Sub Hub

Win a $200 Amazon Gift Certificate!

2012-02-23T10:08:00.000-08:00

Yes, you read that headline correctly. Charity Preston at The Organized Classroom Blog has spearheaded a phenomenal contest! She has gathered 11 teacher bloggers along with Marygrove College MAT blog as a sponsor, together to pool resources and offer a HUGE prize! And there's not one, but TWO $200 Amazon gift cards up for grabs!

What do you need to do to enter you might ask? 1) Just visit the Pinteresting Teacher Blogs board on the Organized Classroom Blog's Pinterest page. 2) Create your own Pinteresting Teacher Blogs board on your Pinterest page, and repin all of the pins from the contest board. 3) Then enter your information into the entry form by 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 26, 2012. TWO winners will be chosen using a random number generator and notified via email.

Here are the participating blogs: Marygrove College MAT blog, Sunny Days in Second Grade, Technically Invisible, Laura Candler's Teaching Resources, Sub Hub, Teaching Resources by Shelley Gray, Cooperative Learning 365, The Organized Classroom Blog, 3rd Grade Gridiron, The Lesson Plan Diva, Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies, and The Cornerstone for Teachers. Make sure you show them love by becoming followers if you aren't already.

Good luck!

*This contest is no way endorsed by Pinterest.

Animal Picture Writing Prompts Freebie

2012-02-18T18:13:00.000-08:00

Picture writing prompts are making their way into standardized testing. As a sub, you can kill two birds with one stone with a picture writing prompt... you can fill time, and it can be purposeful. And many other bloggers are on the picture writing prompt bandwagon with a collaborative Pinterest board and a linky party at Diary of a Wimpy Teacher and co-hosted by Classroom Magic. But I know that not all subs have computer access in the classroom (I don't), so I created a freebie document of Animal Picture Writing Prompts you can download and print.

Or you can visit the Writing Picture Prompts Pinterest board for these and plenty of other picture writing prompts from other fabulous bloggers. Here are my prompts that can be found on the board and in the download.

Everything I Learned in Kindergarten Yesterday

2012-02-17T10:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege of subbing in kindergarten. I have not spent much time in kinder. In the four years I have subbed, I think all of three days have been in kinder. So, I was feeling excited, nervous, and a little bit scared. I arrived at the school my usual 30 minutes early to prepare myself, locate everything necessary, and review the lesson plans. It all turned out beautifully! The kiddos were great, and we all had a lot of fun. I did make a few observations, so here is a list of everything I learned in kindergarten yesterday...

Kinders are used to routines. Most students are, but nowhere is this more apparent than in kindergarten, espcially during calendar time. Choruses of, "That's not how we do it!" rang out around the room. So I changed my strategy and told them that I needed help. I would choose helpers to "do it the right way" by who was sitting quietly. The rest of calendar went smoothly.

Kinders are loving. I had been there an hour with students whom I had never met, when no fewer than 3 students said, "I love you!" and gave me a hug.

Kinders are a good workout. I came home with my quad muscles aching, and I couldn't figure out why. Then I remembered all the up and down I had done. Squatting down to meet them at their level makes for quite the leg workout. I decided that I would have wicked thighs if I taught kinder all the time!

Kinders are fun. I spent the day singing songs, reading books, coloring, cutting, and pasting.

Kinders are appreciative. I was reading the second book of the day, which happened to be The Three Billy Goats Gruff." I was using my best "troll" voice. One student giggled every time I spoke in "troll." And then another pops up with, "Ms. F, you sure are a good reader!" Why, thank you! Ha!

Kinders are exhausting! It was a day of love, fun, and learning, but I came home pooped! I realized it's that there is no downtime in a kinder classroom. There is no "work on this while I get the next lesson prepped." And I am pretty sure they broke a record for the number of times my name has been spoken in one day.

So, hats off to all you full-time kinder teachers! You have my utmost respect for doing all that every single day. Feel free to share your kinder teaching and subbing observations.

Why I LOVE Being a Sub

2012-02-14T06:26:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd do love in a different way... why I love being a sub. I'm not going to lie, it's a tough job, not always fun, and has a bunch of down sides. But there are also plenty of positives about subbing, and today is a perfect day to remember them. This is what I love about being a sub:

1) Flexibility. You can work when you want. If my children are sick, I am sick, I have car trouble, or I have an appointment, I just don't take a job for that day. No worries about finding a sub or writing lesson plans.

2) Less Paperwork. Ask many teachers, and they will tell you one of the most tedious parts of teaching is all the paperwork that comes with the job. As a sub, however, you don't have to worry about writing IEPs or documenting RTi or completing report cards. The only paperwork you really need is your Daily Report.

3) Grandparent Privileges. Much like a grandparent who gets to play with the grandkids and then give them back, a sub gets to "give a class back" to the full-time teacher at the end of the day. This is particularly pleasant in those classes with the extra "challenging" students.

4) Less Pressure. In these days of high-stakes testing, it is not the sub who takes the heat if the students are not getting the scores expected. When there is a student who is below level, the sub just does what they can for the day. But there is no pressure to get that student on grade level.

5) Teach and Leave. Once all the students have departed for the day and clean-up is done, subs get to leave right after school is out. Not so with full-time teachers. They have lesson planning, meetings, grading, and all that paperwork.

6) "Stealing" Ideas. My final and favorite part of being a sub is getting to go in multiple classrooms to see how other great teachers have their classroom set up, use different teaching strategies, and so much more. I have gotten so many amazing ideas just by seeing them in practice in other teachers' classrooms.

Those are my sub favorites. What do you love about being sub?

You Know You're a Substitute Teacher When...

2012-02-11T16:44:00.000-08:00

Normal people would be highly annoyed that their phone rang at 6 a.m., but for a substitute teacher, it means work... and that's a good thing! How would you finish that sentence? Put your responses in the comments. Or you can make your own by clicking this link.

And then go visit Kindergarten Lifestyle and join your creation up with her linky party!

Celebrating Black History Month by Escaping on the Underground Railroad

2012-02-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

Every now and then I forget how lucky my family is that we live in an excellent public school district, and our elementary school is particularly notable. And then something amazing slaps me in the face and makes me count my lucky stars. One such event happened this week. I knew nothing about what was going to happen when the call came out for one more parent volunteer, and I stepped forward.

I knew my son's second grade class had been studying the Underground Railroad. They had read stories in class, had discussions, and some worksheets had come home for homework. And they each made a Wanted poster for Harriet Tubman. Those were hanging all over the school. Here are some great read-aloud books to choose from:

What I didn't know until that day (getting my son to tell about his day at school is like pulling teeth), is that they were also studying how the Underground Railroad was marked with signals that would only be familiar to those in the know, including quilt squares. And each students made their own quilt square in one of the actual patterns used.

There was also a simple at-home project component. The students were given a bandana and told it to fill it with three or four items they thought they would need if they were traveling on the Underground Railroad. Of course, the teachers did specify that no food was allowed (that was provided), and nothing dangerous should be included. For my son, this caused quite the dilemma. Eventually, he chose a metal camping cup (he reasoned he could dig with it and use it for drinking and eating), a compass, binoculars, and a journal (he thought someone needed to document the journey). Then they tied the filled bandana to a stick and brought it to school. Yes, I drove my son to school that day. The thought of that stick on the bus was not a pleasant one for me. The doll in the second picture here was one that they made in class.

On the day of the "journey," I arrived as a volunteer and was given very detailed instructions. A path had already been marked with the quilt squares in and around the school. I had step-by-step instructions for each stop, including a detailed map and how much time to spend at each one. I also had a bag of crackers for snack. There were two dads who had volunteered to dress in period clothing and serve as bounty hunters. They carried Harriet Tubman Wanted posters, tried to catch escaping "slaves," and offered rewards to those of us who were friends of the slaves.

Each second grade classroom was split into three groups, led by either a parent volunteer or the teacher. The groups left at five-minute intervals to try to prevent pile-ups at the stops. Here is a description of my group's journey:

We left the classroom (Monkey Wrench quilt) at 8:30 a.m. Each student was carrying their filled knapsack. I told them we had to be very quiet and stick together so the bounty hunters wouldn't catch us. However, let's just say that if it had been a real journey, we would have been doomed. We went out a nearby door (Bear Paw quilt) and wound through some trees just outside the school building. Then we headed back inside and up the stairs (Flying Geese quilt) to a participating third grade classroom (May Basket quilt). Here they were allowed to rest under a table covered by a quilt and have their cracker snack.

Making the sure the coast was clear, we headed down the hall to the library (Log Cabin quilt) where we rested under a quilt-covered table. Then we snuck out the back door of the library and across the hall to the PTA room and continued down the hall (Birds in the Air quilt). Here is where it got scary.

Who did we run into, but a bounty hunter! The slaves screamed and darted into another third grade room that was not on the map. Oooops! While I was trying to gather the slaves to continue on our journey and apologizing to the teacher, the slaves instinctively hid under her table. Finally, the bounty hunters were gone, and we could continue on to the The Learning Center room (Drunkard's Path quilt).

Here we wound around the several round tables in the room and headed out the door and back down a different staircase (Bowtie quilt) where we pretended to get a fresh change of clothes. We headed back up the front hallway to hide under another staircase (Crossroads quilt). We had to stay here for some extra time since those bounty hunters were back. Then we were able to continue into the teacher's entrance to the office (Bear Paw quilt).

Here is where we got lucky and found another friend to help hide us. It was the vice principal who offered us a safe place to rest. We went out the front office door and down a different hallway to hide under a quilt in an empty room (Log Cabin quilt). We snuck down the hall (Flying Geese quilt) and continued into the cafeteria and onto the stage (Sailboat quilt).

The stage had several large pieces of blue paper. This was the Great Lakes we had to cross. Finally we saw the door to the outside marked with the North Star quilt. We had made it to freedom in Canada! We celebrated by singing "The Ballad of the Underground Railroad" and "Follow the Drinkin' Gourd" that the students had learned in music. Then they ate popcorn and played on the playground.

It was a long, tiresome journey that was dangerous in places, but we made it! What a wonderful way for students to experience the Underground Railroad and celebrate Black History Month!

You Need a Thneed... and Some FREE Lorax Lessons

2012-02-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

The Lorax is hands-down my favorite Dr. Seuss book, although I do love all things Seuss. You can imagine my excitement after seeing the movie trailer for the new movie scheduled to open (appropriately enough) on Dr. Seuss's birthday March 2. I was also excited thinking about how perfect it was that my free fourth grade emergency sub plans are based on The Lorax. But then I thought, "What about those other grade level teachers? They need some Lorax too."

So what I have created for you is a FREE Lorax unit with ideas and printables for each subject. Most activities can be used as-is for grades 2-4, and only some minor modifications would be needed for kindergarten, first, and fifth grades. You could use it for Dr. Seuss's birthday, to celebrate the movie, or even for Earth Day (which is when I always love to teach The Lorax). There are at least five lessons/activities for each subject. If you wanted to, you could probably teach The Lorax for two weeks! I know no one has that kind of time, so what the multiple ideas allow you to do is to pick and choose the ones that you like best and would work best for your class.

Also, for the little ones, you can use this free Lorax moustache pattern and a sentence strip to make a Lorax hat.

Perfect for teachers, teachers to leave for subs, and subs to carry for that just-in-case scenario. Enjoy!

A Must-Have for Teachers and Subs: Laura Candler's New Graphic Organizers Book

2012-02-07T04:56:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make. I am a graphic organizer junkie. Just add that to the many things I am addicted to: blogging, Facebook, Pinterest, chocolate, coffee... of course, there are plenty of worse vices to have I suppose. Keeping this graphic organizer obsession in mind, it will be pretty obvious why I love Laura Candler's newest publication... Graphic Organizers for Reading: Teaching Tools Align with the Common Core for Grades 2-8.

First of all, it comes from Laura Candler of Teaching Resources and Corkboard Connections. I have several other products from her, and they are high quality and useable in the classroom. And secondly, they are graphic organizers (I told you I was obsessed).

For teachers in general, and subs in particular, I feel that graphic organizers are a perfect item to carry with you. If you're stuck with no lesson or lessons that didn't take nearly enough time, just pull out a graphic organizer. They are great because they are so versatile... they work for every subject and grade level and can springboard into writing activities and other lessons.

There are a lot of graphic organizers out there (I even make plenty myself), but here is what makes Laura Candler's Graphic Organizers for Reading different and wonderful:
• It's thorough... 109 pages with 26 different types of graphic organizers.
• It's organized... She has them grouped into the categories of multi-purpose, informational, and literature.
• It's informative... She doesn't leave you to guess how to use the graphic organizers. For each type, she has instructions on how to use it in teaching, a blank one, and a filled-in example.
• It's standards-based... She shows you how to use each one to link it to a Common Core State Standard.

Never again will you not have a graphic organizer to use. And never again will you be confused as to how to use it. This is fantastic, especially for substitute teachers who are not certified teachers and may not have as strong a pedagogy background. Simply, follow the instructions in the book, and you will not go wrong.

