Here's the next part:
Your lesson plans probably are not terrible. The substitute just prefers
showing a video.
It is the easiest way of handling the class.
My sixth graders do quite a few world almanac assignments. I ususally start
with an assignment on horse racing, states, or nations because they only use
part of the book. Also assignments using the dictionary or thesaurus. Many
times these take the form of crosswords.
It helps if they have already done another form of the same assignment.
Also silent reading would be better use of the time.
Seems like a rather rude comment to make. I am a little calmer about these
things than I once was and don't get as excited about those things as I once
did. It does not mean I am not irritated.
Maybe the sub could come up with some plans of her own.
Maybe when she is subbing in an elementary room she can put the movie on at
1 and start to clean up the room at 3, but it does not work in the library.
Some of our 2nd grade teachers were doing this every Friday a couple of
years ago.
I usually try to have a lesson plan that fits in with what I've already
been doing--often with a book plus activity as you mentioned.
Sometimes it will be a lesson plan that I've been using with a grade
level, but I rewrite it in greater detail for the substitute. It
sounds like your substitute has serious classroom management problems
(or is just lazy?). It seems to me that the substitute should be
trying to follow your plans whether she likes them or not. In our
county, substitutes are supposed to follow the same copyright
guidelines as the rest of the teachers and since none of us are allowed
to be just running a video to kill time, if substitutes show a video it
is supposed to be part of a face to face teaching situation with other
activities. I know that sometimes a substitute has to change the plans
in some way to get through a class period, but to just do something
totally different than what you wanted seems wrong to me.
Do you have any control over who substitutes for you? Maybe you can
avoid having this person substitute for you again. Do the other
substitutes just put in a video, too?
In our system substitutes are to follow the lesson plans, if they do not we
ask they do not sub in our class or school again.
I usually focus on a book that has won a Caldecott or Newbery. I either
have them show a video of the book and supplement with another book by that same
author or illustrator. If you use picture books, then the video can usually
be shown in 8 to 10 minutes and another book read. I have them review with
the students what is a Caldecott or Newbery and the critieria for the award.
If picture books are not read with excitement or expression, it is hard for
students to sit still.
I do not have my subs do information skill lessons with my students. I
change my lessons for the subs.
The book, The Green Book is a book about a family leaving planet earth
because the planet is in trouble. They can only take one book. I have the sub read
the first part about the choosing of the books and then the sub hands out a
worksheet that has the student write down the name of the book they would take
and why. Then the sub can have open sharing of what books were chosen and
why.
Sounds to me like you need a better substitute. If I
think my lesson would be too demanding of a sub, I
leave them with an alternate plan, which is usually a
picture book with activity. Showing them a full length
movie seems like a cop-out to me--that would be a plan
for a lazy sub. :)
I have made up little one page research topics on approved websites that the
kids can do. They are usually fun things on a topic that I know they will
like - can't go wrong with a weird animal, sports team/hero, etc.
These don't interrupt my flow of teaching and it's easy for a sub to do.
PS - I also, leave picture books - funny ones, tongue twisters, a "mystery
from history" book. These are great and the kids do like them. You're
doing fine! I sure wouldn't do a movie for a month ---
******************************************************************************
*****************
Map activities are not bad either. (except my students were rather inept at
them last year.)
My students love word searches although I don't see the educational value..it
would be better than a video.
My word searches are mostly authors or library terms although their are
exceptions. We will be doing more with Lewis and Clark for the next two years.
That will involve maps also.
Anything you leave with a sub it would help if they have done a similar
assignment. I have even given the same assignment two years in a row. (don't
really recommend this) I am amazed that it takes a while for them to catch on.
(usually only one student per class)
We have to make a folder of "emergency lesson plans" in case we are out
unexpectedly. I have one lesson per grade level in there. So far, I have never had
to use them.
It seems to me that the sub should follow your lessons, and not show videos
or make comments on your efforts:) Just my opinion.
Also, when I leave on Fridays, I usually have the next week planned. The
computer teacher and I meet once a month w/each grade level to get ideas about
what is needed. It would be better if we met more often as not everyone gets to
the lessons when they first think it thru with us. These planning sessions do
not take too long. I don't mind doing a different lesson for each teacher just
as long as the lesson really connects w/content taking place in the classroom.
It's just my opinion, but I'd say that the fact that the students won't
listen to her read has everything to do with her and nothing to do with your
plans! When I leave sub plans, I almost always (except for maybe 7th grade)
write out for the sub exactly what I was planning to do had I been there.
My plans take forever to write, but I feel it maintains consistency for my
students.
If a substitute continued to disregard my plans and used videos with no
regard to the time or the appropriateness (Some of ours are for specific
grades and correlate to lessons that are taught by classroom teachers, I
would request that she not be used for the library again. (Do you have this
ability in your system?)
I did have a sub coment that the fairy tale I had left was not appropriate
for Grade 5. I was not pleased. I had deliberately left it because I had
found that a large nunber of students in that class were completely
unfamiliar with popular fairy tales and this was a perfect chance to
introduce them since it was not part of the curriculum for that grade. I
then left a note in my plan book for the remainder of that year for
substitutes that the lessons could not be changed and that there was a
reason behind each lesson that I had left. I did not have another problem
with that sub so it never went any further. I did request a sub not be
rehired when I found out he came in and sat down to read a newspaper. (We
close the library when I am out and the sub goes to the classroom,) When an
aide saw him reading and realized it was time for the second class, she
spoke to him. He was uncooperative so she located some short videos and set
up everything for him and she notified the office to have the teachers come
to the library. The principal blocked him from subbing in our building
again. It could have been system wide but I never inquired.
Thanks again for everyone's help.
Wendy Carroll
Library Media Specialist
Ridgefield Park, NJ
Grant School (K-6) T-Th
Lincoln School (K-6) M-W-F
wendyscarr@aol.com
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