My original posting:
At the end of the school year, one of the substitutes mentioned to me that
the lesson plans I have left for the 4-5-6th graders are terrible. I usually
leave picture books to read to them with an activity. She has changed the plans
to usually have them watch a video, because she said they wouldn't listen to
her read a book. I was surprised by her telling me this (maybe I'm too
sensitive), anyway, I don't mind that she changed the plans, but the problem is when
I'm back with the class the next week they want to continue watching the
video. Most videos are 1.5 to 2 hours long, which would take almost a month to
watch. I don't want to use the time for this.
My question is, what type of substitute plans do you leave when you are out
sick, personal day, conference, etc.? I have the classes for 40 minutes and I
do have an assistant so they can check out books. Any suggestions would be
appreciated. Thank you.
Wendy Carroll
Library Media Specialist
Ridgefield Park, NJ
Grant School (K-6) T-Th
Lincoln School (K-6) M-W-F
wendyscarr@aol.com
I received about 25 responses (thanks everyone - you're great). Here's the
first half:
I usually leave a plan that involves them using an encyclopedia or to watch a
content related video to find facts.
Picture books don't hold their attention.
Showing a video sounds like a cop out to me. There is no way that should be
happening.
I have Kindergarten to grade three classes for 45 min. of teacher's prep
time each week. Each of the classes gets a story, paper activity and book
exchange. I read two stories to the Ks, but only one to the other classes.
I leave notes about what I'm teaching re fiction, nonfiction, book care etc.
I've never had a TOC complain about this. Sometimes they have a different
page for the students to do and I don't have a problem with that. For the
younger students I usually have a coloring activity that fits with the
story or the activity we did. I use Jan Brett's site often. She has lovely
pictures that the students can color, especially related to the different
holidays and seasons.
When I have a substitute, I leave complete lesson plans. I include approx.
times as well. The lessons usually involve a literacy game, story and book
selection. My classes have been the youngest. We team-teach our 5th graders
so my co-partner usually teaches those classes in my absences. I wonder if
your substitute might not be comfortable with reading aloud. Some people
just hate doing it. Maybe what you need to do is think of some activity
she/he might use so that the students are not behind in your schedule. I had
one sub who substituted her stories for mine, which in the grand scheme of
things was not bad but my former boss was opposed to the sub taking that
initiative.
I'd be very grumpy about a sub that didn't follow my plans. Especially if
the replacement plan was 'easier'. What I have done: Let principal know
plans were not followed (that also helps if a problem with video choice comes
up). Make sure my sub was my choice. Put that sub on my 'do not call' list.
(Last two may not be options in your system).
When I had that problem, I checked with other teachers to see if that was a
pattern for that sub or if she just didn't consider it important to follow
library lessons. If it is a pattern, then definitely pursue discussing with
principal. Most are pretty sensitive to parents calling and asking why kids
watched a movie for 2 hrs a day, especially a sub chosen one.
I leave copies of my regular lessons for the sub. That way all classes will
have the same lesson. It is usually tied to something in the classroom and
is skill related with about 10 min for checkout. My lessons for the sub may
be a bit more detailed than they would be if I were trying to follow them.
Usually that is because the sub may need a little more guidance.
Hope this helps.
It sounds to me that this sub has the problem, not your plans. I have
found that everyone enjoys a good story. I will often leave plans for
picture books for the older kids (I have 4th and 5th) such as folktales
or thought provoking Chris VanAllsberg works. If they won't listen to
these, the problem is her classroom management.
IMHO, I think that the substitute was trying to take the easy way out
of reading...if the kids are watching a video then she doesn't have to
do any work! And I would mind if she changed my plans...particularly to
watching a video....where are the lesson plans that she created to
support watching that video???... or was it just pure 'babysitting' and
not face to face instruction??? Sounds like a copyright violation to
me. I would also see if I could arrange it that I didn't get this sub!
For my 4th graders I tend to leave detailed plans on what we are really
doing! Sometimes I am working them so hard that they don't get much
time to really browse for books and read, so I may give them a break
and let them just checkout and read. (I have them for 45 minutes). I
have also left almanac scavenger hunts for them to do individually or in
pairs, map or atlas scavenger hunts, or some of the brain teaser
worksheets.
You didn't say what books you left, but this is certainly
appropriate...particularly if they are some of the longer folk tales
that they might not read...
If you have no choice but to use this sub, then set up yourself what
videos they are going to watch so it fits within YOUR plans and have
some follow-up activity and make sure you leave her something to do
while they are watching it...like a stack of books to cover or stamp or
shelves to read, or some other task that has an end product that you
can see that she has done more than her nails.
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I'm not a librarian yet (hopefully soon) but I am a teacher and personally, I
think the substitute was overstepping her bounds when she stated that your
lesson plans were "terrible". And watching movies sounds like an easier route
to take - so I might question her motives. On the other hand, do picture
books/activities work well with that age group (4th, 5th, & 6th graders) when
you're there? If yes, maybe she could come and observe you one day to see how it
should go. Sorry I have no suggestions for other lessons plans.
******************************************************************************
********
I always leave my regular teaching plans and expect the substitute to teach
the lessons. I write up my lesson plans in outline form normally. If I
feel it is necessary, I will include extra information with the plans. Some
of the information I will include gets as detailed as telling the substitute
how to phrase a question, what to write on the board, and tips on
distributing worksheets.