I do have to disclose that I am proud to call Laura Candler my friend, but I am doing this review on my own (not because she asked me to), and I am not being compensated for it. In fact, she offered to send me the book, but I had already bought it. I bought it the very night she announced it was available. That's how excited I was for it to be published. And I was not disappointed in any way, shape, or form. I feel that it was a worthwhile purchase since I will always have something useful for students to do from now on.

A Cabinet T-chart? Why Didn't I Think of That?

2012-02-03T05:58:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about being a sub is seeing all the great ideas in different teachers' classrooms. The other day I was in a classroom and noticed something I had never seen before. Maybe some of you are as clever as this teacher, and this is old news for you. For that, I am sorry. But I figure if I was amazed at it, maybe some other readers will be amazed too. At this particular school, there are not closets in the classrooms so they have tall two-door cabinets similar to this one:

What this teacher did that is so brilliant in my opinion is use those cabinet doors as a giant class T-chart! I know! The class has just started polygons, so when I was there, the headings that she had just typed, printed out, and taped on the cabinet were "polygons" and "non polygons." Then she had printed and cut out pictures, and as a class, they sorted the images into the appropriate category. It was so cool! And the possibilities of topics are endless and could be changed out as you move from unit to unit. Sometimes I am in awe of the resourcefulness and creativity of teachers. So, are you as amazed as I was?

Down with Downtime! K-5 Reading and Language Arts Available Now

2012-02-02T08:12:00.000-08:00

Some of you have already discovered Down with Downtime: K-5 Reading has been available in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store for about a week even though I never blogged about it. And now Down with Downtime: K-5 Language Arts is also ready so I thought I'd let you know about both. Like Down with Downtime: K-5 Math, these two packets are for those minutes after a lesson is finished, but it's not time for the next activity. All Down with Downtimes are based on the Common Core State Standards and incorporate as many Higher Order Thinking Skills as possible. Remember, they are good for grades K-5, although not every activity will be appropriate for every grade level. You must use your discretion in choosing the right time filler.

There are free samples for both as well. Either download the preview for each at Teachers Pay Teachers or get them by clicking here:
FREE Down with Downtime: K-5 Reading Sample

FREE Down with Downtime: K-5 Language Arts Sample

I'm "It"!

2012-02-01T06:39:00.000-08:00

OK, so there is a rousing game of tag bouncing around the teacher blogging world. And apparently I'm now "it" according to Denise at:

So first, the boring stuff. Here are the "rules":

1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!
12 Fun (well, to me anyway) Facts About Me1. I was a former journalist before changing careers to become a teacher.2. I have gotten to interview some famous people: Billy Bob Thornton, Dakota Fanning, and Jada Pinkett Smith.3. I have two beautiful children who are my world.4. The first movie I ever saw in a theater was Star Wars (guess I sort of revealed my age with that one).5. I have gotten to travel overseas twice for free... to Italy and Costa Rica.6. I am truly a cat person, but we own a cat, a dog, and a fish.7. I am clinically addicted to blogging, Facebook, and Pinterest. But I have a hard time getting into Twitter.8. My husband is also a teacher.9. I was a competitive gymnast until I went away to college.10. I was a cheerleader for my college.11. Even though I am female, I am a bigger sports fan than my husband. Go Spurs Go!12. I am really good at cutting and serving cake because in high school I worked birthday parties held at my gymnastic club.

Here are my answers to Denise's 12 questions:

1. What subject do you like to teach the most? Given my background, I seriously love to teach writing, and it is always my go-to time filler.

2. What is your favorite drink? Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

3. What is one piece of advice you have for a new teacher? It does get (a little) easier.

4. What is your favorite teaching website/or blog? I really cannot answer that question. There are so many fantastic ones out there.

5. What is your favorite type of music? I like a ton of music... anything from jazz to country to pop to dance depending on my mood.

6. What is one of your guilty pleasures? Watching TV shows like Glee, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, and the Voice.

7. What type of books do you like to read? Definitely fiction for the most part, but other than that my taste in books varies a lot just like my taste in music. Some of my favorite recent reads are The Help, The Hunger Games trilogy, and The Book Thief.

8. What are some of your hobbies? Blogging, reading, camping, and hiking.

9. What is something you do to stay organized in terms of grading/lesson planning/copies for school/etc.? Lists, lists, lists! I make them for everything.

10. What is your favorite snack? I have a sweet tooth so anything sweet, especially if it is chocolate.

11. What was your favorite vacation? Last summer we took the fam to Washington, D.C. after my son had studied architecture and the White House. It was so much fun to see how much the kids got out of the trip.
12. How did your husband propose? It was written on a note inside a Winnie the Pooh picture frame.

And now here are my picks. Just use those same questions, guys. Tag! You're it:
Fun to Teach
Teaching with Style
Sharing Kindergarten
Nyla's Crafty Teaching
Journey of a Substitute Teacher
Second Grade Two-Step

What's the Hubbub, Bub?

2012-01-30T09:05:00.000-08:00

Sub HubBub, that is. The first issue of Sub HubBub, the monthly newsletter of the Sub Hub blog, is set to go out straight to your email inbox on Wednesday, February 1. And there is a freebie inside just for subscribers! Don't miss out on any issues. Become a subscriber today, if you haven't already. Just click on the link to fill out the form below. Or find the shortened version in the sidebar on the right.

What Matters to You?

2012-01-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

~Mahatma Ghandi

Yesterday I posted that quote on the Sub Hub Facebook page as a hint to today's blog post. So, here's the big reveal... today I am reviewing (and giving away a copy of) Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie, chief shoe giver of TOMS.

When I applied to review the book, my thoughts were these: 1) I love TOMS shoes!, 2) Sub Hub is something that matters, and 3) Maybe I'll get something for a giveaway for my fans. As I wrote the blurb explaining to TOMS why Sub Hub would be a good place to review the book, I didn't honestly think I would be chosen. After all what does a substitute teaching blog really have to do with a wildly successful shoe company doing so much good in the world? Apparently TOMS saw something I didn't because I did get chosen. And after reading the book, I can see why. So much of what I was reading, I could completely relate to what I and so many other teacher bloggers out there are trying to do... yes, we are trying to make a little money to supplement a teacher's (and in my case a substitute teacher's) income, but we also offer advice, free resources, and an open ear to hopefully make the challenging and ultra important job of teaching a little easier for some.

One of the first examples that popped into my head was Laura Candler at Teaching Resources. At the end of last year, she offered funds for teacher's Donors Choose projects. Now if that doesn't follow the TOMS philosophy, I don't know what does.

For those of you who don't know TOMS, they are designed based on an Argentinian shoe, and the company pioneered the One for One business idea... for every pair of TOMS shoes bought, a pair is donated to a child in need. And besides that amazingly charitable idea, the shoes are comfortable (they are one of two brands that I can wear all day teaching and not have my legs and back ache at the end of the day). Plus, they come in so many fun, colorful designs besides basic shoe colors.

I thought Start Something That Matters was simply going to be another autobiographical account of business success, which I still wanted to read since (as I said before) I love TOMS shoes. Boy was I wrong! Yes, the first chapter does tell the TOMS story, and it is quite fascinating since Mycoskie had zero experience in designing, making, or selling shoes before he started the company. But the book is so much more than that. The rest of the book tells other inspirational business stories and urges you to make a difference in the world, do what you love and give back... and he gives lots of tips to do just that, while at the same time maybe even making a little (or a lot) of money. Yes, maybe it is a little Pollyanna, but Mycoskie does seem very upfront that most businesses won't make it. And he does offer very doable, practical advice to achieve the do-gooder goals.

One of my favorite points he makes is the power of storytelling. Mycoskie writes, "As consumers, customers will want your product for the typical reasons... but as supporters they also believe in what you're doing; they've bought into your story because it taps into something real, and they want to be a part of it." I liken supporters to blog followers... you follow a blog because you believe in the ideas, or the stories the blogger tells. I also related his "power of storytelling" message to teaching itself. People learn better and retain the information longer when the teaching is woven into a storyline.

With other chapter titles of "Face Your Fears," "Be Resourceful Without Resources," "Keep It Simple," "Build Trust," and "Giving Is Good Business," Mycoskie is obviously not just tooting his own horn by relaying his success story. Besides all that, Mycoskie is also applying the One for One concept to the book as well... with every book purchased, Random House will donate a book to a child in need through First Book. What teacher can't get on board with that? He is trying to start something else that matters... encouraging others to start organizations that impact the world. And with more than 7 billion humans on this Earth now, we can use all of that we can get.

Mycoskie starts and ends the book with a poem titled "Success" that is often attributed to Elisabeth-Anne Anderson Stanley. The final stanza goes like this, "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." I feel like all of us involved in some way in educating children do just that, but why not try to do even more? And if you are interested in jumping into the blog world to start something that matters, I highly recommend Charity Preston's Teaching Blog Traffic School. Many of her tips were echoed in the book, and it has certainly helped me get started in my endeavor to make a difference in the world of substitute teaching.

I have one copy of Start Something That Matters to give away to one lucky follower. All you need to do is subscribe to Sub Hub through RSS or email. The email is simple. Just find this picture on the right and enter your email address (watch for typos!):

But if you are like me and get too many emails already, then you can also subscribe through the RSS feed. Here is how you do that. On the right sidebar, look for:

When you click on "posts," you will see:

Then just click your choice. I use the Google option, because it puts the blog posts right into your Google Reader, making it super easy for me to keep up with all my favorite blogs. Once you have done that, simply fill out the form below to be entered for a chance to win your copy of Start Something That Matters.

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Valentine's Day Math and Science Freebie

2012-01-24T06:59:00.000-08:00

I find that many Valentine's Day activities are focused on reading and writing... my first one was. And it's no wonder with the tradition of exchanging cards for the holiday. But Valentine's Day can also be a time to showcase some math and science skills. This Valentine's Day Math and Science freebie I have made does just that. It has four ideas for each subject and reproducibles to go with a couple of activities. I hope you enjoy it!

Baby Math... with Some Writing

2012-01-23T06:37:00.000-08:00

Since I have gotten so many long-term sub jobs covering for teachers on maternity leave, many students have dubbed me the "baby teacher." It is a nickname I wear proudly. If teachers trust me enough to want me in their classroom when they can't be there for weeks, I can think of no better compliment.

This is a two-part activity I have done at the start of most of those maternity sub jobs. It worked so well the first time, that I have continued to do it with each one. I will caution you to use your discretion because one of my last jobs was for a teacher who had a sweet little preemie. Luckily everything worked out with her and the baby, but I skipped the first part (the measurement part) of this activity because I felt it was in poor taste. And I also did not do this activity when I took over for another long-term sub who could not complete the job since the baby was already a week old.

You need to wait for the announcement about the birth of the baby and the inevitable height and weight declaration. When I get this information, I cut curling ribbon that exact length, and fill a plastic container with water so it weighs roughly the same as the baby. A gallon-sized container filled with water will weigh roughly 10 pounds, so you can adjust from there. Then when I announce that the baby was born and give all the details, I can pass around the ribbon and plastic container so the students have an actual visual of how big the baby is. I also like to discuss that just like the ribbon, babies are all curled up and the nurses have to stretch the baby out to get the length. You can discuss comparisons such as, "What else do you know that is about this size?" Or, "What surprised you about this?" For the little ones, I usually put the water and ribbon in a science center so they can explore further.

After we have our measurement discussion, I always let them make cards. Those work as both a language arts and an etiquette lesson. My favorite thing to ask is "what advice would you give the baby." Those responses are always so cute and insightful. The cards can all be sent with a teacher or someone else who is close to the mom. I have had teacher after teacher tell me how appreciated those cards were.

The whole activity usually doesn't take too long since I only give them 20 minutes or so to initially work on the cards and then they can finish them as they finish other work. Plus it helps the class stay connected to their teacher.

Love Is in the Air Valentine Freebie

2012-01-19T12:33:00.000-08:00

I know. I know. It's a little early, but I am a planner. Ask anyone who knows me. So, I wrote up one of my favorite Valentine's Day activities and created some free printable cards for your students to use. This activity is based on this book, and the photo is an Amazon link if you don't have the book:

I start off by reading the book, which students love (Hello... it has stinky feet in the title!) and also has a great message of kindness and friendship. Also throughout the book are poems based on the "roses are red; violets are blue" pattern. We discuss all this, and then I challenge the students to write their own poems. They can write rough drafts, edit them, and print the final versions on the free reproducible cards I made. Be sure to print those front and back so students just have to cut on the gray lines to make four cards out of one sheet of paper. I also recommend copying them on card stock so they end up a little sturdier. I have the whole activity for Write Your Own Valentine Poems available here.

Down with Downtime! K-5 Math Now Released

2012-01-17T11:56:00.000-08:00

You finished the lesson plans, but there’s still 10-15 minutes left before the next activity. Now what? Downtime is the enemy of teachers everywhere. However, my new line of Down with Downtime Last Minute Lesson Savers has you covered.

