Teachers - I need advice!

I am no teacher, but I think the kids like to help at that age... Maybe they can help you find things even if you know where they are so that they become comfortable with you...

Wow..grade one..may god keeps you..hehe..not just kidding..Kids are sometimes fun to be with ..but sometimes it difficult to teach them especially if your class is full of intelligences..
I am a school teacher..I teach grade 3 and 4..It is fun..but you need to feel ready at anytime..just don't give up and rest well during the weekends..
Be an actor, singer, dancer, and a teacher..in the class..students love that..

All you need is a lot of patience and TLC. Children that age can be easy or challenging, just remember to be friendly and fun..make them love you more than their own teacher(he) good luck.
Besides that maybe a big bag of candy?lol

Both comments above are really good ones. I might also recommend puppets - for use either by yourself or for the kids to use. First graders will like them, they will be something special, and the privilage of using them is something that you can threaten to take away if they are not behaving.

I subbed for high school which is MUCH different than elementary... BUT.... The most important thing I learned was you're not there to make friends with the students. It doesn't matter if the students like you or not - you are there to impress the teachers, not the kids. To impress the teachers, you need to stick to lesson plans and show good classroom management. The kids may not think you're fun but you will get glowing reports from the teachers - who have some say in hiring.

Bundy,
Believe it or not, I taught fourth grade in a temporary position for about 4 months. I found that I had to keep a firm hand or there would be chaos. Yet at the same time, I tried to get down on their level, so to speak. In the end, when I left the classroom on the last day, it was the three kids I had the most trouble, thus the firmest with, who were actually hanging on to me, begging me to stay.

Laine is right. My ex was able to substitute teach for 2 years (and he was over 65 when he started). He was busy almost every day that school was in because he checked the automated system every morning and because he said he would go to any school in the district (although he preferred elementary). The kids did like him, but the important thing was that he followed the lesson plan, made excellent notes and respected the wishes of the other regular teachers and staff. When he started feeling more secure, when he veered away from the plans a bit, that's when they stopped calling him.

Love each child in your class. Value them. Ask them to talk about themselves. Remember you are so tall you tower over them. This can put them off. Try to stay close to their level. Value your skill as a teacher.

First graders should be a relatively easy first assignment. I hope the teacher has left you a clear lesson plan. That will help immensely. *GOOD LUCK*

OH...I'm not a teacher exactly, but I've 'taught' preschool and tutored all ages and put in many volunteer hours.

Basic basic ground rules. Be firm but friendly. Speak to them at their level. :)

Good luck! Let the kids help you out. Ask for their input and you will do fine!

Anything you do as a hobby that can be taught simply or easily in less than an hour is always a good thing to carry with you because I often found as a substitute that the kids will want to move at a faster pace with someone new and you have extra time. I used my fledging Spanish as this was a small town and almost no Spanish-speaking children. We learned the numbers 1-10, some simple words (table, chair, desk, pencil, paper, book, etc.) and I wrote everything in Spanish and English as well as in pronunciation form so they could see it and hear it and see the differences. I also do a little origami so I taught them to make something simple like a fan, a bird, a flower. Take a book you might have that is age-appropriate and not too slanted one sex or the other. One game I always enjoyed was to write the alphabet on the board and have them give me a word for each letter. Then I sat quietly for a minute or two and made up sentences using their words and their names to make a class story. Then I wrote the story on the board and let them copy it so they had their own STORY. If I workedin the same school for a considerable number of days (flu season, teacher illness) I was often asked to do the STORY because they wanted to have a unique something to tell at home about their day. Look at some children's craft books and find the simple things you can precut and let them color, decorate with stickers, tape cutouts they have taken from the newspapers or magazines you might be able to bring yourself so they do not raid the library unless the librarian has cast-offs you can have. Let them cut out letters and glue stick their name to their sheet of paper - kids are easy. Make friends with the school librarian - she may have the time to deal with someone you are having problems with or watch your class if you just have to take someone to the principal's office.

Pray!

Thanks, BF - good advice!

Rima, I hope I can live up to all that!

Bonnie, we're not allowed to bring any food - but that's tempting!

Karen, puppets are a great idea!

Lainie, good advice!

Anya, I hope I have a lesson plan to keep them busy!

Robb, you strike me as a perfect teacher...

Great tips, Marilyn!

Bert, your words really speak to me...thanks!

Reena, you're making me nervous!

Jane, I'm hoping for a good lesson plan, too!

Excellent, Joyce!

Thanks, Michelle

Donna, you're a great help!

Shannon, I do that anyway...LOL!

Prepare to be tired when you get home, they will wear you out! My husband is also a substitute teacher, he prefers to teach high school though and won't do elementary school. Here's a ((hug)) for your first day! I wish you well. :)

To sub in the Crescent City, I'd need Valium, mace and perhaps brass knuckles.

I used to be a TA (Teacher's Assistant) for the elementary school aged children, and I loved it. It's not for everybody, they can really tire you out. But they are really grat bunch of kids at that age. So full of questions and lot's of love. The hugs are the best! that's when you KNOW you've made it. ha ha :-)

I was a sub for a few years. Just let them know YOU know what you are doing (even if you have to fake it) and All will be well. follow the plan left for you and don't be afraid to ask the teacher next door for any help or advice on how to handle a particular child.

