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Janet/AR/host - Welcome to the Substitute Teachers' Meeting!
Janet/AR/host - What I would like to know is how you keep control of your class? Do any of you have discipline problems?
al-IOWA - I have a good backup administration. I simply send one trouble maker to the office and the rest pack in the get the sub game
Rachel - This is my first! It has been great until today. I had some trouble w/ discipline.
Janet/AR/host - al, violence in schools seems to be running rampaid. It is sad but I have to agree with you about everyone being afraid to sub.
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, what type of discipline problems were you having?
Janet/AR/host - al, LOL get the sub game. That is a good one. But the students need to learn to respect themselves and everyone else.
al-IOWA - There is a site www.disciplinehelp.com that is good.
Rachel - One student mainly, in the P.M. Emotionally disturbed. She just wouldn't do anything I asked!
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, are you making a good name for yourself with everyone in the schools that you sub for?
Janet/AR/host - al, that site is an excellent site. Rachel try it.
Rachel - Yes, all teachers have been please with me so far. I have a long -term assignment coming up next week. 3rd grade...can't wait!
al-IOWA - What grade, Rachel? Try the old time out
Janet/AR/host - Lori and Tonya, are you certified?
Lori/WA - yes, I am.
Rachel - al, I tried it and she threw a tantrum. She doesn't get along with the other students. I feel so bad for her.
Tonya/TX - No, I'm not. Working on it-junior in college.
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, I have been complimented so many times this year and it really makes me feel good.
Janet/AR/host - Lori, are you hoping for a full time position like Rachel and I are?
al-IOWA - At a workshop this summer they suggested a partial timeout. The student was slightly out of the loop, but could still hear and see what was going on , but not allowed to take part. Would work best in small group, I think
Rachel - I have taught in 2-4 mostly. K is a whole different game, isn't it?
Janet/AR/host - al, don't you mainly do high school subbing?
Lori/WA - Not right now. I'm happy subbing while I'm raising my kids.
al-IOWA - Janet, yes that and middle school
al-IOWA - I thought I would be satisfied subbing, but am getting antsy to have my own class
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, K is a whole different game. I mainly sub in K-3.
Tonya/TX - I have done K4 & K5 and it IS a whole 'nother ballgame.
Janet/AR/host - What are some of your discipline procedures that you all use?
Janet/AR/host - Lori, how many kids do you have?
al-IOWA - I try to talk so fast they can't keep up without listening real close.
Janet/AR/host - al, I know how you feel. I am very antsy to have my own room too.
Rachel - I try to figure out what is causing the student to act up and go to the root of the problem. If they are power-seekers, I give them a leadership role in an activity, etc.
Lori/WA - At the elem. school I sub at, they are doing things differently this year. We aren't supposed to 'discipline'. We can only send the child to 'think time'. It's very frustrating some days! P.S. I have three kids!
Tonya/TX - Janet, the K5 teacher I've been subbing for has a pocket chart with every kids name on it. In the pocket is a smiley face, a frown face, and a time out face. You flip them to whatever behavior they are doing. They hate sad faces.
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, good idea. I do that too and it helps keep that student under control
al-IOWA - As a daily sub, I don't have the time to figure out the root of the problem. But after having the same class a few times, you can pretty much figure it out
Janet/AR/host - Tonya, one teacher I sub for uses a chart with a smiley, straight faced smiley, and a frown smiley with close pens with each students name on it and when they act up I am just able to go up to the chart and move the close pen.
Rachel - I got some great ideas from the book "Discipline with Dignity". It's an excellent resource for figuring out what makes troublemakers tick!
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, where do you get that book?
Tonya/TX - Janet, that's a good idea, too.
Rachel - I got it from my mother-in-law as a gift...I imagine it is in the major bookstores. You could check Amazon.com.
Janet/AR/host - In my classroom I kind of use a zero tolerence policy.
Rachel - The author is Allen Mendler.
Lori/WA - Another good book is, Setting Limits in the Classroom by Robert J. Mackenzie, ED.D 1996 at your local library.
al-IOWA - Speaking of Amazon.com, has anyone used it and do they give a teacher discount. some one said Barnes and Noble did
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, that sounds like a good book. I will have to purchase that one.