Down with Downtime is a new line of activities broken down by topic based on the Common Core State Standards, but not grade level. Most of the activities can be modified to fit any grade level K-5, so use your judgement for what is appropriate for your students. And many of them focus on Higher Order Thinking Skills.

In no way is Down with Downtime intended to be an exhaustive list of activities. My hope is that you can find something useful when you need it. And that the activities can inspire you to create some of your own. This is why I have left blanks at the end of each section.

Down with Downtime: K-5 Math is the first Down with Downtime file I created. I plan on releasing ones for Reading, Language Arts, and Science/Social Studies as well. You can also access a free sample of Down with Downtime: K-5 Math here.

Used in conjunction with lesson plans, whether they are my free Emergency Lesson Plans, Just Add Paper plans, or the classroom teacher’s curriculum plans, these activities will prepare you to handle any classroom downtime and turn you into Super Sub.

In Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-16T05:53:00.000-08:00

For me one of the big highlights of my family's vacation last summer to Washington, D.C. was standing in the spot outside the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. Even though the pool was drained because of construction, I stood on that spot and tried to imagine what King must have seen. In my opinion, that speech is one of the best ever given by anyone in history.

Teachers all over the U.S. celebrate King's birthday in various ways. I have been a long-term sub in two different classrooms (second and third grade) and both times I did a similar activity. My absolute favorite book depicting King is Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. To me it is a perfect introduction to a very delicate subject for elementary-aged students.

But rather than me reading it, I prefer to play this YouTube video narrated by Michael Clarke Duncan, who you might remember from "The Green Mile." The video also uses spiritual songs to accompany words from King's famous speeches, including "I Have a Dream." Every time I watch this video, it stirs me inside, and I feel the tears well up. And I have watched the same thing happen in students.

After watching it, I open up for discussion what was seen in the video, and then I give them an open writing prompt... usually about their own dreams for the world. I always find it interested how many students have trouble understanding discrimination with "separate but equal" facilities. And then I think, how wonderful is that... that we've come far enough that many children today cannot even fathom their friend having to drink at a different water fountain. It warms my heart. You can be artistic about the assignment too and use one of the very creative projects I found and pinned on my MLK Teaching Ideas Pinterest board.

Have we achieved King's dream? I would say we have made huge strides, but we also have a ways to go yet.

Need Tips on Getting Sub Jobs?

2012-01-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

Somehow I have managed to not be able to land a full-time teaching job, but I seem to be pretty good at landing sub gigs. I thought I'd share a few of my strategies with the hopes that it might help some of you struggling out there. And if you are a successful sub, feel free to share additional strategies you use in the comments section. I have found that two major things count — who you know (and who knows you) and the kind of job you do.

Make some contacts. I was fortunate that I made some contacts during my student teaching days. And when I went into subbing, I made sure to put that school on my list, even though it is far from my house. The teachers knew who I was and that I knew what I was doing and would call me to request subbing. And one funny thing about teaching is that teachers all know teachers at other schools, so they could tell their friends that I was dependable and I got requests from others.
Utilize social media. I don't often sub at that student teaching school much anymore, but I still keep up those contacts by having many of the teachers as my Facebook friends. And at each new school I manage to get a foot in, I add those teachers to my friend list as well. As they get to "know" me better through Facebook, they feel more comfortable requesting me. Of course, you do need to watch what you are putting out there. That strategy could easily backfire on you if you are posting school-inapropriate things.
When you do get a sub job, make a good impression. Actions always speak louder than words, so arrive early and introduce yourself to the principal, office assistants, and teachers. Treat the students with kindness (even those challenging ones) because they are the ones who will report back to the teacher if they liked you or not. If the students say that you yelled all day and were mean, it is less likely for that teacher to call you back. Follow any lesson plans to the best of your abilities and as the schedule allows. Leave a detailed note about any changes you made or things you didn't get to. I also try to note whether or not most students finished an assignment and how the lesson seemed to go. Make sure you list any students who were particularly helpful, and note any challenges and how you solved them. I try never to dump a problem in a teacher's lap without first having tried to solve it myself. Make sure those challenges you write up really are something the teacher needs to know about as well. I usually only write up major issues since writing up every little thing will make you seem incompetent. Also leave contact information if the teacher has any questions for you. You can download my free Daily Summary Form for help with the note.

Try to go the extra mile. If you have a spare moment, grade some papers from the day. During your planning period, you could head to the office to see if any assistance is needed anywhere else in the school. Offer to take another teacher's duties if possible. All that will build up lots of good will.
Market yourself. I have mentioned this before, but I have business cards that I leave in teachers' boxes at least once a year. I do check with the principal before I do this, but I have never been turned down. Something else to try would be to put a magnet on the back of that business card. I have been in many classrooms where I saw my card on the side of a filing cabinet near the phone (that is exactly what you are going for), and it would be easier for the teacher if there was a magnet already attached. Vistaprint is a great site to get your business cards made for free, or you can create your own by purchasing business card templates from any office supply store.
Be creative. If you are having trouble getting jobs, try some more creative marketing tactics. Here is an interesting one from from STEDI, the substitute teaching division of Utah State University, where you can create your own online profile for free. Full-time teachers can search for you when they are looking for quality subs.

Remember, what you are going for is when teachers need a sub, they think of you. I rarely (and actually despise) relying on the automated sub system for jobs. I have worked hard to develop a reputation as the sub teachers want in their classrooms when they cannot be there. If you can do that, you will have all the work you can handle.

Compare and Contrast Books About Loveys... with a Freebie

2012-01-11T11:58:00.000-08:00

Monday I subbed in a fourth grade class. The teacher had told me ahead of time that she was so sick she would not have time to put together lesson plans. I was familiar with the other teachers on the team and the class, however, and knew the teachers would provide me with everything I needed and the students would hang right there with me while we figured it out. Just in case, I brought a Compare and Contrast activity using three picture books.

For Christmas, I asked for any books by Patricia Polacco as she is one of my favorite authors. Yes, I am a grown-up, but when you teach elementary students, you ask for picture books. What I got was a title I was unfamiliar with, but now love... Bun Bun Button. When I read it, I was immediately reminded of Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems and Corduroy by Don Freeman since they all tell stories of special loveys treasured by children. I already had the other books, so I brought all three.

Sure enough, we had time (and the students begged me) to read all three books. And amazingly, the reading skill they were focusing on for the week was compare and contrast! Perfect! When we finished all three, I had the students draw and complete a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the three books. The students went to town. They are great books to do that with! Each pair of books has unique things in common, all three have things in common, and each book has differences as well... plenty to fill in each spot in the diagram. I just had these students draw their Venn diagrams on a sheet of notebook paper, but I have created a freebie for you. Compare and Contrast Loveys has four Venn diagrams, three with the various combinations of two of the three books to use with younger students, and one with all three for the older ones.

These would be great sheets to laminate to reuse with multiple classes, or as an alternative to lamination, you can simply put them in a sheet protector and it serves as make-shift lamination.

As an extension for earlier finishers, I had them write on the back of their diagram a connection they were able to make with the book. Many wrote about their own loveys, but one student even related the stories to Linus from the Peanuts comic series. We did this activity in the morning, and they were still talking about it at dismissal. I would say it was a success!

And if you need a source for the books, I have provided the Amazon links in a slideshow below.

Manage a Classroom with Little Stress and No Power Struggles

2012-01-08T06:22:00.000-08:00

As a sub, one of the hardest parts of the job is classroom management. No matter who the student is, each one acts at least a little differently when a sub is in the room. The district I work for encourages the Love and Logic^® approach, a system that is all about using empathy and empowering students to take responsibility and solve their own problems. I use the principles as a parent with my own children and as a long-term sub, and they work beautifully. However, since much of the Love and Logic system is based on building relationships with the students and that only truly happens over time, I was unsure about how to apply some of the ideas as a one-day sub. So I went straight to the source — Jim Fay, the co-founder and creator of the Love and Logic philosophy.

What Fay wants you to remember as a one-day sub is: “You are there to hold down the fort. You are not in there to be just like the teacher. That screams ‘phony’ in the eyes of the kids.”

The first thing he says that is of the utmost importance is making friends with a few of the teachers around you. You can also talk to the principal at the beginning of the day to make sure it is OK if you send a student down just to cool off.

When it comes to interacting with the students, your first job is meeting the students at the door with a smile. Fay said one of the best subs he ever saw would start that way and then immediately disarm the students by joking things like, “I’m glad to be here and not fighting with my husband at home;” or “I don’t know any of the rules in here, so if you wanted to break them, today would be a good day.”

Next, you need to make sure you have some rules that are worded as if they are only for you. Some good ones Fay suggests are: 1) I listen to one person at a time; 2) I listen to students who raise their hands; and 3) I teach when there are no disruptions.

That way when a student calls out to you, you can respond by looking away and asking aloud, “When do I listen?” Or if there is a disruption, saying, “This is not working. When will I be glad to teach?” What these statements do is take the power away from the students in a nonconfrontational way.

Fay also suggests having some activities in your back pocket. “Great subs bring in things of their own,” he said. He suggests always having at least one book with you and having plenty of generic learning games to use if things start to go awry. It’s not going to do you, the students, or the teacher any good if you just try to plow through the lesson plans if no one is listening or participating. Try taking a break with a game or a book, and then go back to the lesson. Do make sure you write those things up in the report at the end of the day… not in a negative way, but things like: “In addition to the plans, today we learned about…”

Besides these basics, there are a few Love and Logic principles that can be used directly by subs. The first is the idea of Short-term Recovery, or sending a disruptive student to an alternative location. This is where making friends with the teachers around you comes in handy. If there is not a quiet, private spot in the classroom where a student can cool off, then send him to another classroom for a brief period of time. It is important that this strategy not be used with anger or as a punishment for the student. It is simply a change of scenery. And I personally have seen it work wonders.

Another principle that can be used by subs is Neutralizing Arguing. Anyone who has tried to argue and reason with an angry student knows how useless it is, so use the techniques of staying calm, “going brain dead,” using (and continuing to use) a one-liner like “I respect you too much to argue” or “I know it feels that way,” and if the arguing continues, responding with “I argue at 12:00 or 3:00 each day. Which would be best for you?”

Giving students choices is another successful classroom management strategy. The important things to keep in mind with choices are to give them often, only give two at a time, only give a short time for the student to make the choice (or you make it for them), and only give choices that you are OK with. Giving choices takes away the power struggle and allows the student to feel in control.

Finally, the Love and Logic system says that all students should always be guided to solve their own problems. This involves the steps of offering empathy, asking the student what they are going to do, offering examples of what other students have done to solve similar problems, and giving them permission to try their solution whether it works or not.

“Always remember,” said Fay, “that the number one job of the kids is to try to get you upset.” Don’t let them win. Keep your cool and try these strategies to have a smooth day every day.

Make sure you visit the Love and Logic website and sign up for their free Insider’s Club at the top of the page. You will get emails with articles addressing specific situations. I have found them incredibly helpful as a parent, teacher, and sub. Also at the site is their online store where they have a wealth of resources, including a new CD called “The Love and Logic Classroom… More Cooperative, Higher Achieving Students.” Another CD that is my favorite is “Quick and Easy Classroom Interventions.”

Mystery Walker Hallway Game

2012-01-06T09:05:00.000-08:00

There is more classroom management information coming, but a couple of you mentioned on the Facebook wall about having trouble with students being quiet in the hall. I wanted to share one solution I sometimes use, especially for really loud classes. It's called the Mystery Walker. Here's how it works:

• Before leaving the classroom, I state the expectations (standing in line quietly and with hands to yourself) and how to play the game (that follows).
• Secretly choose one (or possibly more) students to be the Mystery Walker(s). I use popsicle sticks if the class uses them, otherwise I just have a couple of students in mind. The key here is "secret." You don't say who the students are, hence the mystery part.
• Line the students up, start walking, and watch behavior. Make sure you look like you are watching everyone, but you are especially watching the mystery walker(s).
• When you reach your destination (or get back to the classroom), you announce who the Mystery Walker was and if they met the expectations or not. If they did, I let them choose from my treasure box (or they can earn some other reward of your choice). If they did not meet expectations, I say, "The Mystery Walker didn't follow the rules. They need to try harder next time." Be careful to make sure the Mystery Walker earned the prize before rewarding it, or you will lose your credibility with the students.
• Another thing I do is to occasionally remind students as they are walking that I am looking to make sure the Mystery Walker is meeting expectations. That usually straightens everyone up.

I hope this gives you another strategy to use.

I Am Now a TBA Author!

2012-01-05T10:26:00.000-08:00

I am so super excited to be able to tell all my fans that I was just accepted as a Teaching Blog Addict author and will also be the administrator of their Facebook page! Here is my introductory post on TBA. Make sure you are following them!