I subbed for grades one through twelve. I got three tote bags ready and would grab the appropriate one when I knew the grade level I was teaching. Each was packed with a couple of books to read to the class (for the older kids it was a collection of short stories and a collection of poems). I also packed some of my own short stories and poems that I had written that were age appropriate so I would have something no one had ever heard. I also had a collection of handouts that were easily copied for the class. I always carried appropriate writing prompts. I also carried business cards so they could contact me and request me in the future. I made up a kind of form letter for the teacher that I printed out ahead of time and just filled in at the end of the day. It had information on it such as any problems I ran into with the lesson plan, stories or prompts I had given them that might not have been on the lesson plan, helpful students' names, any problems with students, etc.

Always go early and read the lesson plan and try to follow it as closely as possible. If there is something you aren't sure about, ask another teacher (many teachers will leave you the name and room number of a teacher that can help). Don't be afraid to ask for help. Make sure that you leave your name and contact information so they can ask you any necessary questions and so they can request you or recommend you to other teachers. My work after the second week of subbing was all for teachers that had requested to have me because they were happy with my work for them or for other teachers. That helped me because I would usually know ahead of time who I would be working for.

Just be flexible and confident. Enjoy the kids.

I'm not a teacher, but I raised 4 kids. Sometimes the substitutes would NOT have the lesson plan (if it's a last-minute substitution especially), so you might be mentally prepared if that happens.

First graders don't normally have the same behavior problems the other grades do. They'll talk to each other, maybe goof around, but they're usually not too hard to control.

They're eager to please at that age, so try to find something to praise each child for.

Handing out stickers for rewards can be very effective. But if you hand out dogs, prepare for barking, cats will get meows and just forget dinosaurs! LOL! My recommendation would be a sticker that can't be fodder for noise. :)

Do you have a little tinkly bell? You can use that to ask for quiet, rather than raising your voice. Something novel that is actually pleasant works better than yelling or loud things. One group around here has a particular clap pattern that all the kids have to do that signals quiet (like a dash-dash-dot-dot-dot kind of thing). That seems to work.

Have a plan in mind for various events. Think of everything that could possibly happen, and have a plan ready. That way if it does happen, you won't be flustered and trying to think on your feet. If it doesn't happen, you'll be happy. :)

I agree with Judi's comments, too. :)

Good luck. I'm sure you'll do GREAT!

The worst substitute I remember from grade school made fun of the kids he didn't like, mimicked them and ridiculed them. I still remember it, and remember us disliking him.
So don't be like him! Don't be sarcastic. Don't pick favorites. Do tell the kids why you are there and how long you expect to be there, if you know. There will always be some in the class who will step up and be helpful. That's great--just don't let them run things.

Our class, as a group, respectfully asked our teacher to request "anyone but Mr. Goodman" in future, and she did make a note of that.

the best advice has already been given ...... so .... just take a deep breath, swallow down the butterflies, and be YOURSELF ..... and that will help you feel better and be able to follow the lesson plan and enjoy the kids .....

start off ... the way you intend to continue .....

Congrats on the new assignment and I hope it all works out well. Hugs :)

Good Luck Bundy!

Hollie, I'm already worn out worrying about it...thanks!

Ron, it's Jefferson Parish - a little better...my husband's not too happy about it!

Judi, I hope I can keep from letting them see me sweat! LOL!

KS, thanks for the encouragement!

Thank you , Rebekka & Angella!



Denise, great advice...thanks!

Thanks, Corina - big help!

Barbara - another big help!

JK, I don't think I'll have THAT problem!

In by brief sub career, I made little girls cry. LOL. It is possible to be too strict and mean. I think you need to create rapport with all kids, no matter the age, and that you should approach this as a test of your patience. If you like kids, it's awesome. If you don't, or are short of patience and understanding, it can be torture.

Good luck.

I teach college for a reason. I don't mix well with little kids. But I think all students are looking for someone they can relate to, but not a friend. I hope you have a GREAT day!

Relax, enjoy, be yourself - especially at this age - they can smell fear!!!! Make it fun and interesting to learn!!! And do it in small doses - short attention span here!! I love the younger grades once you get past 4th they aren't fun anymore - in my opinion!!

I have been both permanent teacher and sub in a very rough area of New York City, and here is what I did. I had a "substitute kit" filled with a few lessons that I had found to be successful and engaging, and hopefully very visual. The problem with subbing is that you never know where you will end up and what resources will be available. You should travel with a class pack of crayola crayons and lessons involving drawing and/or coloring. Be armed with ideas and lessons because you never know if the regular teacher has left plans and materials.

Bundy, Please respond?

How in the world do I strike you as the "perfect teacher?" I would really like to know, even if it is a mistaken illusion.

Good luck! I was offered but have enough of a problem with my own learning disabled child to feel of any use at the elementary school.

Keep us posted!

Robb, I'm sending you an email.

Bundy have you seen the movie "Chalk"? My husband and I watched it tonight. The perfect movie for substitutes everywhere. :)

How did your first day go?

Nan, I want to be good at it...

Michelle, great advice!

I have a lot of patience, Tom

Jamie, I understand completely

Barb, I agree

Reena, LOL!

Lyla, even a sub?

Fern, great advice!

Dina, good luck to you!

Cynthia, thanks!

Misha, I haven't seen Chalk but will have to watch it. My first day was overwhelming - I'll be writing about it soon!

Wish I could help you but alas...I cannot