Rachel - Do most of you use treats, or do you consider it bribery?
Janet/AR/host - thanks Lori for sharing that one with everyone.
al-IOWA - Janet, me too.
Janet/AR/host - al, I have. I got Pat Cunningham's Book, "Classrooms that Work". It is great.
al-IOWA - No treats at my age level, but always tell them thank you at end of class if they have been good.
Tonya/TX - I use treats sometimes, at the end of the day.
Janet/AR/host - al, now days everyone has to use the zero tolerence procedure. I use treats but students do not know about it until the end of the day.
Janet/AR/host - I have what I call Circle time at the end of the day. I let each student say one thing and then I say something positive and give out the treats if they have been good.
al-IOWA - I working on sub pay here, no money for treats
Janet/AR/host - During Circle time I ask questions about what was learned that day as well.
les - Janet, I sub K through 8th, another excellent book is, "A Teacher's Guide to Cooperative Discipline, How to Manage Your Classroom and Promote Self-Esteme", by Linda Albert.
Janet/AR/host - Sub pay here for certified subs is $44.00 a day.
Rachel - Janet...what about those who don't get treats...is that a problem?
al-IOWA - ouch, Janet, It is 66 here
Lori/WA - Janet, that is terrible!
Tonya/TX - Sub pay here is $42.00 a day certified or not.
Janet/AR/host - les, I wrote the title down. Sounds GREAT. Has anyone used Love and Logic?
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, no it is not a problem. They know up front that if they end up on a list or the frown smiley they do not get specail things.
al-IOWA - Lots of elem teachers work on a time limit. Each student gets a clean start every hour or so. That way they can get a 'goody' if they straighten up
Rachel - It's $132 for long term subs and $117 per day in OR.
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, that is great!!!
al-IOWA - When is the 1st flight to Eugene
les - NJ my school district starts at 60, then goes up five dollars after every ten subs, the cieling is $75.
Rachel - What about CA? Anyone know?
Tonya/TX - Rachel, wow! You must feel really appreciated.
Janet/AR/host - Al, I use the 1/2 day procedure. If by lunch they have not gotten on a list or the frown smiley they are ok. They start fresh again after lunch.
al-IOWA - I think in the bigger districts it is about 80 with extra for long terms
Janet/AR/host - I can not do a long term sub due to my full time job at the hospital.
al-IOWA - Same here, Janet, have other job every other day
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, CA is in need of teachers and I do not know what subs make there.
Rachel - I can't wait to start my long term job. 3rd grade will be great!
al-IOWA - Does it bother anyone that reg staff get paid to go to workshops and classes but we don't
al-IOWA - There is a CA chatboard on this site. I would check there
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, I really like 3rd grade. I had that grade last week and had a blast with them.
Rachel - Are some subs not certified?
Tonya/TX - Al, no it doesn't bother me. I realize money is short in schools and my time is coming.
Janet/AR/host - al, it does me. I would love to be able to attend workshops.......Rachel, here one does not have to be certified to sub.
Janet/AR/host - Tonya, I figured TX would pay their subs better.
Rachel - al, YES!!!!!!! I think we should get the same opportunity to hone our skills!
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, I agree! It would help make subs better for the teachers.
al-IOWA - We have mtgs at our area ed agencies that are free. I go to the ones of interest. But I see aides there that are getting paid for there time and could care less bout the topic
Janet/AR/host - I have heard so many subs say they feel like glorified babysitters. Which is very unfortunate.
al-IOWA - In fact they get paid for milage!!!!!
Janet/AR/host - al, that is really unfortunate.
esmerelda - What happens when you agree to sub but have to cancel? Will you be called again?
al-IOWA - Then we have fiber optics conferneces, that are also free. Most times I am the only one there.
Janet/AR/host - esmerelda, I have had to turn down jobs before and I get called all the time.
Janet/AR/host - esmerelda, but I have been there when I have agreed to sub though. Never canceled on them.
al-IOWA - Has any one tried to take a class online?
