Make a Note

This is one area that I have gained the most positive feedback. Classroom teachers value the details of the day given in quick easy to read note form. (This is actually a different form to the Agenda.) This practice not only benefits the class teacher but it also quantifies what has taken place in the day for you. The teacher is able to follow up with the class the next day regarding any positive or negative situation they deem necessary. The students will place value on the relief teacher’s presence for the day and judge how the teaching staff works together for their well being and education.

NOTE PROFORMA: I have designed a master A4 sheet that divides the page into ten separate note sections. As the day progresses, I simply make a note at the time it happens. For example, Learning Support Teacher withdrew Tom, Sally and Ben @ 10:15am for 30 minutes. Other examples may be a message from a parent, observations of unusual behaviour, message from the office, names of children that did or did not complete a given task and reason why/necessary follow-up, even playground incidents that you feel the teacher should just be aware happened that day. Lastly I will record that the specific instruction was completed, e.g. Megan had her medication @ 9:50am


This practice not only builds the lines of communication between you and the classroom teacher but allows the class to value that what happens on this day is just as important as any other day! Their beloved teacher will get to know exactly what happened while he/she was not there.

It is also important to realize that the class dynamics will not be the same with a new teacher in the room! Be careful to make your notes as objective as possible. Subjective comments about a child’s behaviour based on only a day’s experience can be treading into dangerous territory. Children’s lives are so complex these days that it can be impossible to understand the why behind the behaviour.

Again based on personal experience, I once had a class with one angry, unsettled girl present. Nothing I could say or do was right and she told me! This was one tough day. By the end of the day, I learnt that earlier that week was her mother’s funeral; she had died of an overdose. Not every child will have a story as powerful as this; however, it is worth asking the support staff or partner teacher, (even other students quietly) if this is normal behaviour. You don’t have to loose your authority doing this rather you are showing your care and concern for the child and for the whole class.

Live,laugh and learn,

Blessings for the journey,
Carmel