Welcome To My World......

No matter what the teaching experience one may have, the question I am most often asked...... and it is usually asked straight from the heart is.....
"What's it (Supply Relief,Substitute Teaching)really like?

This is a tough question to answer concisely.....impossible in fact! No two days are the same, no class groups are the same, no classrooms are run identically, no schools have all the same routines. I could go on forever. I am sure you know what I mean. However, the experience and your professional learning curve are not to be under valued. Today's schools' working and learning environments can not run effectively without the support and professional work of the relief teacher. If you are a efficient professional relief teacher you will be most valued by both the classroom teacher and the administration team alike.

The ability to achieve this does not come without some effort. This is most evident when you take the time to reflect, assess and indeed monitor, your personal and professional growth. As teachers we all know that assessment is an essential element of learning! Management of this role within the teaching professional has taken me a good deal of time and continuing effort. However, I have always gained so much from these efforts that I would say it is always time well spent.

Many colleagues say to me, " I just couldn't do relief teaching. I don't know how you do it." (Please don't be put off by this statement!) After hearing this comment on a number of occasions and generally laughing it off, I began to give considered reflection into what exactly was the essential element that is missing in the world of the Relief Teaching. It is my opinion that the critical factor is that of RELATIONSHIPS. Would you agree?

On all levels relationships in this profession make the world of difference. I am "relationship driven" one could say and so I specifically set out to hone my skills to compensate for this "missing link" and mostly, the strategies have worked in my favour. Understanding human behaviour, child development, differences in learning styles as well as the unique ways our brains function have always fascinated me! I am continually reading, researching studying in these fields so as to apply my understandings into sound teaching pedagogy and classroom practice.

I would welcome your feedback and experience as well. If you are taking the time to read this you are also a professional who values this relationship basis of sharing.

There are so many wonderful sources of teaching content and ideas, it can almost be overwhelming. It is not the teaching content that you need to be concerned about. That will easily flow. It is the everydayness of the teaching world you need to give thought to..... classroom management, class routines, ways to gain attention and keep interest and focus for varying needs and learning styles, professional expectations not to mention behaviour management of such a wide variance in children's' ages and stages of development!

As I have already stated, many people have already encouraged me to both speak publicly and to collate my ideas in a book form. The ideas from the book come alive when you attend a 3-4 hour workshop I am able to hold here in my local city area. Many of the workshop participants have given such genuine praise to how effectively these ideas have transferred into classroom teaching roles as well. I guess my long years as a full time classroom teacher are evident in my strategies and concepts. However, I am positive I have a much deeper understanding of the child as a learner now that I have both had my own children and continued my professional reading.

HOW CAN I BEST SHARE WITH YOU?


It would be my intention to endeavour to journal my days as a Relief Teacher on this blog site. I apologize if this blog has been long winded or wordy! I merely wanted to set the scene about why I think there are enough people out there talking at you!
I would like to walk with you......
I would like to share in your journey too......
I am out there doing just what you are doing.....
Early morning calls, different schools and classes everyday, never a dull day....
I also manage a home, three beautiful busy sons, a gorgeous husband not to mention all the pets and stuff that goes with living in boyz heaven.....

So if you think you can handle the good, the bad and ugly about what it means to be successful in this role, join the team. You are most welcome!

I will try to keep my journal.....
LIGHT AND BRIGHT
PRACTICAL IN ITS TIPS
HONEST and lastly
WORTHWHILE AS A READ!

Live,laugh and learn,
Your fellow traveler,
Carmel

Relief-Insight is born! Teachers unite!

It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who first said,

" Unless you try something beyond what you have already mastered,

you will never grow."

No matter what your teaching experience, if you are reading this blog you are preparing to, or are currently, working in the distinctly unique area of the education profession known as relief, supply or substitute teaching.

Congratulations on being prepared to grow!

I, too, am prepared to grow ! This blog is testimony to my continual personal growth and many colleagues encouragement! For a few years now, I have been sharing my classroom strategies and ideas ,on a local level, in the form of a teachers' workshop fondly know as "Relief Insight". I also speak to graduate teachers on campus during their final year of university study. Many participants, whether they choose to pursue supply teaching, or gain full time employment, contribute such positive feed-back after these sessions that I have been prompted to start this blog as a way to be found on the world wide web!

It is, therefore, my intention to generate blogs that give you, the education professional "insight" into some of the key aspects of a relief/supply/sub teaching day. Just as growth takes courage, so too, can this form of teaching! Each new day you face a new set of children, a new year level, a new set of individual needs, a new classroom environment, and a new set of ground rules. The one essential element of relationship is missing in your early encounter of a new class group.

You never have a second chance to make a first impression.

Don't worry, there are many strategies to build this quickly and then the teaching and learning will follow....

There are already so many fantastic resources for lesson content. What you can learn from investigating my "Relief Insight" blog further will be:

• 
  
  Everyday organizational strategies for the P-7 classroom.


• 
  
  Practical behaviour management strategies that really work.


• 
  
  Ideas and tips for gaining and keeping attention and student focus in today's classroom.


• 
  
  Professional management idea when in the role of supply/relief/sub teaching.


• 
  
  Finally, teaching and learning strategies that engage today's learner!

My humble contributions can be like the glue that holds your teaching day together; the stategies that teachers develop over a life time of constant refinement and re-evaluation. As a fellow traveler in this life time of learning, it would be my hope that some of these strategies and sugggestions inspire you to move forward, doing more and being more, for the betterment and enrichment of the students in your care. I really look forward to learning together.

Live, learn & laugh....

Carmel