Laminate It! Worksheets, Graphic Organizers, and DIY White Boards... Oh My!

2012-01-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

So... I bought a laminator. I don't even have a classroom, and I bought a laminator. Obsessed much? Why, yes I am. Thanks for asking. I got the Scotch Thermal Laminator TL901 I found through Amazon. Since it arrived, my brain has been swirling with idea after idea of how to use it. And how can I use it as a sub without having my own classroom?

My first thought was to laminate activities you bring into the room yourself such as extras or emergency plans. If you bring in your own activities, it is almost certain that the teacher won't be taking them for a grade. If you don't want to make a million copies for each and every classroom you enter, you could make one class set and laminate it. Take it into a classroom and have the students do the activity. You can look at it (or even photograph it if you want a record), and then erase to use again with the next class. I think it would work perfectly for story planning sheets (once the rough draft is written, you don't need the plan anymore) and other graphic organizers that work for multiple grade levels.

Another thought is for fun, time filling, educational activities. One of my favorites is Mad Libs. I enlarged a bunch of Mad Libs on the copier and then laminated them for a student teaching assignment I had several years ago. I store them in a large plastic envelope so they are easy to grab. I have used those things in nearly every classroom I have been in. The students LOVE them, and, little do they know, they are getting grammar and parts of speech practice. Sneaky! Sneaky!

My other idea was to simply laminate plain paper to create your own portable white boards. You could use any color paper you'd like, although I would a light-colored paper so the marker will show up. And you could laminate as many as you wanted... a whole class set, enough for students to work in partners, or enough for students to work in groups of three or four. They are lightweight, easy to store and carry, and provide you with another teaching option even if there are no individual white boards in the room.

Now for all these ideas, you will also need to purchase a set of markers, and that will be a slight investment. Again Amazon has you covered with a set of 12 Expo Low Odor Fine Tip markers, but you can find these at any office supply store and even Wal-Mart and Target. I do recommend using dry erase markers rather than the Vis-a-Vis overhead pens. The dry-erase ones will wipe off easily with just a tissue. The Vis-A-Vis ones also wipe off easily, but require a little liquid to get them to come off, and that just does not sound like a good idea in the hands of students.

If your DIY white boards or other laminated sheets get to where they don't wipe off easily, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is just that... magic... and will make them like-new.

And if you are not quite as obsessed as me and don't want to buy your own, your can take your things to an office supply store or teacher supply store for them to laminate for you.

Yea, so you can just call me The Laminator... I'll Be Back (said in my best Arnold voice).

I Haven't Seen You Since Last Year!

2012-01-01T06:38:00.000-08:00

Ha! It was my amazing third grade teacher Mrs. Lehman, a fiery and energetic red-head, who first said this to me, and I thought it was HILARIOUS! She would also tell us, "I haven't seen you since last month." Although this was way more years ago than I would like to admit, I still use it with my students today... and they still think it is hilarious, just like I did. So far, for every student, I have been the first person they have heard it from. I have to say, it brings me great joy to pass on the tradition of Mrs. Lehman.

As 2012 comes roaring into existence, I am thinking about resolutions. I always have a hard time with resolutions because I am not someone who likes to drop the ball... and with resolutions, many times, that is inevitable. Last year I resolved to run/walk the San Antonio Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon with my daughter. That did not happen, because when I started trying to train, I remembered how much I hate to run (and how much pain it causes me). So much for that resolution.

I made a lot of gains in my personal life in 2011 by changing my negative outlook (from not being able to find a job) to a positive one (mostly by starting this blog). So, for 2012, I think most of my resolutions should focus on Sub Hub. I try not to focus on the numbers, but really numbers are one of the only ways we have of measuring. Still, I am not setting any hard and fast number goals. I find that when I do what I love and provide things that you all like and need, the numbers just follow along.

For now, my resolutions are this:
1) Blog timely and relevant ideas that you can instantly take into a classroom and use.
2) Add to my lines of Emergency Sub Plans
3) Create at least two new lines of paid products
4) Create lots of easy-to-use freebies
5) Continue to make new friends with teachers all over the world

So, Happy New World Sub Hub world! May 2012 bring you everything you hope for!

Must-Own Books FREE eBook

2011-12-30T06:33:00.000-08:00

WARNING: This post may cause money to fly out of your pocket.

This is the FREE eBook of Must-Own Books as recommended by the fans and followers of Sub Hub. Do not take downloading and opening the file lightly. I guarantee you will be tempted to rush to your nearest bookstore or hop on Amazon to buy these books. These are not books to be checked out from the library or borrowed from a colleague. No! These are books every teacher and sub should OWN (according to experienced teachers and subs). These books have multiple lesson applications, have stood the test of time, and are loved by teachers and students alike. So, heed the warning above and proceed with caution.

See you later, I am off to Barnes and Noble... or maybe I can't even wait that long. To Amazon it is!

A New Year on the Horizon... And a Writing Freebie to Go with It!

2011-12-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

With Christmas now behind me, I am looking ahead to the New Year. And, not that I am thinking about going back to school yet, but I remembered a cool writing activity I did last year with third graders and the year before with second graders. I see no reason the activity couldn't go as high or low as you'd like, as long as modifications are made to expectations and depth of writing. Even kinders could draw their resolutions if they don't yet have the writing skills.

The activity focuses on New Year's resolutions, but ties them into goals and what we know about the process of goal setting... that goals need to be realistic and measurable, you need to have strategies in mind to meet them, and you need to know who you can count on to help you meet them.. I can also see a tie-in with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with the "resolutions" becoming "dreams" to go along with the "I Have a Dream" speech. So, although the activity has a New Year's focus, it could really be used the entire month of January.

The New Year's Resolution Writing download is free and includes the lesson plan, a graphic organizer, and instructions for a foldable to go with it.

All I Want For Christmas Is...

2011-12-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

This being Christmas Eve, I have been reflecting on the past year and what I am hoping for on Christmas morning. While what I really want definitely won't be under the tree (a full-time teaching job), I have already received so many gifts this year. I had a nice, long-term subbing position in a good school. And I just found out I will have another long-term come April! That was a nice Christmas surprise. This one will be in second grade at a school I had three long-terms in last year.

But the most amazing gift so far is this blog and all the followers and fans I reach (and hopefully help a little). This was a dream I didn't even know I had. I was looking for something to do on days when I didn't sub, and on the urging of my little brother, I looked to blogging. I happened into an amazing group of other blogging teachers through a friend, and Sub Hub was born.

I have really been lamenting over the fact that I was "just a sub" for a few years now since I have been on an unsuccessful quest for a full-time job. But this past summer, I chose to look at things in a new light. By golly, I am NOT "just a sub"! I am sub in-demand who makes a difference in the classrooms I enter. And, judging by the number of fans Sub Hub has and the positive comments I get, I also make a difference through the blog. And let me tell you, that is the best gift I could ever get!

So, while it would be nice to open something sparkly or electronic on Christmas morning, I am thankful for the many wonderful gifts I already have: long-term sub positions, the Sub Hub blog, amazing fans and followers, a new group of online friends with common interests and challenges, and (of course) my family and other friends as well.

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays to each and every one of you! You mean more to me than you can ever know. So, while what I really want won't be under the tree tomorrow, I really can't complain at all. In fact, I am counting my gifts each and every one.

New Twist on the Quiet Game... Add Math Facts

2011-12-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

Many teachers play The Quiet Game when they are in the hall and have to wait for some reason. As a sub, it happens to me fairly frequently because I am not familiar with the class schedule or how the clocks in the school run (in some schools every clock says a different time, and as a teacher you get used to knowing which ones to follow). Anyway, I got bored with the regular Quiet Game where everyone sits quietly and you choose a girl and a boy to start it off. They walk up and down the line and tap someone who is quiet. Then they switch places and the new student gets to choose... and so on. One day I had gotten to counselor with a third grade class a full 10 minutes early because I misread the schedule and did not want to waste that time. So we played The Multiplication Fact Quiet Game. It is played exactly like the regular Quiet Game, only instead of the student just tapping another, they give a quiet student a multiplication fact. If that students gets it right, then they switch. You could apply this using any operation depending on the level of the students. Voila! Quiet students in the hall who are practicing math facts! Win-win!

Filling Holiday Down Time with Snowman Stumper

2011-12-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

The other day I found myself in a classroom during their holiday party with a little down time. They had a holiday memory game they were playing in pairs, and were quickly losing interest in that. A movie was scheduled to come on, but there were a couple of technical glitches causing a delay. I had to think fast before the room erupted in chaos (yep, it happens that fast). I had the students clean up and announced we would play Snowman Stumper (name made up off the top of my head because I love alliteration). I told the students it was just like Hangman, only I would draw a snowman as letters were not guessed. I thought of a word (snowman was my first; yea, I know, real creative). And I used the class set of popsicle sticks to choose students to guess letters. They guessed that one really fast since the name of the game was Snowman Stumper, but it served as a nice introduction as to how to play. I proceeded to play the game using additional holiday words such as reindeer, Santa, snow, Rudolph, Frosty, etc. We didn't get through too many rounds before the movie came on, but the students wanted to play again later. And the class was managed through a dicey time.

'Tis the Season... To Run Out of Supplies

2011-12-15T05:50:00.000-08:00

I find that by this point in the school year, many students are running low on supplies. Whether it's because they ate them (yes, I had a first grader who did just that), dismantled them (yes, my third graders this year loved to take apart their pens), lost them, used notebooks as doodle journals, or honestly used up their supplies, they now need some more.

The first time I came to this realization, I was long-term subbing in a first grade classroom and student after student would tell me they didn't have a ___ anymore. I started writing notes to parents in students' folders letting them know what was needed, but that quickly became tedious. So I created a simple check-off form I could print and copy. As students were working, I polled them about what supplies they needed and checked off the form to send home. It was so much easier! So, whether you are long-term subbing or teaching full-time, download this Supplies Needed Form for free and make your life a little easier.

Make Your Own Melted Snowman Ornament

2011-12-14T08:03:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun and easy Christmas craft you can do with your students as a gift for parents... a craft in the classroom... or just something fun to make with your own children. It's a melted snowman ornament made out of glue and small trinkets. I saw the idea on Pinterest and decided to try one myself. I think it worked pretty well. Here's what I did:

1. Squirt a large puddle of Elmer's glue on a piece of wax paper. Make sure it is sitting on a surface where you can leave it for a while since it will take a couple of days to dry.

2. Add in eyes, "carrot" nose, and mouth. I used small black buttons for the eyes and mouth and a piece of orange pipecleaner for the nose. You could also use beads, pom poms, or anything else small.

3. If you choose, you can loop a piece of string, yarn, or ribbon and anchor the ends into the glue puddle. I did not do this step and simple "drilled" a hole with a pair of scissors after the glue was dried.

4. Be patient and wait for the glue to dry. Depending on how large a glue puddle you made, it could take up to 2 days for it to be dry.

5. When it's dry, peel the wax paper off the back and hang on your tree.

Christmas Math Freebie

2011-12-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

I created another Christmas freebie, and wanted this one to have a math focus. So I took the "12 Days of Christmas" song and wrote a few math problems around it. It's probably not enough for a whole lesson, but could be good for a math center or a time filler at the end of a lesson. So, I hope you enjoy 12 Days of Christmas Problem Solving.

Just Add Paper 5th Grade Plan Now Ready!

2011-12-10T07:52:00.000-08:00

Whew! Final set (for now) of the Just Add Paper line is now up on Teachers Pay Teachers. So visit the store and get your copy of Just Add Paper Fifth Grade. It has lessons/activities for character analysis, figurative language, geometric transformations, weather vs. climate, and slavery perspective writing. And a FREE sample is available here.

As a special just for subs who work in grades K-5, I am working on packaging the whole lot of Just Add Paper plans at a discount. So look for that coming soon. My hope is that you will have a binder of a day's worth of lessons for grades K-5 so you can be prepared for any situation.

A Holiday Freebie for "Olive" my Fans

2011-12-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite books to read at Christmastime is Olive the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh. So I thought I'd make a fun writing activity to go with it... and make it FREE!

What I have created is a persuasive writing activity based on the book. Olive is a dog who mishears a lyric to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and thinks she is a reindeer. Students will listen to and discuss the book and then choose an animal they would like to be. They then fill out a Job Application as that animal to be a part of Santa's reindeer team. That information is used to write a persuasive letter to Santa listing at least three reasons why their animals would make a great addition to the team. Included in this Olive the Other Reindeer Persuasive Writing Activity packet are the directions and reproducibles for the Job Application and the Letter to Santa.

If you do not own this book, it would be a great one to add to your holiday collection. Find it here at Amazon:

4th Grade Just Add Paper Ready!

2011-12-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

Just one more to go! Now, fourth grade Just Add Paper emergency sub plans are up and ready for purchase at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store. And here is the FREE sample. Enjoy!

