What Matters to You?

"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.

Need Tips on Getting Sub Jobs?

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.