Quote of the Month

“A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.”

— Thomas Carruthers   

Sub Suggestions -- A Free E-Newsletter from the Substitute Teaching Institute -- April 2007

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April Sub Suggestion: Out of the Classroom Activities

Teaching a class of unfamiliar students is challenging enough, but when the schedule calls for an "Out of the Classroom Activity" things can get even more complicated. Whether it is a field trip, assembly, pep rally, or fire drill, leaving the confines of the four classroom walls takes student behavior management to a whole new level. Listed below are a few suggestions for managing the previously mentioned activities. You can read more in-depth information and ideas about this topic in Chapter 5 of the Substitute Teacher Handbook.

Field Trips

• Make sure parental permission has been obtained for all students going on the field trip.
• Remind students of expected behaviors on the bus and at the field trip destination.
• Prime students for the experience by talking about what they will see, what they should be looking for, and what they will learn.
• Have students wear name tags.
• Assign students travel partners and if parents are acting as chaperones, assign each parent a specific group of students with a list of their names.
• Take a first aid kit along.
• Count the number of students before leaving the classroom and often throughout the trip, especially when getting on and off the bus or moving from one area to another.
• Follow the planned time frame and sequence for the trip. Do your best to carry out the learning agenda left by the permanent teacher.
• Back at school, help students process the experience by discussing or writing about the things they learned or found interesting.

Assembly/Pep Rally

• Find out the time and location of the event and if class schedules will be altered to accommodate it.
• Talk to neighboring teachers to find out about procedures for going to and from assemblies and if there is assigned seating for each class.
• Before leaving the classroom, explain the specific behaviors you expect in the halls and during the assembly along with contingent consequences and rewards. Beware of punishing the whole group for the misdeeds of a few.
• Take a class list with you to the event.

Fire Drill

• Familiarize yourself with the district/building evacuation plans and procedures for various emergencies.
• At the beginning of the day, identify the evacuation route from your classroom.
• If you hear the fire alarm, instruct students to line up quickly and quietly leave the room in a single file line heading for the designated exit.
• If the classroom has an "emergency backpack," take it with you. Make sure you at least have a class list when you leave the room.
• After evacuating the building, use the class list to account for all of your students.

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The Substitute Teaching Institute publishes resources for substitute teachers including the Substitute Teacher Handbook, Classroom Management audio CDs, and the SubInstructor eTraining program. You can order these materials at the STI Website (www.sti.usu.edu) or by calling 1-800-922-4693.

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