for scholarships is an open field for hacks and scams. The most basic rule is that if a trust or a grant is asking money from you (for example - in order to enroll you) - it´s probably a scam. You shouldn´t waste your money on fee-based scholarship matching services. You won´t get any better information than you can get from the free services available on the Web.

Source: FinAid.org

Student unions

Take advantage of student resources that may be available at the university you are attending. In addition to a general student union office, colleges may have their own student union office where you can get information on course content, past exams, or even tutors to help you with current classes. There is no charge for the informationand it can be extremely valuable.

Posters

Creating posters is a good project for a visual learner or one with poor small muscle control.

Homeschooling - Taking a field trip?

Make matching tie-dyed shirts for your kids by mixing Rit dye with hot water in squirt bottles. Offer a couple of colors and show the kids how to adjust the nozzles to make designs. They will be easy to find in a crowd!

Cutting College Costs

Look for ways to pay in-state tuition. Most public colleges and universities charge considerably less tuition to in-state students in comparison to students from out of state. Pick a college in your state to keep costs down. Investigate regional student exchange programs, in which some states offer reduced tuition rates for students from nearby states. Or if your heart is set on going out of state, consider moving a year before starting college. After you´ve established residency (usually one or two years), you should be eligible for in-state tuition. Policies vary from school to school and state to state, so be sure to check with your school of choice.

Geography Newspaper Activities

A good geography lesson plan would be to research the many different countries that are mentioned in the datelines of newspaper articles. Have the students locate these countries on a world map. For older students, you can have them pick one of the countries and write a short research paper on it.

Motivating Your Child

Children need the 4 "A"s as well as the 3 "R"s: Attention, Appreciation, Affection, and Acceptance.
Some researchers believe every child is gifted-if we will just look for the ways. Helping a child see his giftedness is very motivating.

Reading To Your Children

Try relaxing your family´s bedtime rules once a week on the weekend. Let your child know that he can stay up as late as he wants-as long as he´s reading in bed.

Reading With Preschoolers

Make storytime a fun time. Enjoy the story and your child. Discuss the pictures and the story. Let your child ask questions, too.

FinAid - Portfolio Tip #2

Many scholarship sources look for documentation of community service. Keep track of hours spent in community service and record the name of a supervising adult, who may be called upon for verification of your work.