Janet/AR/host - al, no I have not. have you?
al-IOWA - I have never cancelled either, but I don't think it would matter if it was illgeit reason
al-IOWA - No, I have not tried an online class
Lori/WA - I have a situation where I was one of two subs in the district. They finally got a few more subs & are now calling them all the time in order to keep them on. I've been a dedicated sub for the past few years for them & have accepted classes that no one else will take, etc. This doesn't seem fair, but we have no rights as far as I can tell.
Janet/AR/host - al, I agree, people do get sick and it can not be helped if one has to cancel.
popcorn - Lori, they aren't calling you any more?
Rachel - Lori, that doesn't seem right!
Janet/AR/host - Lori, I have to agree with no rights. We have no benefit or rights. No protection at all.
al-IOWA - Lori, can the reg teachers request you?
Lori/WA - They are calling, but only if one of the new people can't work!
popcorn - Subbing is very political.
Lori/WA - I am being requested by several teachers & that is nice.
al-IOWA - Talk to the principal of the buildings
Janet/AR/host - EVERYONE, there will be sub meetings here every 3rd Monday of each month. Please try to attend again.
Janet/AR/host - Same here Lori. I have the same problem. But do not mind.
popcorn - Lori, you don't want to pray for teachers to be sick!
Rachel - I'll be here for sure. This has been great!
al-IOWA - Gees, it the 3rd Mon of Nove already!!!
Janet/AR/host - Rachel, I am glad. Anything you want to talk about here is great. We learn from each other.
Janet/AR/host - al, YUP 3rd Monday already. LOL
al-IOWA - Hey, remember there is also a sub chatboard on this site, too
popcorn - Especially since this is my first time in a conference room. Do I need to post a ? ?
Janet/AR/host - Yes the sub chatboard is wonderful!!!
popcorn - What do you feel are the daily responsibilities to the teacher that you are subbing for?
al-IOWA - I see there is a paraeducators meeting coming up too. I might check that out
Janet/AR/host - popcorn, you can just ask the question. It is not as busy as the regular chatroom.
Janet/AR/host - Popcorn, finish work left for you to do, keep control, and leave room clean.
popcorn - On day I spent 2 1/2 hours cleaning up messes that were started a couple of days before I got there and I had to change the paper on the tables from several days of paint mess.
Janet/AR/host - al, that sounds interesting.
popcorn - In our district you are paid from 8:30-3:45. I get there at 8:00 just for my peace of mind and stay until the work is done.
al-IOWA - I try to leave the room as I found it, if not better. But do not move anythng in the cleaning
esmerelda - Janet, I posted a "?" waiing to be called upon, as procedure indicated. When you saw it you thought I maight be in the wrong place.
Janet/AR/host - popcorn, that is very unfortunate. But the room has to be left clean. One sub last week was so upset with the class she subbed for she just left the room in a mess and a teacher and I went in and cleaned it up.
Rachel - I sort of think of it like when I go camping...I leave it a little better than I found it!
popcorn - The teacher just expects you to do all of the work. She expects me to change the paper and leave the room cleaner than when I got there. She actually said these words to me.
al-IOWA - Yeah, I have to get going too. Thanks Janet. It has been fun and informative.
Janet/AR/host - esmerelda, i am sorry. I am not use to seeing that. Just aske the question here. Some meetings have special guest that have to have that.
popcorn - But should I have to stay over 2 1/2 hours to clean up a mess that she made?
Janet/AR/host - Well, everyone it is after 10:00 eastern time. Thanks for attending and hope to see you next month.
al-IOWA - If it bothers you, don't do it. popcorn
popcorn - Also, I observed her for one whole day and without pay. She is a control freak. But I know if I want a job in the district I need her support.
Janet/AR/host - popcorn, no just do what you feel needs to be done at the time.
popcorn - I was just wondering what other people put up with.
Janet/AR/host - popcorn, control freaks do not really every have control.
Kathleen - Janet and all, another good meeting :-)
popcorn - I need to do it because she makes it very clear what I need to do when I leave.
Janet/AR/host - Thanks everyone for attending. I hope to see you at next months meeting. bye for now.
Kathleen - Janet, thank you for your loyal support of the Substitute Teachers group. You do a terrific job!
popcorn - She is a great teacher. And her room is wonderful.
Kathleen - Goodnight! and thanks to all who participated!
