Closing the Day

The final leg of the day is just as important as the start of the day. The children will remember every step of the journey, I can assure you. If there are any parents waiting outside the room, this is the time that they will judge your professional skills for themselves. It is also a great time for the principal to come for a "cruise" past, just to see how your day went. (I would and I did!) Your one relief teaching day is really like a whole year in one day. You need to leave the room in a better shape than you found it as well as a well organized outline of the day's events. Work is best to be collected and corrected. Your day is not over when the children walk out the door. This is where your true professionalism will shine.

I will write about this in another blog. For now dismissing the class, no matter what year level I go by the recall, reflect and respond rule.


RECALL: A calm finish to the day is essential. You may like to call the roll again. You could play a game with each child's name on the roll....be creative! Allow enough time to distribute any school newsletters and give homework reminders. Thank the children for the happy day. Review the day’s events by recalling the major events one by one. I do this with the help of my remembering hand, one finger, and one event!

REFLECT: Encourage reflective thinking in the learner by questions such as….What did you enjoy the most about today? Which part are you going to tell Mum or Dad about first tonight? What would you like to do more of in the future? Did I give everything my best effort today? How could I do better tomorrow? What are my goals for tomorrow,at home, in the playground, in my learning?

RESPOND: Closing the day with prayer, interesting story, lateral thinking puzzle or even a song is a calming finish to the day for all the year levels.


The upper primary love being able to go home with a riddle or trick to stump their parents. Something as simple as What has a face and two hands but cannot talk? A clock! What do you call the tags things on the end of your shoelaces? Aglets. I love collecting them! While I am on roll.....What do you call someone who keeps talking loudly to a crowd even though no-one is listening to a word they are saying? A relief teacher! Don't let that be you! Ha,ha!

Blessings for the journey...
Live,laugh and learn!
Carmel

Starting the Day

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

As a substitute teacher, these words are golden! The class will be checking you out the moment they discover their own teacher is absent for the day. I make sure I am as organized and calm as I can be at this point in the day. I would have an agenda for the day organized and the resources for the morning session at hand. There are times when this is not possible as you are at the whim of the school administration as to how quickly you can arrive in the room. No matter what it is still critical to start the day smoothly.

1. 
   
   It is very important to check whether the class teacher has left a daily programme. If so there is an expectation that this work will be completed and marked. I always leave a detailed review of the day regarding the work covered. I also always add "my own flavour" throughout the day in the transition activities. This is where a well organized class level file is worth its weight in gold! You can't assume a detailed plan will be there for you to follow.


2. 
   
   Check the Class Timetable. Take note of your duties or specialist lessons. Find out where these are held. Note the bell times and you might like to add them to the day's agenda on the board. (See previous blogs)


3. 
   
   Locate the class roll. Familiarise yourself with the names on the roll. The class roll is a legal document and must be correctly completed. I always carry a black pen for this very reason! Make sure the roll is accurate at the end of the day. Some school require you to initial it too. Check with school policy.


4. 
   
   Opening the room for the day. I find in order to minimize any fuss when I am unfamiliar with the class, I am happy to get the room ready for the day. A smoother start is ensured.


5. 
   
   Introducing Yourself: This is where you have to quickly assess the needs of the class and the best way to start the day on the right foot. Sometimes you need to be clear and to the point and with other groups you might like to make it fun!

The following are a couple of different ideas I have found interesting in starting the day well. I have collated all the ideas in my handbook "Relief Insight" and happily add more all the time!

• I do think it is a good idea to write your name on the board so the children have the visual memory link. I am not outstandingly creative when it comes to drawing but I have learn a few "gorgeous" cartoons. You only need a few to impress a class no matter what age! One of my best loved drawing is of a very contented frog! Now my surname doesn't start with F; however, F does represent who I am as the relief teacher for the day.....FIRM,FUN, & FAIR. Three little FFF sit under the cute frog and I refer to them throughout the day when required. Classes who get to know me can often recall the meaning of the FFF without any prompting.