12 Days of Christmas in the Classroom

2011-12-07T06:58:00.000-08:00

Here are some more details about an idea I posted about on Facebook... the 12 Days of Christmas in the Classroom. I mentioned before that I was subbing in a 4th grade classroom, and the teacher was giving her students a "gift" each day for 12 days. She started on Dec. 1 and gave one each school day.

The teacher had the gifts written on slips of paper in a Christmas container and drew one each day (although, I think she had it rigged about what she was going to give on each day). When I was there, I got to play Santa Says with the students for 15 minutes. Other suggestions I made were Holiday Hangman, free draw time, extra recess, etc. I got the list of what this teacher uses, and here it is:
1. Snowball Fight (done with lightly crumpled white paper)
2. Freeze (play Christmas music; students dance until you turn off the music;
those who are still moving are out)
3. Make ornaments for her small classroom tree
4. Santa Says
5. Extra recess
6. Read for fun
7. Teacher read aloud of a Christmas favorite
8. Jingle Bell Rock (just play the song and have a dance party)
9. Make snowflakes using coffee filters
10. Make a greeting card
11. Christmas Make-a-Word Competition (make as many words from CHRISTMAS as you can)
12. Polar Express movie/PJ/Hot Chocolate Day

And again, each gift (except the last one) only takes 15 minutes out of the day.

3rd Grade Just Add Paper Plans Online Now

2011-12-06T11:57:00.000-08:00

Short and sweet post this time... 3rd Grade Just Add Paper emergency sub plans are available on my Teachers Pay Teachers store now. So, if you are a third grade teacher or a sub in a third grade classroom, go download your copy. And, get a free sample of the plans here.

I did hear one great use of these plan by Denise Boehm at Sunny Days in Second Grade. She downloaded the second grade version, printed them out, and is keeping them in a ziplock bag along with a picture book or two. What a great way to be ready for any emergency!

4-Square Story Map

2011-12-06T10:25:00.000-08:00

As I was writing the third grade Just Add Water emergency sub plans, I had an idea... to make a simple story map that doesn't need to be copied AND doesn't require the students to draw anything (because often that is messy and unreadable). My idea was to fold a piece of paper into four sections, and label the sections Characters, Setting, Problem, and Solution. It can be used to show comprehension of a reading story or as a planning organizer in the pre-write stage of the writing process. I have dubbed my creation the 4-Square Story Map.

Snowmen at Christmas Writing Freebie

2011-12-04T12:14:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about hitting 1,000 Facebook fans and the giveaway, but I am a little sad that only one of my fabulous fans can win the 1,000 prize. So I thought I'd create a little freebie for you all. That way everyone gets a prize.

One of my favorite read-alouds during this time of year is Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner. I have a created writing activity to go along with the book. It would be great for any teacher to do, but also a good one for subs to keep handy in case they have some time that needs to be filled in a meaningful way.

The Snowman Writing Activity I created follows directly out of the story where a child builds a snowman and wonders what it does to celebrate Christmas. The writing activity asks students to imagine what their snowman would do to celebrate. I deliberately left the word "celebrate" open, even though the story focuses on Christmas. Students of differing beliefs can imagine what their snowman would to do celebrate any winter holiday. I also left the head blank and some space above so students can personalize the look of their snowman, adding a hat of their choosing and other features.

So get busy downloading and let me know what your snowman does to celebrate the holidays.

1,000 for 1,000 Giveaway

2011-12-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Normally I do not subscribe to that belief, but when it comes to prizes, it's a must! 1,000 fans on Facebook is an amazing accomplishment, so it deserves an amazing prize... 1,000 fun teacher items! All you need to do to enter is complete the form below by 8 p.m. CST Monday, December 5, cross your fingers, and wait for your name to be chosen from a random number generator. I will post on Facebook that a winner has been chosen, and then you should check your email. I will notify the winner via the email address provided.

The prize package includes:

300 Paper Clips
240 Stickers
150 Push Pins
100 Sticky Notes
45 Sheets of Decorative Paper
40 Desk Name Plates
36 Star Cut Outs
32 Bookmarks
30 Student Awards
24 Pencils
1 Roll of Highlight Tape
1 Bottle of White Out
1 Pocket Chart

For a grand total of 1,000 FABULOUS ITEMS!!!!!! Good luck! I can't wait to give this package to one lucky fan.

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Entice Reluctant Readers with Weird Facts

2011-12-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

I highly recommend the National Geographic Kids Weird But True series for reluctant readers. I bought my son this book, and he has not put it down since he received it. Now, he is not a reluctant reader, but his interest, the content of the book, and some posts I have seen recently on other blogs got me thinking... this could be great for reluctant readers.

Now, I should tell you my reading philosophy, and it is simple. ANY READING IS GOOD READING. I know many teachers get hung up on: is it the right book, is it a "good" book, is it the right level book. But, especially with reluctant readers, I am thrilled if I see them reading anything. I am not saying this book is excellent quality literature... I am just saying it is filled with interesting little tidbits that kids want to know. And, if you get kids reading something, then you can start to recommend related books, steering them toward the more acceptable books.

Weird But True is a great series to show kids that: 1) reading can be fun, 2) reading can be interesting, and 3) reading can teach you things (even if they are weird).

Second Grade Just Add Paper Plans Ready

2011-12-03T06:34:00.000-08:00

OK, so this line of plans is going a little faster... mostly because I have more time to write them now. I guess that is one good thing about the end of a long-term substituting job. So, here is the second grade installment of Just Add Paper. If you have been reading the last couple of days, you know these plans use very few materials... mostly just school supplies and PAPER!

For second grade, the lessons focus on cause and effect, writing a directed personal narrative, two-digit addition and subtraction, designing an animal, and imagining what they would do as a leader. This set of plans has tips for creating your own math manipulatives and encourages higher order thinking skills.

As with the previous two sets (kinder and first grade), there is a free sample available to download.

Also, a little hint for subs, when grades K-5 of Just Add Paper are ready, there will be a specially priced bundle just for you... so you will never be stuck with nothing to do in any classroom ever again! Just check the Sub Hub Teachers Pay Teachers store for availability.

First Grade Just Add Paper Plans Now Available

2011-12-02T06:29:00.000-08:00

Just completed and posted on my Teachers Pay Teachers store is the first grade version of Just Add Paper. Like the kindergarten ones posted yesterday, these first grade plans have reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies lessons and use only basic materials plus paper.

This set of plans covers sequencing, adjectives, addition story problems, life cycles, and inventions. They encourage making connections and the higher order thinking skill of creating.

For a free sample that includes the reading lesson, click here.

If you download the plans, please take the time to give me a rating. You can also rate the other free lesson plans. Enjoy and never worry again if you are unable to write sub plans or find yourself in a classroom with no plans!

Monster Multiplication Wheels on Amazon

2011-12-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite ways for students to practice their multiplication facts. You can find the book Monster Multiplication Wheels on Amazon.com. A third grade classroom I was in last year had a laminated class set in a math center. And this year, the third grade classroom I was in also had a class set.

I wanted students to be able to have their own to use for practice at home. However, to copy every wheel for every student would kill too many trees for my taste. So I shrunk them down on the copier so two entire wheels (four circles) fit on one page. I copied them this way for my students, including the instruction page and the multiplication chart also included in the book. Students were able to personalize their monsters. I provided each student with a baggie with brads. As the students got each wheel colored, cut out, and put together, they were able to use the same baggies to store their set of monster wheels. Then... voila! A personal set of Monster Multiplication Wheels in a handy dandy storage baggie!

Just Add Paper... New Line of Sub Plans

2011-12-01T05:49:00.000-08:00

I am quite excited (mixed with a little bit of terrified) to launch into this my new phase of Sub Hub. What I have created is a new line of emergency sub plans... plans for true emergencies, when you don't have time to do any preparation at all. My new line of plans is called Just Add Paper, because that's pretty much all you need besides the downloaded plans.

Right now, Just Add Paper Kindergarten is ready for sale at Teachers Pay Teachers. And you can download a FREE sample of it as well. Plans for grades 1-5 will follow in the next week.

Much like my previous line of emergency lesson plans, they are designed to be one-day plans for use by a teacher or a sub. There are reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies lessons included.

Unlike the other lesson plans, the only additional materials you will need are basic school supplies (pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, and glue), a few picture books of your choice, and a variety of PAPER!

One other difference is that I am venturing into the world of paid products, but I will always provide my fans and followers with a free sample of the item. So, download the free sample, and if you like it, trek on over to my new store at Teachers Pay Teachers and purchase the full day's worth of lessons.

Don't Forget to Market Yourself

2011-11-29T17:24:00.000-08:00

As my long-term sub job ended today, I remembered something I want to remind all subs about. Don't forget to market yourself. Sure, you are in the sub system for your district, but if no teachers know you, you will be at the mercy of the random call. When you get a job, make sure you talk to some teachers around the school to make yourself known. And I highly suggest making yourself some business cards. And they don't need to be fancy at all.

You can certainly go somewhere and have them printed, or you could order them online through a service like Vista Print. But I made mine simply in Microsoft Word by using a pre-made template from the Word Document Gallery. I replaced a photo with a more "teacher-y" one, and added my information.

Make sure include the necessary information: your name (obviously), a district ID number if you have one, a few of your credentials, and your contact information. Then I print them on my printer using business card shells you can buy at any office supply store.

As I left the school today, I cleared with the principal that I could put my card in all the teachers' boxes. Now, the teachers can keep my card handy and request me the next time they need to be out.

Hop into Frog Life Cycles

2011-11-27T07:11:00.000-08:00

I found another creative use for the Brown Bag Books I posted about a couple of weeks ago. We all had a million ideas on how to use them, and I loved them all. Here is another one I came up with and had to share. My third graders spent two days studying frog life cycles. We had done all the basic lead-ups... watched a video, read in the textbook, observed a live tadpole, and took notes in their science journals.

As a creative assessment of their frog life cycle knowledge (and a way for me to work in more writing), I had them use the Brown Bag Books for a science writing activity. The instructions were to tell the story of the frog cycle from the perspective of the frog. In other words, pretend they were a frog and telling their life story to a child. They got to wear their perspectacles (again from a previous Sub Hub post), and I set the mood by playing Kermit singing "It's Not Easy Being Green" (which is an amazingly calm song in a classroom, by the way).

The stories went on the pages of the Brown Bag Books, and the life cycle explanations went on the index cards tucked into the pockets. The students had fun showing their learning, and I loved the creative results!

Seasonal Freebies

2011-11-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this new page of seasonal freebies for teachers? It is a great one-stop shop for free seasonal teaching activities. December freebies are going up now, including my gingerbread plans and many others, so go check it out. And follow the page so you don't miss additional freebies as well as well as other holidays.

Show Students the Spirit of Giving

2011-11-22T18:55:00.000-08:00

For so many of our students, the winter holidays are all about the gifts. I get it. It was for me too when I was young (and maybe still is... just a little). But as a parent and a teacher, I would love it if children would at least be aware of a deeper meaning of the holidays. This is a great activity to point out one of the true meanings of the holiday season.

First, I start off by having students make their gift lists. You can use fancy paper or a form, but I just use notebook paper. I guarantee that each student will have a list of many toys, movies, games, electronics, and maybe even a book or two.

Then I read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and talk about its theme... how the tree was willing to give everything it had to the boy, but the boy was never willing to give anything back. We talk about the ethics (one of the principles in Depth and Complexity teaching) of this, and I always accept all answers.

After reading and discussing, I hand back the holiday lists and give students the opportunity to change them... most usually want a new piece of paper to start all over. The change in the lists completely moves me to tears every time. I have had students whose lists went from: "DSi, bike, skateboard, remote controlled car, etc." to "a job for my daddy, clothes for my sister, etc." I give them the choice of sharing because sometimes those second lists can get very personal. A couple of times, those lists have even helped identify a student who needed financial help when no one at the school even knew.

If there is time, as an extension activity I have students reflect on the difference in the lists and why they changed. They can even place a value judgment on which list they think is better.

Every time I do this activity, it shows me and my students one of the true meanings of the holidays... GIVING. And there is no better feeling than that!

It's a Sunshine Day!

2011-11-22T06:15:00.000-08:00

What's even better than being on Thanksgiving break, spending time with my family and relaxing? Finding out Sub Hub received the Sunshine Award 2011 from Charity at The Organized Classroom Blog! The OCB was one of the first teaching blogs I ever started to follow, and Charity sets such an amazing example for the rest of us teachers who aspire to help others by sharing what we know in blog form. So I am beyond honored that Charity would recognize my blog in this way. And if you have been hiding under a rock inside teacher blog world and don't know about The Organized Classroom Blog, you must click on the link and check it out. :-)

Here are the rules for accepting this award:
1. Thank the person who gave this award and write a post about it.
2. Answer the following questions below.
3. And pass the award to 10-12 fabulous bloggers, link their blogs, and let them know you awarded them.

