Reading the Tea Leaves

One of my New Year's Resolutions (stolen from my boyfriend): drink healthy tea daily. My favorite flavor so far has a mix of green tea, mint, citrus, with echinachea and kombucha for immunity support. A little caffiene, a little tummy-calming mint, an immune boost - perfect for the overworked substitute teacher!
The little paper tab at the top of the string has inspirational thoughts. Here's today's:

Be great,

feel great

and act great.

I find that I do that in reverse order, especially in the classroom - the ol' "fake it 'til you make it" routine. When I'm overwhelmed I act confident and happy, smile big. That gets me feeling better and lo and behold - I'm back in charge and class is flowing smoothly.

What gets you Zen in the classroom?

Miss Popular

Well, it looks like I'm booked solid for the next two weeks, including a 4-day-long gig at the ever-lovely NHS and several at my old stomping grounds OHS. Today was middle school math ... kids that really should be well-behaved (upper class neighborhood, etc) but are actually kinda loud and obnoxious. Luckily the days are getting longer so I can unwind with a trip to the bank and library, outside reading time with the newspaper and pet chickens, and now a glass of wine as I blog and listen to the neighbors playing outside. It's amazing what a few hours of light can do for your mood!

Maaarion ... The Libraaaaaaarian

Today and tomorrow I get to sub for OHS's librarian! It's an awesome gig -- there is an assistant there to tell me everything I need to know about all the technology and check-out systems (or just go ahead and run it since that's what she does usually), lots of art projects to do to make the place look nice, research to be done, and kids swinging by. On my plate for this stint: researching websites about Haitian history and culture for a reading/author event, making a poster and cardboard cut-outs for a display case commemorating Dr. Seuss's birthday, and checking the shelves to make sure everything is neat and alphabetized. Rejoice!

Militant Truancy

I AM TAKING THE DAY OFF! THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT, DISTRICT. YESTERDAY WAS DAY 9 IN A ROW AND IT STARTED WITH A 5:30AM PHONE CALL. LAME. SO HERE I AM, IN MY PJS, AND YOU CAN JUST DEAL.

4 Schools, One Day

Today and tomorrow my job is that of "itenerent math teacher." I travel to 4 different schools in the course of the day, teaching a math class at each one. Travel time and lunch are built into my schedule, so no stress there. But what a weird teaching position. The kids were really great, but I was exhausted when I got home - it could be because I am on working day 7 in a row (second job on the weekends!)

Movie Day

What are your thoughts on having the kids watch a movie on "sub day"??

My thoughts are:

Pros- it's easy, it's quiet, and kids usually either get into it or just fall asleep or something.

Cons - kids see right through that flimsy lesson plan, sometimes the technology does not work and then you are really up a creek, and I have to watch the same bleedin' video up to 5 times. Blech!

Classroom Management

OK, this will not be very well thought out, but some thoughts on being a "guest" teacher and classroom management.

First of all, in my regular classroom, I am a very relationship-based teacher. I like to get along with kids, and I want my classroom to be a different sort of place. Power struggles just don't do it for me. To start the year I will stick pretty sharply to classroom rules and the like but as the year progresses, each student becomes an individual.

As a sub, though, you don't have a relationship or prior knowledge of the kids. They might have pre-conceived notions about you, and might be oh-so-ready to play games with an "evil" adult. And you, as this stranger, are a great target.

I have been reading "Love and Logic" and find that a lot of what it contains describes the way I like to teach. But as a sub, it's difficult to follow any classroom management techniques that build trust over time because you only have an hour with the kids. To combat this, I try and present myself as a friendly, easy-going person. I start off with a quick introduction of myself, the assignment for the day, and something positive like "so let's relax and get this Math work done so there is one less weekend assignment!" If it is possible within the lesson plan I do not yell out roll call, I circulate the desks and ask each kid their name. If I can, I add one personal interaction to each one "oh, that's unique," "did I meet you in your science class last week?" or "what is your project topic?" I try and give solid reasons for any restrictions I put on them such as "I'm only letting one student out to the bathroom at a time because I don't know everyone well enough yet to keep track of any more than that. As soon as the pass comes back you are free to go." And I smile, smile, smile!!!

I have found over time that trying to pull power plays on unfamiliar turf will just bite you in the butt.

What types of classroom management techniques do you use? What personality do you try and project?