HIT->Tasks for your substitute? (Long report Part 2 of 2)

[David Levin <d-levin@BGU.EDU>]

Here are the narrative responses to "Tasks for your substitute."

                        David Levin, Media Center Director
                             Rich Central High School
                          Olympia Fields, Illinois 60461


>My favorite task for subs is filing cat cards above the rod.  There are
>few of us left without OPAC's but it works for me.  Weeding the PAM file
>is another.  Repairing paperbacks, shelf reading and shelf straightening
>are tasks I never get to either.
>Mary Knapp <edumknap@slonet.org>
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>I leave worksheets reviewing previously taught skills
>books we have begun to read aloud
>books to introduce -read alouds
>picture books for primaries--a quick lesson is--grab Caldecotts
>videos about authors
>Judy Ermlick <ermlick@oberon.pps.pgh.pa.us>
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>Sorry about the paragraph, but my response needs an explanation:
>We have two librarians in our high school library, a full-time aide who
>runs the circ. computer, and a full-time secretary who is very computer
>knowledgeable.  That makes an enormous difference in getting a sub.  We
>always try for one, and try to get a library-qualified one, of which
>there are 2 available to us.  Even without a qualifie done, we can always
>find work for them to do, especially as one of us is there to supervise
>and even train.  We stll have to maintain a card catalog, and pulling
>cards is one task we give them.  Shelving books, alphabetizing cards
>prior to filing, checking the catalog for the presence and call numbers
>of books on a teacher;s reading list are others that come to mind.  It
>depends on what is necessary at that time.  I try to keep a list at my
>desk of clerical-type things that a sub can do, especially things that
>are low priority and that I feel I will not have a chance to get to in
>the next several months.
>I also had one reliable person checking the shelf cards for
>correspondence of data to the actual books prior to our submitting the
>cards to a company to enter on our statewide database.  There always
>seems to be something to do.
>
><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>
>Joan Rosen                      |           500 Rices Mill Road
>Librarian                       |        Wyncote, PA 19095, USA
>Cheltenham High School          |                (215) 881-6380
>jrosen@mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us   |           Fax: (215) 881-6406
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>Ever since I had a sub tell me she wnted my job because it was so easy, I've
>started leaving lists of tasks to do when it is quiet. The jobs I've listed
>include shelving books, barcoding books, pulling books from shelves on a
>given topic (given a list), pasting pockets into paperback and other jobs of
>a similar nature. I leave a long list, because I've found that if I say "just
>shelve books," not a whole lot gets done. If I leave a long list the sub
>seems get the idea that there is a lot to be done. Many come to the library
>thinking they have aa day off since they're not in a regular classroom.
>
>Joanne Feiner
>jfeiner@scils.rutgers.edu
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>Being an elementary school media specialist with assigned classes I have
>the substitute teach my classes that are  scheduled for that day.  If it
>is near the end of the month I have them take down bulletin boards or
>other displays making it easier for me to put up the new ones.  I do not
>have them put up bulletin boards because it often doesn't meet my
>approval.  I have them shelve books (i put a map of the media center with
>the sections clearly labeled in my substitute folder) I have them
>straighten shelves, check papers, file catalogues.  I have had more
>problems with untrained substitutes checking out books than doing any of
>these tasks.
>
>Diane Mentzer
>Paramount Elementary School            "Learning to Read is Basic,
>Hagerstown, MD                          Loving to Read is the Plus"
>dmentzer@umd5.umd.edu
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>I ask them to clip information for the vertical file and file it.  That
>seems to be one task that they can do and feel useful.
>meg000@lion.connect.more.net (Pat Walker)
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>Hello!  Thanks so much for posting the hits on sub policy.  It was very
>interesting to see what other schools do.
>
>When I absolutely can not be at school, I provide the substitute with
>detailed skills lesson plans along with some simple storytime alternatives in
>case they are baffled.  I specifically instruct them NOT to turn on the
>computers.  They check out books by writing down patron barcode numbers and
>item barcode numbers. I encourage them to shelve in their free time but I
>don't really expect them to do this.
>
>Since I have 2 excellent senior volunteers this year, I may teach them to
>take care of computerized circulation, but it's so complicated that I am
>unsure about this.
>
>Overall, the easiest option is simply not to be gone.  Of course this isn't
>always possible, but the amount of work required to prepare for a sub is
>daunting.
>
>Katie Olsen
>KatieDid12
>Learning Center Director
>Edgebrook School (K-4)
>McHenry, IL
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>Hi David :)
>
>No problem.  I did happen to post my original HIT on Oct. 5, but
>historically, many good ideas have randomly evolved simultaneously!
>Anyway, I'm very new to the wonderful adventure of exploring this field
>and and attempting to equip myself with as many librarianship
>skills as I possibly can.  Besides the coursework I am taking, what
>better way than finding out over the Net from all our friends out there!
>
>Also, freely sharing our ideas will surely make things better for all of
>us and why should we be selfish with them?  Especially if we take extra
>care in crediting each other with our individual contributions just as you
>have done.  I must also give you a lot of credit for your contributions
>to this subject, as well as your taking such care in communicating your
>concerns about our chance duplication.  I hope you don't mind that I am
>posting this on the Net, as well, because I feel our interaction is an
>example of the "synergetic netting" that is possible for us all to be
>involved in.  What learning fun!
>
>Bobbe Tyhurst
><btyhurst@u.washington.edu>
*************************************************************************

>My substitutes are expected to run the computers, and run circulation. My
>automation program (Surpass II) is particularly user friendly so they can
>master it fairly easily. I do not, however, leave them the password that
>allows them to do ANYTHING but check books in and out, renew, and collect
>fines. Also, I distribute a large number of printouts from X-Press X-Change
>every morning to faculty members and they're expected to do that. Plus, we
>run Channel 1 from the library, so they must do that. Other than that, I just
>hope that keep the lid on the room!
>Nancy Reed
>St. Mary Middle/High School
>Paducah, Ky
>nupper@aol.com
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>Dear David,
>       Since I am on a flexible schedule, the teachers and I have
>planned together the lessons for that day, so I can't cancel or change
>them without throwing off their plans also.  So the substitue does
>everything that I do as far as teaching.  I do have them check books in
>and out by cards rather than the automated system because it is not
>something they can learn in one hour before school starts.  Hopefully I
>will get a regular sub that I can train with that system.  What they
>don't do is Student Council, School Store, and the millions of things
>that I am working on in addition to classes (e.g. grant writing, lesson
>planning, etc.)
>
>Jeanine Gordon
>jgordon@csn.org
>Sabin Elementary School
>Denver Public Schools
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                                End of part 2