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Sunday, October 16, 2011

Chatting about subs with Crystal from Kreative in Kinder!

Kreative in Kinder



Greetings froggy friends! I am Crystal, author of the teaching blog Kreative in Kinder. Now, you may wonder what a kindergarten has in common with fourth grade, but a teacher is a teacher, right! J Hats off to you for teaching the big kids. I totally couldn’t do it, lol. Anywho, let’s chat about substitutes. We all need them to survive a school year because either you get sick, need to attend training, or a simple mental health day is necessary. J I think it is super important to have a “sub tub” in your classroom. I know when I am sick, the last thing I want to do is go up to school and write lesson plans for a sub. In my sub tub, I will include worksheets (based upon math and ELA lessons you are teaching that semester), books that the sub can read to your kiddos, sometimes an educational video (Magic School Bus) and the holy grail of notebooks. In my Substitute Notebook, I include:

Class list, class schedule, allergies (super important), map of the school, emergency procedures (would they know what to do in a fire drill, tornado, lock down, etc.), activity schedule, discipline expectations along with what to do with students who get in trouble, nurse notes, lunch count forms, a phone list of important people (nurse, office, etc.), how everyone gets home chart, a list of helpers and kids that need extra time or instructions, pull out schedule, and notes for them and you.

It’s a lot of work at first, but it will make your life so much easier and your sub will love you for it! Communication is key. J I hate returning to a messy room and a stack of unfinished work. I think substitutes will perform to the level you require depending on what they walk into and how organized you are. I always try to leave my substitute a treat (candy bar or something) too because everyone knows when the cat’s away the mice will play so I am sure they will need a pick me up at some point. Most importantly, TELL SOMEONE where to find your sub tub. LOL. Have it labeled and in a place where anyone can see it.

Thanks for letting me guest post today. Come by Kreative in Kinder sometime to see me. Have a great week!

So, what is your greatest substitute tip?

Blessings,
<>< Crystal


Thank you Crystal for a wonderful guest blog post!  If you want to purchase awesome Substitute printables check out  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Substitute-Folder-Printables at Kreative in Kinders' TPT store!  You can also follow Crystal's blog at http://www.kreativeinkinder.blogspot.com.


2 comments:

  1. Sounds great!

    I myself am a sub. My greatest tip would be to leave at least a generic emergency lesson plan in your sub tub.

    I've been in classes with no lessons to a class that had a 3 day emergency lesson plan.

    http://journeyofasubstituteteacher.blogspot

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lots of good ideas!
    Also Lorraine I sent you an email. If you didn't get it, let me know. Hope you are having a good week.
    Marcia :)

    ReplyDelete