• This one is for that challenging new class usually upper primary who look like they are going to eat you alive! (It is all about throwing them off their game!) Stand at the front of the room and wait for the hush. It will come as the class waits for the first thing you are going to say! Will it be the usual rhetoric regarding behaviour expectations? Simply greet the class and turn purposefully to the board and write your name in alpha code on the board. (You know.....A=1, B=2, C=3 etc) Announce to the class that this is my name and the first person to crack the code and correctly spells my name will win a prize! You will never see children move so fast! Reward the winner in some way and then challenge everyone to write their name in code. If all children can do this on a slip of paper (complete with real name and alpha code name) I have then collected them and used this as means to allocate positions of responsibility through out the day by randomly drawing out the lucky child.... 1-4-1-13 will you please take this message to the office? I assure you Adam will have a smile on his face and all the class listens intently to work whose name is drawn. The Spy Kids movie made this technique very popular. Adding these details on a business card or name card on the desk is also worthwhile. The natural transition is to use current spelling words as alpha code words and see which spelling word has the greater value, odd/even value, prime or composite value when you add all the numbers together.

I will add other ideas on the blog in this section as there are so many as you teach the different year levels. I will try to tag the ideas under the same headings as the chapters in my handbook. Love to hear your ideas especially people who are teaching in other countries other than Australia.

Blessings for the journey......

Live,learn and remember to laugh!

Carmel

Contents Page "Relief Insight" Handbook

CONTENTS

1. So You Want To Be a Relief Teacher

2. The Ins & Outs of a Day: Starting the Day

3. The Ins & Outs of the Day: Closing the Day.

4. Make a Note

5. Professionalism

6. Clear Expectations for Great Expectations.

7. Bag of Tricks

8. Attention Please, Class!

9. Enlighten the Soul

10. Class Brain Breaks

11. Out & About

12 Spice It Up!

13. DON'T make ASSUMPTIONS!

The following chapters and their contents were primarily generated to give you ,the reader "insight" into some the key aspects of a relief teaching day. There are already so many fantastic resources at your finger tips for lesson content. These humble ideas are like the glue that can hold your teaching day together; the strategies that teachers develop over a lifetime of constant refinement and re-evaluation.

The half-day workshop held in conjunction with this handbook is designed to make the ideas come alive! If you live in Brisbane, feel free to contact me regarding the next workshop date. However, if you don't, it doesn't matter! I can't tell you how often I have teachers contact me (word of mouth) for a handbook unable to attend the workshop due to distance. At first, I was reluctant; however, feedback is so positive that I am more than delighted if these ideas inspire you to move forward, doing more and being more for the betterment of the students in our care.

On a closing note, being able to access the book through the blog is a real advantage! I had always seen my work as "a living document!" By this I mean that you should be able to add to the ideas to make the book your own very valuable teaching resource. Whether you do this electronically or as a hard copy, here are my suggestions for the chapters that would be wonderful to expand and explore in your own style! Chapters 2,3,6,7,8,9,10, and 12. Happy collecting!

" Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid of standing still." (Chinese Proverb)

Blessings for the journey...

Live,laugh and learn,

Carmel

"Relief Insight" A Workbook for Teachers

The day my youngest son, presented his darling drawing to me in a loving mother and son moment, I never dreamt that I would combine it with my favourite teaching quote in order to use it as the front cover of "RELIEF-INSIGHT "(A HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS) and now here it is!

The handbook was actually created back in 2006 after I was invited to speak to fourth year graduates about "The Role of Relief Teaching in our Schools Today" at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane. From these humble beginnings, the university staff encouraged me to develop these ideas into a workshop for teachers. At first the concept was terrifying; however, once I got over the inevitable nerves these workshops are so much fun and I love the professional cross sharing of practical solutions to everyday encounters in the classrooms. (In case you didn't know, supply teaching is not for the faint hearted!) Sharing some of the very practical "tricks of the trade" after having a full time teaching foundation seemed to be just what teachers wanted to hear.

Over the last few years, apart from my Supply Teaching, I continue to share these ideas through the workshop. The feedback has been so overwhelmingly positive. Word of mouth does work! People are now asking how to purchase the handbook if they do not live in my local area. I am humbled to know that these ideas can make a difference in your teaching lives. The blog was my best response to your warm encouragement. I trust presenting the book as an e-book is both practical and convenient to your needs.