So, here are my answers to the questions:
1. Favorite Color? Purple
2. Favorite animal? Otter (I have loved them ever since I was a kid!)
3. Favorite number? 12
4. Favorite drink? Hmmm.... I have to give two answers to this one. Adult beverage=margarita (I do live in San Antonio); Nonadult beverage=Peppermint mocha from Starbucks.
5. Facebook or Twitter? Definitely Facebook since I am just venturing into Twitter
6. Your passion? Teaching, blogging about teaching, hanging out with my family
7. Giving or getting presents? Both... I do love getting presents (especially those sweet handmade things given to me by students), but I also love to give to see how excited the person gets
8. Favorite day? I can't pick just one again. And I will have to be sappy and cliche and say my wedding day and the days my two children were born.

And now for the other fabulous blogs (besides Charity who obviously already got this award):
1. Lorraine at Fabulous Fourth Grade Froggies
2. Stacey at Second Grade Two Step
3. Debbie at Rainbows Within Reach
4. Jennifer at Empowering Little Learners
5. Gillian at Nyla's Crafty Teaching
6. Suzy at Third Graders Dream Big
7. Sally at Elementary Matters
8. Carloyn at Wise Owl Factory
9. Hilary at Rockin Teacher Materials
10. Melissa at Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations

Run, Run, Run As Fast As You Can... And Catch These Gingerbread Lessons

2011-11-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

I know it may be a little early to be thinking of what to teach for the winter holiday time of year, but I was too excited not to put these lessons out. What I have created is a 1-2 week unit based on gingerbread. The lessons can be used as is for grades 2-4 and could be modified to fit kindergarten or fifth grade.

At the heart of the unit is reading as many different versions of the Gingerbread Man as you can find. There is a list of some of my favorites in the plans. There are reading lessons, a writing idea to take students through the writing process, science lessons, math lessons, and even a couple of social studies ideas.

Many of these I did last year with a group of third graders. We started the lesson about a week and a half before Winter Break. We did some of the lessons each day until the last day when it culminated in sharing their gingerbread writing and having their winter party where they built and decorated gingerbread houses and played gingerbread games. I had goodie bags for the students with all gingerbread-themed items. We had so much fun.

I loved hearing their versions of the Gingerbread Man. I think my favorite was the Gingerbread Spurs basketball player who was being chased by Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, and other stinky Lakers (sorry LA fans, but I am in San Antonio and so am a die hard Spurs fan). :-)

And, of course, you don't have to use the lessons as a whole unit, but can pick and choose which activities you'd like to do with your student. And they make great activities to leave for a sub and you can have everything ready well in advance.

So, run, run, run as fast as you can. And catch these FREE gingerbread plans.

Just the Facts... and Opinions

2011-11-19T06:41:00.000-08:00

This week my third graders were working on fact and opinion. Since that is always a hard skill for them to grasp, I tried several ways of teaching it. First, we hit the basics: "a fact can be proven" and "opinion is a thought or a feeling." Then we looked at many examples and created a list of clues to help point them in the fact or opinion direction. I used those clues to create an anchor chart that we added to throughout the week (that's why it's in several different colors and not the neatest anchor chart ever). I did make sure they knew that these words were just clues. Here is the anchor chart we created together:

Each day we practiced the skill in a new way. One day I had them make a T-chart for facts and opinions they found in the story for the week. Another day I used a worksheet that listed statements, and students labeled them fact or opinion and then had to circle the words that told them whether it was a fact or an opinion. My favorite day was the day I gave each pair of students an ad from a magazine. The students had to look at the ads and decide which statements were facts and which were opinions. I particularly like this one because it also helps them read advertising with a critical eye.

I believe this helped my students have a better understanding of fact and opinion (just my opinion, of course). :-)

And to launch into the holiday season, I have created a Winter Holiday Fact and Opinion activity sheet. And that's a fact. :-)

A "Hands-on" Way of Teaching Main Idea

2011-11-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

This week my third graders were focusing on main idea as their reading skill. Here are a couple of highlights from teaching the concept. First, we talked about how main idea is what the story is mostly about, and I created this anchor chart comparing main idea to a roof. Just like you have to have pillars to hold up a roof, you also have to have details to hold up a main idea. If you can find only one or two details to hold up what you think is the main idea, then it's probably not the main idea.

The next high point came in using an idea I saw on Pinterest. Students traced their hand on a piece of construction paper. I had them choose a page in the reading story for the week and write the main idea on the palm. Then details went on each finger. Again, I emphasized that we need all of our fingers so they needed to find that many details or the hand wouldn't work. Here are a couple of examples of the hands.

It seemed to be a more creative and practical way of reinforcing the concept of main idea.

Brown Bag Books... Endless Possibilities

2011-11-06T13:43:00.000-08:00

I promised some sharing from the professional development I went to on Friday. Here is one idea I was particularly inspired by... brown bag books. They are made from regular brown paper lunch sacks and some index cards. And the possibilities of their uses are endless. Since my class is studying the wetlands, and inferencing is a skill that students always need practice with, I thought about combining the two. I will be having my students create Wetland Animal Inference Riddles. They will write the clues on the brown bag page, and the answer goes on the index card that slips into the openings of the bag. Here are the directions:

1) Cut off the bottoms of 2 or 3 lunch bags so there are openings at both ends.

2) Stack the bags on top of each other and fold in half. Secure the binding with staples or punch holes and tie the bags together.

3) Slide index cards into each pocket.

4) Write and decorate the book with whatever skill or theme you'd like.

I thought they could be used for moon phases, vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, math story problems, etc. What else can you think of using them for?

Support for a Friend and Others

2011-11-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

I have a list in my mind of the worst things anyone can ever hear. At the top of that list is: "You have cancer." Sadly, a blogging friend of mine has now heard those words twice! And she's only 33! And she does all the right things! It's the kind of situation that fuels my anxiety over little things. I always wonder, "What if it's not really little?" The good news is that this friend, Mandy at Cooperative Learning 365, has the perfect attitude. She's ready to "cowboy up" as we say here in Texas and fight this thing a second time. And I know she will do it. To raise awareness, Mandy is having a linky party at her blog, and I joined to show my support for her, and others I know fighting cancer. I show my support by posting this ribbon on my blog. How can you add your support?

FREE Fifth Grade Emergency Sub Plans

2011-11-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

Finally, now my first set of elementary level emergency sub plans is complete! And just in time for cold and flu season. I just put the finishing touches on fifth grade plans based on the book Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. I know fifth grade teachers have differing opinions on the value of teaching through picture books. Many feel students at this age should be reading and analyzing higher level books.

However, my thinking here is twofold:
1) Practically speaking, these plans are meant to be completed in one day while a substitute teacher is in the room. A higher level chapter book cannot even be read in one school day, much less have time to complete activities.
2) Philosophically speaking, I am on the other side of the debate. I am an adult and still many times get much out of picture books. Fifth graders can take picture book analysis to a much higher level. So while, many students may already know the story in the picture book, they have not done such challenging activities with it.

All that being said, here are the fifth grade plans based on Stellaluna. As with my other plans, these contain a warm-up, a reading lesson, a language arts activity, a social studies lesson, a science activity, and some math problems.

Scary Stories for Halloween

2011-10-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

With today being Halloween, my students and I celebrated by reading their scary stories. They had been writing the stories for a little over a week, and used a shortened version of the writing process. They began by using my Scary Story Map. They then went from the story map to their rough draft. I had them proof and edit their own story, and then they traded and had a buddy proof and edit it. We went from there to their final copy which they wrote on notebook paper, glued to black construction paper, and drew a picture in white crayon.

Today, they all got a turn to share. I turned out most of the lights and gave the author a flashlight... and the fun began! I was so proud of all their stories. While they all have plenty to work on, every single student wrote a cohesive story, even my low ones. It was great! And the students really had a spooky good time. Here are a few photos.

Easy (and FREE) Multiplication Lapbook

2011-10-29T05:20:00.000-07:00

As we started our multiplication unit, I wanted my students to create a lapbook. Other multiplication lapbooks I've seen focus on learning the facts and have lots of intricate foldables. Well, I didn't have the patience to help 19 kids create these foldables correctly, so I designed a simpler lapbook. My goal was to have all the basic information about multiplication in one place, especially the academic vocabulary. I also wanted to students to take ownership of the information, so they filled in the pieces with guidance.

First, start with a file folder. I used colored ones to add some fun. Open the file folder up all the way and fold each end into the middle to create a book that opens like barn doors. The title frame glues on the front, students write their name, and decorate the cover in a multiplication theme.

The center of the lapbook is a multiplication chart that the students completed. I used the Multiplication Tables: Blank (0-12) template from Super Teacher Worksheets.

On the left side of the book, students drew a picture illustrating the key action of multiplication (Join Equal Sets), wrote key words that often signify to multiply in a story problem, and looked for patterns in the multiplication chart.

On the right side, the students defined vocabulary words and wrote down strategies to use to figure out the facts.

I am thrilled with how the lapbooks turned out, and the students like to use them. As they have had multiplication assignments, every student is using their lapbook as a reference without even being asked.

And here are the pieces to download for FREE: Easy Multiplication Lapbook

Red Ribbon Week

2011-10-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

It's Red Ribbon Week, and we celebrate at my school with wearing certain colors and other things to signify the Pillars of Character and saying no to drugs. This time of year we are also doing Dream Boards where students complete posters of their dreams for the future, including what they want to be, where they want to go to college, and where they want to live. I thought a perfect class meeting lesson this week would be to talk about goal setting. So, we talked about what the students wanted to be when they grow up. I always love that question. This year I got answers from a composer to a scientist to a teacher to a ninja. Haha! Then we talked about how you can't reach goals if you do drugs... one bad choice could change your whole life. Finally I had the students finished the sentence, "I will be drug free so I can become ____________." And they illustrated. I glued them all together on a piece of paper to make a class "quilt." The results were super cute!

Paint with Words

2011-10-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

I always tell my students that writing is like painting with words. The writer needs to paint a clear image of what is in the story, just like an artist paints details into a picture. I use this handout with a mini lesson on using descriptions and specific words. This should be used after the students know adjectives and adverbs. And you probably should have done some lessons on "tired" words to help students choose more specific ones. This activity is a culmination of those lessons. It is quite simple. The students look at the basic, boring sentence and choose words to add to it to make it a more descriptive, exact sentence. I usually have the students choose their favorite expanded sentence and illustrate it on the back according to their descriptions. So if your students need some practice with Painting with Words, then download this freebie.

Using "Smart" to Introduce Money Unit

2011-10-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

When introducing a unit, I love to generate interest by reading a story or, in this case, a poem. My favorite to introduce a unit on money is "Smart" by Shel Silverstein. It can be found in Where the Sidewalk Ends. The poem is about a boy who trades a dollar for two quarters because two is more than one. It continues until he ends up with only five pennies and is very proud of himself.

To start with, I read the poem straight through and ask students to write in their math journals if they feel "Smart" was an appropriate title for the poem and to explain their answer. We usually come to the conclusion that money isn't about how many of each coin you have; it is about the value of those coins.

I then read the poem through again while the students use manipulatives to show the trades and calculate how much money was lost at each level.

The students love this poem because they love to point out how they are smarter than the boy in the poem.

A Little Inspiration

2011-10-15T14:02:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share a picture with my all-time favorite quote. "Dance in the rain" has even become my mantra when times are tough.

FREE Scary Story Map

2011-10-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

I decided I wanted my third graders to write scary stories for Halloween. Many of my students are into reading Goosebumps and other scary book series, so I thought this would be a perfect writing exercise. I always like to start off any new writing assignment with a planning sheet, and so began looking for the perfect scary story map. When I was unable to find exactly what I wanted, I created my own. And I wanted to share it with you all. I think it would make a great activity for a substitute, but teachers may want to use it in October as well. I will be using it with my students this week and will let you know how it goes.

So, download my Scary Story Map for FREE and see what kind of "dark and stormy night" stories you can get your students to write.

500 Facebook Fan Frenzy!!!!

2011-10-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

** THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER**
Make sure you visit the blog of the ladies who donated items to thank them for their generosity.

Wow! Thank you... thank you... thank you! I can't believe I now have 500 fans on Facebook. To celebrate I am thanking all of you! What you will find here are fabulous free downloads from such amazing teacher bloggers as Rachel Lynette of Minds in Bloom, Carolyn Wilhelm of Wise Owl Factory, Rachel Reyna of Fisher Reyna Education, and more. Just follow the directions at each link and awesome resources can be yours for FREE... all for liking Sub Hub! Don't forget to follow the blog here too. We just never know what might happen with Facebook. You can follow Sub Hub through Google, RSS Feed, Pinterest, or Twitter. There are lots of options... don't miss out. And don't forget to check out and follow the fabulous bloggers who so generously donated to this giveaway. Their links are in their listings. Stop by and tell them thank you.

From Rachel Lynette at Minds in Bloom

From Carolyn Wilhelm at Wise Owl Factory

From Jennifer Kadar at Empowering Little Learners

From Crystal Radke at Kreative in Kinder

From Lydia Rb at Kinder Latino

From Rachel Reyna at Fisher Reyna Education

Kinder Emergency Sub Plans Ready!