Since I teach a specific curriculum to grades 4, 5 and 6, there is always
work to be done in library class. I can understand that some substitutes
would not be engaging when reading aloud to students. Some teachers would
be pretty boring too! However, I never assign a video. Between the lesson,
checking out books and allowing 6-7 minutes at the end of the class time for
all students to read quietly, there is more than enough to do to take up
time in the library.
I've got to tell you that I think it is absolutely appropriate to read
picture books to fourth and fifth graders. There are many wonderful books that are
geared to upper elementary students. My older students love books by Chris
Van Allsburg, David Macauley, scary folk tales, and many others. You do want to
be careful not to select books that are too "babyish".
Not knowing the particulars of your situation (which books you have selected
to be read to the students), my bias is that substitutes prefer videos because
they require less of the teacher.
I may be in an unusual situation but my students, for the most part, prefer
to hear a great book. Most of them can watch television at home - and with
cable television and videos, they've already seen most of the videos we have in
our collection.
I sometimes leave dual plans. That is, I leave one plan for a book for a
substitute to read along with an activity. I also leave a video that is only
long enough to fill that one class period -- 30 minutes or so -- if I feel the
substitute will probably want to show a video instead. If I know I will be out,
I try to make sure the video fits in with what we've been doing in class.
For example, I read Encyclopedia Brown for a few weeks before I knew I'd be out
this spring and the days I was out, I let the substitute show the 30 minute
Encyclopedia Brown video.
Wow! Any substitute who refused to follow lesson plans would NEVER be asked
back to our campus, in any capacity!
I am not required to get a substitute when I am out - the library is simply
closed. But many of my librarian friends do exactly what you do - a
picture book, or a few chapters from a novel, with an activity. Actually,.
my 5th & 6th graders LOVE to be read to! Especially the ones I've had
since Kindergarten. When they reach 3rd grade and I stop reading weekly,
they whine and beg for me to read to them again....
What about having several activities for the sub to choose from? A SHORT
20-30 min. video, some literary or word puzzles/games/websites, etc.
I usually leave an "out" for my sub especially if the plans are to teach
a library skill that they may not be comfortable teaching. I usually ask
the sub to share a book with them that it one of their favorites. If it is
a picture book, they can read the entire story. If an upper grade class is
scheduled to come, I ask the sub to choose one of her favorite chapter books
and read the first few chapters to them.
In terms of videos, you could have a substitute show the video (that is
based on a book) and at the end of the class, announce that if you want to
find out what happens, read the book! Perhaps you could have a separate
collection set aside for this purpose. If I show a video and don't get to
finish it, I ask the teacher if they would like to finish showing it. Some
do and some don't.
I guess I'm seeing 3 separate issues:
Sub not following your plans.-Following your plans IS their job (barring
extenuating circumstances). That needs to be addressed at some administrative
level, especially if there is a pattern of abuse.
Sub choice of video. - What are standards, what curriculum tie-ins are
there?
It is a rough tie to say 'we are watching a part of a movie that is loosely
based on a book that we may not have read or know anything about'. In fact,
there would be possibilities of fair use and copyright issues if there isn't
some discussion or further use of material being presented.
Your curriculum - Your plans reflect meeting the curriculum needs.
Especially at 5th and 6th, though I can put a strong argument forward from
primary (even K), Information Literacy is a critical piece of our curriculum. An
almanac or dictionary bingo game lesson plan would fit better than the first
part of a movie (assuming from comment of 2 hr video). A read aloud,
especially if there was a piece of critical thinking or literary tie (watch for
foreshadowing, what words is author using to convey characterization, mood, etc)
fits
fine to our curriculum.
One thing I did in elementary was order one or two videos from our media
distributor / central service every week. They would tie to stuff happening in
building (units in class, author being studied, etc). Sometimes they filled in
for a teacher (assembly breaking schedule, etc) sometimes they helped with sub
in classroom. Once in a while I could use as a fall back for lesson gone awry
or needed for sub. Sometimes, I'd just review it and let appropriate teachers
know about it.
Will be interested in seeing your HIT.
I had the sub from ...l who also changed my lesson plans -- and usually for
the worse.
First, consider getting some shorter videos -- I have storytelling ones, and
the kids
love them. It's all right to do the video thing when they are short and do
have a
connection to the classroom. Next, you might consider reading some longer
stuff to them.
With fourth grade, we did Henry Winkler's Niagara Falls or Does It, and my
kids loved
it. They also loved The Plant that Ate the Dirty Socks. With fifth grade, I
did My Life
as a Fifth Grade Comedian. These books have the kids glued to me for 35
minutes.
Good luck. Also, next time, get rid of the sub who complained.
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Schedule short videos( Magic school bus are great) while you are out and try
to get a better sub! Offer incentives such as the class with the best
behavior while your're out gets to check out an extra book.
I would request to NEVER have that substitute again. I can understand
plans /problems coming up, but to just arbitrarily put in a video and have
the NERVE to tell you --your plans are terrible!!!!!-- SORRY , she's just
lazy. I would discuss with the students their behavior when a subsititute
is in the library and let them know you expect better behavior, or there
will be consequences to their actions, Do you have any trouble reading to
students or doing these same type activities--key? If you don't why should
she--she's a professional too. Although in her behalf, I've was a sub for 3
years, kids can be a bit crazy with a sub, but they know her buttons
already, be disruptive, get a movie! Have a discussion with the kids and if
she is the only sub left on earth-hahaha and that happens, have a discussion
with HER about your expectations and let her know you've talked with the
students and you expect they will be well behaved, if not, she needs to
leave you the name of the students for you to deal with later, NoT the name
of the video you need to show the next week!! good luck on this one.
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