Over the next few blogs I will try to give you a clearer picture of the ideas contained in the chapters and how it could be best developed as a real tool in your teaching resource toolbox both for supply and full time teaching.

Live,l augh and learn.
Blessings for the journey...
Carmel

PS Big thank you to those people who have already purchased and downloaded the book. I would love to hear your feedback. Sharing and building on the strategies is so empowering for everyone to read.

More "Attention Please" Ideas

A quarter of a century ago, the teacher only had to walk into the room for a hushed silence to fall over the class. I am afraid to say the challenge is a lot greater with today's children. However, your presence as the authority figure is still just as important. Don't worry this same calmed hush can still be achieved. It will be generated on the basis of mutual respect , not fear. Respect comes with a growing relationship and this is exactly where the challenge lies. Each class will be a little different depending on the year level and management style of their permanent class teacher.

Think outside the square!

Make it interesting!

Make it fun!

You will gain the reward as respect.

Here are a couple more humble contributions to add to your list. My book "Relief Insight" has a the complete selection in the chapter called "Attention Please, Class!"

• ECHO : This strategy not only gains attention, it consolidates the message as well as focuses the listening. Explain the game. Teacher give some information. The echo repeats the information accurately. You are looking for the clearest and most accurate echo. I would only call on volunteers to be the echo as it can be stressful for some children who may experience auditory processing challenges. Always call at least two echoes. Allow the class to judge. Reward. The end result will be everyone listening to the information in order the participate. This works very well when giving instructions for a new class activity both indoors and out.

• WHAT'S THE TIME (Your Name)? : The class loves putting in the teacher's name instead of Mr Wolf. The use of the traditional game in a new way immediately hooks their attention. I use my magnetic clock face (see earlier blogs) and vary the difficulty as the year level. Surprisingly older children enjoy the more challenging time telling identification too. Keep the activity short and sweet and when the children least expect it...you say....Wrong! It is time for Maths or Spelling! We all laugh but I have their attention! Never trust a wolf!

Blessings for the journey...

Live,laugh and learn!

Carmel

Attention Please Class!

"Surely, it is no coincidence that the word, LISTEN, is an anagram for the word SILENT."


I love that quote. Aren't people clever! Children and silence do not always go together. Learning and silence don't always go together either; however the ability to gain a noisy group attention and focus is becoming more and more challenging. This is particularly true in our role as substitute teacher. Many specialist teachers also experience the same challenges. The strategies I employ vary daily depending on grade level and the personality of the class as a group.

Again over the years I have experimented with many ideas for the relief day. As permanent classroom teacher the strategies will also work but you won't need to implement them as often due to the relationship you have with the group. It really is quite different.


Here are a couple of ideas. I have a real variety in my "Relief Insight" (Teachers Workbook)
I will continue to add a selection under this heading in future blogs. Love to hear your ideas that work for you in this area too.

• S . A . L . A . M . I . Say this word loudly to gain the class attention and for the first time you will! Smile, and politely point out the letters stand for STOP AND LOOK AT ME IMMEDIATELY This strategy works best in a busy independant working room when you simply want to add an extra instruction or message. I don't over-use it and the children love the fact that it is a secret code word known only to this class. It becomes like the old FREEZE strategy that goes to a new level. If you use that technique I would recommend also adding THAW as a signal to recommence work.

• RAIN SHOWER Nothing is as calming as the sound of falling rain. Try this idea on the younger ones when you are waiting for the group to settle. Finger tips wiggling from head height to your waist to imitate falling rain. Cross hands back and forth three times when you reach waist level to represent the puddle and make the sound , shh, shh, shhh. I often say "Rain is falling down" as I do the actions. One the third time, I slow the action and speech right down so the children know this is end and I expect all will be stettled. This strategy also links with breathing patterns and the extra oxygen aids both the learner and teacher.....whoever needs it most!

Blessings for the journey....

Live, laugh and learn.

Carmel