2011-10-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

OK, kindergarten subs and teachers. Ready... set... DOWNLOAD!!! Here are some emergency kindergarten sub plans for you. These are based on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and include a craft warm-up, a reading lesson, a language arts lesson, a social studies lesson, a science lesson, and a math lesson.

I have to say these have been the hardest ones so far for me to write because of all the things I needed to create. So, hats off to all you kinder teachers!

My husband was just telling me, "I like how all your plans are based around a theme. I don't think it would be good to theme teach every day, but it's nice to have something different when a sub is there." That is basically my purpose in theme-planning the lessons. And I also try to use as few materials as possible because a sub never knows what will be available when they walk into a classroom. Anyway, I hope these plans help even just a few teachers and subs. Enjoy!

Seeing Things from Another Perspective

2011-10-07T13:53:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite higher order thinking skills to work on is seeing things from another perspective. I got this idea from my children's gifted and talented teacher Wendy Brake, and I adapted it for use in a regular classroom. Before the first perspective activity we do, I have students make "perspectacles." When worn, these glasses allow students to see an event from someone else's perspective.

I give each student five chenille sticks, two for the eyes and two for the ear pieces and one to cut up for decoration. The student then twist them together to form a pair of glasses, using extra pieces to decorate. I've had students add eyelashes, a moustache, and all sorts of details. It's fun to see their creativity and personality come through.

The perspectacles live in the students' cubbies throughout the year, and every time we do a lesson or activity using perspective, the students are allowed to wear their glasses. The students ask me almost every day if we will be doing something with perspective because they just love to wear the glasses.

Come Find Sub Hub on Twitter

2011-10-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Just a quick post tonight to let you know there is a new way to follow Sub Hub... Twitter! Yes, I finally jumped into the Twitter ring. I have included a Twitter follow button on the right. And here is also the link to Sub Hub on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SubHubOnline

Fourth Grade Emergency Sub Plans

2011-10-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Calling all fourth grade teachers and substitutes of fourth grade! Here is a set of fourth grade emergency sub lesson plans for teachers to keep in their emergency binder and subs to keep handy in case they are ever caught without plans.

This set is written based on The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. Students will look at characterization, context clues to discover the meaning of made-up words, writing a letter to their representatives, the effects of pollution, and some money problem solving.

So download this free set of plans, make the copies, and never be stuck without sub plans again.http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fourth-Grade-Emergency-Sub-Plans

Third Grade Emergency Sub Plans

2011-09-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to get these going, and I promise the wait will not be as long for the fourth grade set. Getting settled into my long-term subbing position has been challenging, but I think I am falling into a nice routine.

Here are my third grade emergency sub plans. I based them on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett. Just like the other sets of plans, these have a warm-up, reading, language arts, social studies, science, and math lesson. Although intended to be used as one day's worth of lessons for third grade, they can be used on their own or modified for other grade levels.

Antonym Charades

2011-09-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

Need a new, fun way to learn about antonyms and get those kinesthetic learners on their feet? Try antonym charades. I used it today with my third graders with a good deal of success. All it took to prepare was writing some words like first, take, sitting, raise, etc. on scraps of paper. I folded them and put them in a cup. Next I chose two students (I used my stick drawing system to randomly pick them). The students came up and drew a word from the cup. One student pantomimed the word until the class guessed it. And then the other student pantomimed the antonym. I recorded the results on chart paper. We continued until all the words and their antonyms had been pantomimed. It was great fun, and we created a whole list of words with their antonyms.

What's in a Name?

2011-09-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

What an amazingly long week this has been! Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday... and early release for my district. I wanted to share a reading lesson that worked really well for me today with my third graders. All week long we have been working on drawing conclusion, making inferences and making predictions as well as being able to figure things out about a character. So I modified a lesson that I had heard about being used for writing.

First I wrote four "signatures" on the board. Then I asked the students to look at the signatures and use what they already know to draw conclusions, make inferences, and make predictions about who these characters are. I asked for three ideas about each character, and then they could draw what they thought one character looked like.

I got some great responses like Sandy being a girly girl, pretty, and friendly. I also had some students who concluded she was popular, stuck-up, and mean. I was able to point out that because of knowledge we already have, sometimes our conclusions are different even if we have the same clues.

The students were able to predict age of the characters and even infer some interests. Most concluded that Sandy and Rex were somewhere between 10 and 15; Mary was a grown-up; and David was a child. And many thought Rex was into dinosaurs because of his name and the Jurassic Park-like font I used.

It was a really fun activity that brought home using clues and your own knowledge to draw conclusions, make inferences, and make predictions.

Scheduling with Scaredy Squirrel

2011-09-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry it's been so long since I have posted. I have been long-term subbing in a third grade classroom and coming home dog tired every evening. Then this weekend my brother, who just returned from an air force deployment in United Arab Emirates, came to visit so I was spending as much time as possible with him. I promise more emergency sub plans are coming, but until then I thought I'd share one of my favorite literature-based math activities.

The activity is based on Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt. I absolutely this book (and all the subsequent Scaredy Squirrel stories). It can be used to spark interest in a number of topics from patterning to telling time to health and safety. What I most like to teach out of this book is scheduling. Every time unit I have seen has schedules incorporated, and this activity is perfect for the students to demonstrate learning. I have used this activity in first, second, and third grades. It is easy to modify by adding or taking away events and the level of detail expected.

I start off by reading the book (dramatically... the story lends itself well to that). And I just ordered a Scaredy Squirrel puppet off of Amazon. I can't wait to incorporate the puppet into the reading of the story. In the book is Scaredy Squirrel's daily routine and (a little later in the story) his new and improved daily routine.

After reading the book, I explain about schedules, making sure to touch on the time-ordered sequence and a.m./p.m. notation meaning. Then I have the students create their own schedule display. Each student gets 3-5 index cards (depending on how many events you'd like them to include). I ask the students to write a sentence explaining what they do in each part of their day. The sentence must include the time with a.m./p.m. notation and the event. And they may illustrate each event as well. Each event goes on a separate card.

Once the cards are done, I give each student a length of yarn, and the events are taped in sequence order vertically on the piece of yarn. The schedules can then be hung as a great classroom work display.

Easy Classroom Birthday "Presents"

2011-09-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

In the third grade class where I am now long-term subbing, there were no "presents" for the students with birthdays. Now, I love to give little goodies to students so I started looking for a quick, easy idea I could use in this classroom. I found several variations of this idea pinned and repinned on Pinterest. I was unable to trace the idea back to its original source, but I ran with my version of it.

I used a balloon design I created and you can download here. I printed it out on colored card stock. I cut out the balloons and stapled a birthday homework pass to the back. I used this one. Then I taped the whole thing to a colorful pencil and tied it with a curled ribbon. I found a bucket and cut a piece of styrofoam to fit into the bottom. Finally, I stuck the pencils in the styrofoam for a festive display. Now, when it is a student's birthday, they can have a little something from me.

I Won an Award!

2011-09-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Rachel Lynette at Minds In Bloom for naming me one of her Top 10 blogs. I have so much respect for her and the work she does. It really means a lot that she would put me in her top ten.

So here are my Top 10 in no particular order:

2nd Grade Emergency Sub Plans!

2011-09-04T07:08:00.000-07:00

OK, you asked for it, and you got it. Here is the next set of emergency lesson plans... these are targeted at second grade. Although, in my district many of the same topics are taught at different grade levels, so many of these lessons (and the ones posted last week for first grade) could be modified for other grades.

Second Grade Doreen Cronin Lesson Plans

These plans I wrote with a Doreen Cronin theme since 1) I love to teach from picture books, and 2) I love all Doreen Cronin's books. If you are not familiar with her, she has written such fabulous books as Click Clack Moo Cows That Type, Diary of a Worm, and Duck for President. Her books are funny and appeal to students of many ages and levels.

So keep these lesson plans handy and don't get stuck without plans again.

Pick Out Sticks

2011-08-31T13:08:00.000-07:00

I have spent most of today preparing for a group of third graders whose class I will be stepping into on Friday. Since I am scheduled to be there through December, I need to treat this class as if it's my own. I made goodie bags filled with a pencil, bookmark, small notepad, and a note from me. I organized my supplies and created my system to keep up with grading. Something else I did, that would be good for long-term and short-term subs alike, is create a class set of craft sticks. I chose fat colorful sticks, but any sticks will do. The great thing is they are very inexpensive at any craft store, and they are small so they store in a sub bag of tricks easily.

All you do with these craft sticks is write numbers on them. Every teacher I have subbed for assigns each student a number, so you are creating a stick for every student in the class. Use as many sticks as there are students in a typical classroom. I created 24. I store my sticks in a pencil holder, but they can be kept in a can or even a baggie.

Use the sticks for anything from calling on students, to taking role, to choosing a line leader. It is always fair and keeps students listening since they never know when they might be called.

Another trick I use with these is to put them in the holder number side down. When I have chosen that stick, I put it back in number side up so I don't call on the same student frequently.

Many teachers I have seen have these in their classrooms already, but as a sub you never know if they will be there or you will able to find them. So it is an inexpensive, easy, and small-to-store thing for you to carry with you.

My "Poetic" Homage to Substitute Teaching

2011-08-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

So here's what I did with the words some of you suggested on the Facebook page. Kind of cool... and fun to make at Wordle.

First Set of Emergency Sub Plans Is Here!

2011-08-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

Sound familiar? You're a teacher and you are awakened by the sound of your own sick children. There's no going to school for them or you today. But do you have your sub plans ready? Or maybe you're a sub and you get the call to substitute at 5:30 a.m. You dutifully arrive at the school in plenty of time, and what do you find? No plans! Yikes! What to do? Never fear... Sub Hub is here!

This is the first in a series of emergency substitute plans available for free download. This set of plans is intended for first grade and has a zoo theme. It has a warm-up, reading/language arts lesson, social studies lesson, science lesson, and math lesson. Plus, it has a few additional ideas to fill any extra time or use in place of another lesson. Download the plans, keep them handy in your sub tub or bag of tricks. And never be stuck without lesson plans again.

First Grade Emergency Lesson Plans

Go check out the plans. Let me know what you think... good or bad.

Caught Being Good... Even When a Sub Is There

2011-08-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

One thing I feel is extremely important in classroom management is positive reinforcement. Students know you will say things to them when they are not making good choices, but many are surprised when you point out the good ones too. Particularly the challenging behavior kiddos tend to respond very well to positive attention.

And many teachers and parents alike are especially pleased to hear that their student/child was good for a sub.

One thing I like to do is leave a "Caught Being Good" note for the teacher and the parent. This one I have created is like a receipt system. The larger section on the right goes home to the parent, and the smaller section on the left is for the teacher. And it's easy to fill out. I kept it simple, with only the student's name, date, and lines for what they did that was awesome.

Students, teachers, and parents will all be thrilled you took the time to notice the good.

Tales from the Sub Side: Inquiring Minds Want to Know

2011-08-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

This is one of my all-time favorite questions from a student and was asked in complete seriousness.

As we were lining up to go to recess one day, a very bright and gifted third grader asked me, "Mrs. Friedrich, does the stink of a fart follow you when you leave, or does it stay where you left it."

Even better was my answer which explained that a fart was a gas and came out concentrated and then dissipated. He was quite satisfied with the answer. When he walked away, I exploded with laughter.

What's the funniest question you've ever been asked by a student?

Find Balance in Your Bag of Tricks

2011-08-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Every sub needs one, and I have struggled over the years with what to put in mine... a bag of tricks. I fluctuate between bringing everything (including the kitchen sink) to the minimalist approach. I still am not sure I have figured out the best way. I like to be prepared for any situation, but unfortunately the bottomless Mary Poppins bag doesn't really exist. And I don't want to give myself back problems from toting around that bag of tricks. But when I don't bring anything, I have been stuck really wishing I had materials. So, now I am trying the balanced approach.

I treat packing the bag of tricks like packing for a trip. I lay out everything I think might need on a table and then look over the pile. I do away with single-use or grade-specific items that have a low probability of use. I definitely keep open-ended items that are applicable for any grade level. I also keep things for my personal comfort. Being a sub is sometimes not easy, so anything you can do to make yourself more comfortable is necessary. Here are some items that made the cut to stay in my sub bag of tricks:

• Water bottle
• Small snacks like nuts, crackers, and granola bars
• OTC meds like Tylenol, Rolaids, and Claritin
• Hand sanitizer, lip balm, and hand lotion
• Scrapbooking punches for classroom management
• Sticky notes or index cards for classroom management or notes
• Notebook
• Clipboard
• Pens (I love fun ones!)
• List of activities that need no or little supplies
• Class set of a graphic organizer or two
• Loose-leaf notebook paper
• At least one copy of the Daily Summary
• Treasure bag. I use a large Ziplock baggie and fill it with small things for rewards.

Once I have my items, I decide on a bag to carry them in. Now, I have a bag obsession and probably own way too many. But I like to carry a colorful one that, of course, will fit everything I need to carry. My personal favorite right now is a purple snakeskin tote I got at Target.

Hopefully, this will keep me prepared and yet eliminate the need for a sherpa to tote my supplies. What are your sub bag of tricks must-haves?

Build Your Own Craft Table

2011-08-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

OK, so I know this really has nothing to do with subbing, but I had to share (and show off) my handy skills. I built this table and spent only $60! I am using it in my house as a craft table for my children, but I can see how this or a modified design could have a place in a classroom to house work stations.

I have to start off by crediting my inspiration. This is what I found that gave me the idea, then I changed the design based on materials I already had and what I found on sale. Designer Craft Table for $150

My materials were four Closetmaid shelving systems I purchased at Target for about $15 a piece. I already had a piece of 24" x 48" mdf left over from a project my husband did. You can easily purchase that, particle board, or solid wood from a home improvement store. You can choose the size based on your purpose. The 24" width is a pretty good one since shelving units come in that size, but it is not a big deal if your top overhangs a bit. I also used some semi-gloss interior paint I already had, but you will need to purchase that if you don't have any.

My first step was to paint the tabletop. Then I assembled the four shelving units according to their directions, putting two on each side for the table "legs." The last step was to affix the tabletop to the shelves using screws. The height ended up being slightly taller than a regular chair, but perfect for a couple of shorter barstools. Just pay attention to the measurements as you are choosing your materials to make sure they suit your purpose.

Yes, mine did not turn out as fancy as my inspiration, but you can add as much "fancy" as you choose. And I just love how functional it is!

Give Students a Punch… No, Not THAT Kind!

2011-08-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my classroom management secrets… a scrapbooking punch and notepaper. Sound crazy? It works. The supplies are small and fit in my sub bag of tricks easily. And it was inexpensive… I got my punches in a dollar bin at Michael’s Craft Store.

The whole system is so simple to use as well. Just hand out a piece of notepaper to each student. I have also used index cards and sticky notes, but any small piece of paper will work. The students keep them on their desk. If you’re going to be there more than one day, you might want to tape it down. Make sure the students put their name on it. I give them a minute to do it decoratively. Since the punches will only go around the outside, they have the whole inside to decorate.

Then when students are working well, listening well, are especially helpful, I go around and give them a punch… with the scrapbooking punch of course. I try not to announce, “Hey, if you do this, you’ll get a punch.” I try to reward quietly, and pretty soon others notice you rewarding and tend to change their behavior accordingly.

I also try to be generous with the punches early in the day to inspire even the challenging students that they are capable of earning them. Now, they do have to do something good for the punch… don’t give them out just because. But when everyone feels like they have chance to earn a reward, they all seem to try a little harder for you.

Then at the end of the day, I find out who has the most punches. Usually it will be a group of students, and I will do a number cut off. And then all students who got that number of punches, get to choose from my treasure bag. You can choose your reward… just make sure it is something the teacher would be OK with. Remember food is not OK, and limit free time rewards.

So get punching and watch the difference. I’d love to hear other stories of teachers who have used similar strategies.

We Have a Winner!!!

2011-08-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Beverly H.! You are the winner of the Nifty Fifty Giveaway! Check your email so I can get the book winging its way to your house.

Nifty Fifty Giveaway to Celebrate 50+ Facebook Fans!

2011-08-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

Yay! My first goal has been reached. Last night I hit (and then surpassed) 50 fans on the Sub Hub Facebook page. And so... drum roll please... it's time for the Nifty Fifty Giveaway! What I have to giveaway is this:

It is published by Creative Teaching Press, and it's what I used when I first got into substitute teaching. The book is an excellent source for forms, ideas, and tips... and it even comes with labels for binder dividers. It's everything you need to set up a useful binder to keep all your substitute materials in one convenient place. And it's a book worth $13.99.

You have until 8 p.m. CST Wednesday, August 17, 2011 to enter. The winner will chosen from a random number generator.

And thank you for liking and following Sub Hub!

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Keep It Real

2011-08-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

One of the sentiments I have heard echoed often by teachers is they want subs to be honest about how the day went. I think many subs may be afraid that if they report a bad day, they might not be hired again. But a teacher has to know what went on during the day. I guarantee the teacher will find out... from other teachers, specialists, even the students themselves... if things went awry. You are more likely to be hired back if you were honest than if you lied about having a fantastic day.

A must-have tool for every teacher and sub is a Daily Summary form. Yes, you can jot notes on a piece of paper or even the lesson plans themselves. But the best way to get all the pertinent information in one place is a Daily Summary Form. Here is one that I use:

Daily Summary

The sections of the form are fairly straightforward and open-ended. I did this on purpose. I hate forms that have very specific sections that don't fit what I have to say. And then there is not a place for the things I do need to say. Just remember, like I said earlier, be honest about any problems you had. And I always leave my contact information if the teacher has any questions.

So subs, feel free to download and use the form freely. And teachers, you are also welcome to download the form and leave it as part of your sub packet.

Tales from the Sub Side: The Mind-Reading Sub

2011-08-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some crazy and funny stories that have happened to me over my years of subbing and thought Wednesday was a good day for that since I always need a little pick-me-up mid week. Enjoy the first posting of “Tales from the Sub Side.”

I arrived one morning outside the fifth grade classroom where I was going to be subbing to find one female student sitting in the hall where students wait before the bell rings. I smiled, said good morning, and went into the room to prepare for my day.

As I was going through the lesson plans, I could hear more students arriving in the hall. Then I hear, “We have a weird sub today! I mean weird! She smiles a lot!”

Chuckling to myself, there was no way I could let this one go. I slowly opened the door, poked my head, looked at the girl with a stern face, and said, “Weird sub, huh?” And shut the door. Then I listened for the reaction.

It was quiet for second, and then I hear, “Be careful what you think! This sub reads minds!”

Dos and Don’ts Part 2: For Teachers

2011-08-09T19:27:00.000-07:00

I know, teachers. You don’t like to plan for a sub. And you all have horror stories to share about subs. But, there are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind that will help keep those horror stories to a minimum.

DO Write detailed lesson plans.

“The students know what to do.” I have read this in a lesson plan a time or two. I guarantee you, no matter how much your students know when you are there, they become clueless when a sub is there. I have even asked students to get out their Writer’s Workshop notebooks for a lesson, and they respond with, “What’s that?” It is quite the amazing phenomenon.

DON’T Leave out anything special going on that day.

Assemblies, visitors, library, counselor, etc. Make sure all that is included in the lesson plans.

DO Put out all materials and supplies.

The last thing I want to do as a sub is go rooting through your things to find the nurse passes. And you all know about the other natural occurring phenomenon when a sub is there: all the students need to go to the nurse. Other handy supplies to have available are sticky notes, attendance forms, seating charts, and any materials needed for the lessons.

DON’T Include lessons that use a lot of manipulatives.

If you know the sub well, and the sub can handle that, then by all means go ahead. But, when an unfamiliar sub comes into an unfamiliar class, manipulatives tend to be misused even with the best classroom management.

DO Let the sub know your classroom rules.

When a student says, “But our teacher lets us do that all the time,” I have no way of knowing that unless you have told me what you allow and don’t allow. Personally, I always lean to the side of no just to be safe, but many subs will believe the students.

DON’T Forget dismissal procedures.

Dismissal is something I get acute anxiety over… because I feel it is incredibly important to get it right. There’s only one reason the office would page a sub after school. And that is to ask me where Sally is because her mother is here to pick her up. Yea, I put her on the bus per instructions. Everyday of subbing, I go back to the room at the end of the day to clean up and leave my notes and cringe when I hear the pager. Don’t forget to include your dismissal procedure and leave your dismissal clipboard out if you have one.

DO Make sure to leave instructions for technology.

I consider myself pretty tech savvy, but every school (and sometimes classroom) work a little differently. Leave instructions for how to get announcements, movies, etc.

DON’T Write lesson plans with a lot of busy work.

It is hard enough as a sub to get the students to do the work left by the teacher. And if that work isn’t meaningful, it is even that much harder. If you can get a good sub, they can do some teaching.

DO Warn the sub about students to watch.

One of my most challenging sub days was in a kindergarten class. We were all sitting on the carpet singing the alphabet song when out of nowhere a boy screamed… not because he was upset; he was just a screamer. And he sat next to a sensitive little girl who cried every time he screamed. Now, this took me totally by surprise and was apparently a common occurrence because in the next couple of hours, every other kinder teacher poked their head in to make sure I was handling the screamer OK. It sure would have been nice to know that.

Dos and Don’ts Part 1: For Subs

2011-08-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

I would say there is a love/hate relationship between teachers and substitutes. Teachers love the good subs and hate the not-so-good ones. If you want to build work and reputation to be on the love side, here are some dos to follow. And on the contrary, avoid the following don’ts to stay off the hate side.

DO Be on time.

It stresses the other teachers out if they bring their classes in, and one is left in the hall. Yes, sometimes things happen and you will be late. In that case, call the school and let them know so they can send someone to sit with the class or divide the class up until you get there.

DON’T Feel like you are alone.

If you are having trouble with a student, or you don’t understand the lesson plans, ask. I have never found a teacher unwilling to help or answer a question.

DO Follow the teacher’s lesson plans and instructions as closely as possible.

Again, things happen, but as much as you can, follow those lesson plans. The teachers spent time writing them, and made those decisions for a reason. I always leave detailed notes about how the lessons went, if we didn’t get to something, where I left the papers, etc. If there are instructions left about sending home notes or behavior folder, make sure you follow those as well.

DON’T Use up all the supplies.

Teachers have a certain amount of pencils, eraser, paper, etc. After it’s gone, they buy more out of their own pocket. Don’t let the students con you into getting new pencils and erasers.

DO Read the lesson plans all the way through first.

I learned this one the hard way. Sometimes crucial information is put in a general section at the end of the plans. Make sure to read it all the way through once first. Then you can go back and focus on the details of each lesson.

DON’T Send students to the nurse whenever they ask.

This is a tricky one, because unless you have a medical background, it can be difficult to make the call. But be aware, students love to test subs by asking often. If they say they don’t feel good, I feel their head. If they don’t feel warm, I send them back to their seat. Using your best judgment is what is key here.

DO Fill any extra time with useful activities.

It doesn’t happen very often, but occasionally I will get through all the lesson plans and still have some extra time. If it’s just a little bit of time at the end of the day, I may reward the class with some free time for completing all activities. Otherwise, my go-to filler activities are always creative writing or read alouds.

DON’T Hand out candy or other food as a reward.

Aside from making the teacher look bad if they don’t do the same, school district regulations are more and more concerned with child obesity and allergies. You could very well be violating district policy by handing out food.

Follow the Girl Scout Motto and "Be Prepared"

2011-08-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

It's not usually something you plan, but it will happen. You will need to miss school for one reason or another. And so many times it comes down to the afternoon or evening before and you think, "I forgot to do the sub plans!" Well, don't panic. Following the Girl Scouts' lead of being prepared makes for a better day for everyone involved.

Much of the information a sub would need can be gathered well ahead of time. Items like your general instructions of classroom rules, behavior issues, helpful students, health concerns, handy phone numbers, and instructions for using technology can all be written near the beginning of the year. I know many teachers have a standing sub folder, file, bin, or other container with this information. I would also suggest keeping nurse passes, attendance forms, and other necessary materials in that same spot.

Now, the only thing you need to worry about is the actual day you will be absent. Make sure those lesson plans are as detailed as possible. They should include you schedule, specials rotation, lunch choices, students leaving for pull-outs, etc. And please, please, please don't write, "The students know what to do." Something peculiar happens when a substitute enters the room, and no student "knows what to do." Finally, make sure all copies are made and materials needed for lessons are accessibly (preferably in the sub container I mentioned above).

I have created a handy checklist to download for free. Use it and always BE PREPARED.

Preparing for a Sub Checklist

Welcome to the Sub Hub!

2011-08-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

I have been a substitute teacher for three years in one of the biggest school districts in Texas. During that time I have built a reputation as the sub teachers want in their classrooms. And I can think of no better compliment than that.

I did not start off wanting to be a substitute teacher, and it is not my end goal. But I have decided to embrace this profession and put my own stamp of improvement on it. I have seen a need out there for quality substitute teachers who allow learning to continue, not simply give the students a free day. My main goal with this blog is to offer tips, tricks, and techniques I have learned that help me be a better substitute with the hope that it can also help other subs out there.

And I hear all the time from teachers, "It's more work to plan for a sub than to just come to work." A secondary goal of this blog is to assist classroom teachers in making their day out of the classroom go as smoothly as possible. I hope to provide emergency lesson plans as well as suggestions to allow them to not miss a beat when they return.

Finally, I am a firm believer in not standing still, so this blog will evolve over time. I am certainly open to any and all suggestions.