The Sad Economics of The Classroom

I was in a classroom late last spring, when I asked the teacher I was subbing, if she had anymore paper for the afternoon assignments.

The teacher told me the paper that was on the window sill was all she had left.

My mouth dropped.

She then told me that the paper that was left was from several packets she bought after she ran out of the paper the school gave her months before.

How did we get here?

Years ago, teachers bought supplies because they wanted to, now they are buying supplies because they have to.

It would be great if every kid had a laptop and they can do their assignments without paper, but most schools do not have that luxury.

You can tell the kids to ration their supplies , but kids usually waste their fall supplies by drawing cartoons, writing notes or making triangles for table football games and they lose they pencils and pens just as fast!

(I can't count how many times a kid has asked me for a pen or pencil).

In August, parents and teachers are bombarded by school supplies at deep discounts, but by the end of September, the prices usually go back up. Not astronomically, but enough where you have to bargain shop for supplies.

Something that might help could be if stores like Target or Wal-Mart have back to school sales twice a year.

A second back to school drive right after New Years could help teachers and parents stock up on supplies for the winter and spring.

Maybe the discounts would not be as deep as in August, but it could be cost-effective enough for to help educators, parents and students for the rest of the year.

However the chances of stores doing a second back to school sale is minimal and with talks of the GOP maybe cutting more funding in education, teachers could one day run out of supplies by the second day of school.

Sure that's a joke, but how much more funding can be cut from schools, before it will eventually effect how teachers teach and students learn?

(* Have you come across teachers or schools that were low on supplies? What did they do to survive? Do you have any ideas that might help educators with their school supply shortage?)

No Lesson? No Problem! (Sort of)

During my assignment as a middle school music teacher, I ran into a problem.

I only had two days of lesson plans for a three-day assignment.

The music teacher was only supposed to be out for a two days, but unfortunately he could not return until the following week. The school asked me if I could finish out the week, so I said OK.

I knew that the morning classes wouldn’t be a problem because they played instruments, so I told them to break into groups and create their own music. Which worked well for some, but very noise for others.

However the afternoon classes would be different story because those students were in classrooms and didn't play instruments.

I could have turned the classes into a student hall, but if you are a substitute teacher, you know that unless you are a tough or have a another teacher with you, study hall is more talking than reading.

I was screwed...or so I thought.

While I was cleaning up the music room (students are messy at every age), I noticed that one of the students left their history assignment, which was a word puzzle on the civil war.

I was about to toss the puzzle out, when it hit me. Why not create a musical word puzzle!

I scoured the net until I found a number of websites that allowed you to create your own word puzzles.

Instead of Bach and Beethoven, I decided to make the word puzzle a bit hipper.

I used the names artists that the students knew like Drake and Nikki Minaj, but I also added artists like Prince and the The Beatles to give the word puzzle a sense of music history.

The word puzzle had around 25 names and it was pretty difficult, so I allowed the students to work in groups, but I said it was also a competition to see which group could correctly finish the puzzle first.

Surprisingly, the students really got into it.

I would walk around and to give words of encourage, but if I noticed a group that was doing more talking than solving, I would change the group's members.

For groups that were moving a little slower, I would say “You guys doing a great, but **Keisha’s group is almost finished. I know you can do it, but you might need to work a little harder.”

I believe that slight nudge helped some of the students focus and work as a team.

When I passed the puzzle out to the next class, some of the students said it was too hard.

I responded by showing them the puzzles of the previous class and said that while the puzzle is tough, the last class was able to finish it and I knew they had the ability to do the same.

Towards the end of class, we talked about the artists that the students didn't know.

Most of the time, I didn't have to say much because there was always a student who said their parent brother, aunt,etc. exposed them to an artist like Led Zeppelin or Al Green and they would rattle off some facts about the artist, (if there was one older artist that students knew the best it was Michael Jackson, which is amazing since most of them were born way after his peak.)

Although word puzzles may not work in every class, it's a great and fun way for students focus and promote teamwork.

(* Have you ever been in position where you were without a lesson plan? What did you do to make a stressful situation, a productive one?

(* *Keisha is a fake name, but her group did finish first. )

Try these sites to create your own word puzzle:

www.puzzle-maker.com

www.puzzle-maker.com/CW/

www.discoveryeducation.com/puzzlemaker/  

http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/words/search/

www.edhelper.com/crossword_free.htm

www.armoredpenguin.com/crossword/

www.crosswordpuzzlegames.com/create.html

How I Used Subway and Videos Games to Inspire Kids

Before I was a substitute teacher, I was asked to talk to a group of 9th graders.

There was a program in town, sort of like Junior Achievement, where professionals to speak to high schoolers about their careers

Now keep in mind, before I knew what it was like to be teacher, so I didn’t know what to expect, because standing in front of young kids is a pretty daunting thing.

When you first look at them, you start asking yourself, “Did I look that young in 9th grade?”
Uhh, yes!

So I stood in front of the kids and talked about my life, going from high school to college and professions I held, then I asked them what they wanted to do with their lives.

All I heard was crickets

The silence was deafening that I felt like were staring at each other for hours instead of seconds, when a kid suddently said “I want to work at Subway”.

The kids laughed.

I knew that if I didn’t say something fast, they would think this whole thing is a joke, so I said, “Hey there is nothing wrong working at Subway, it’s a good job”.

I then asked the young man if he worked at a Subway and he said yes.

I told him that since he was working at a Subway that he would have an opportunity to either become manager or better yet own his own subway and make money?

The laughter stopped. Their eyes began to widen.

I then asked how many of them liked playing video games.

A bunch of hands went up.

I told them that even though playing games is fun, there were many jobs in the gaming industry from testing games, to designing game to create the art for the boxes to actually owning the games as a business.

By that time, the chatter turned from who is this guy is wow that would be cool.

The last thing I told them that the best jobs in the world are the based around what passionate about or a hobby that you enjoy, because then it’s not a job, it’s a career.

It’s been a few years, so it’s almost time for these kids to graduate, hopefully I made difference.

For non-teachers, I think it’s important to help mentor young minds, either by going to schools to talk about your profession, allowing field trips to your business or being involved with afterschool.

For some kids, they may not see a man or woman in suit or wrap their brains around the possibility of becoming something bigger than their neighborhood like becoming a doctor, lawyer, computer programmer, teacher or a franchise owner of Subways around the world.

*(What are your students’ responses when professionals come and speak to your classes? Are they inspired or does it take a bit more to encourage them to think big?)

Every Class is A Different Stand-Up Routine

When I was in college I was a DJ performing on the radio and in the clubs.

One of the principals of being a successful DJ knows how to read the room. You might play a set of the songs that a crowd loved one weekend, but those same songs could people off the dance floor the next weekend.

Stand-up comedians are the same way.

Where a set of jokes might kill during the 8PM show, those same jokes may fall flat at the 10PM show.
Being a teacher has a lot of these same principals.

Unless you are assigned for consecutive days, where students become familiar with you, walking in as a substitute teacher is like the first day of school every day.

On the first day of school, a teacher meets their students for the first time, but by the end of the month that same teacher realizes what buttons to push to help their students succeed.

My personality is quite fun loving and relaxed, but I realized quickly that my personality may work on some grades and classes, but fail miserably in others.

I taught a high school English class where some kids were disruptive as we read stories out loud. Luckily for me, my humor helped me calm those students down and in fact one of those disruptive students actually read in class for the first time!

However, a few periods later, my humor did not save me.

The assignment was the same, but tactic I used to get the students to read did not work. Where In the last class I had a few kids talking, in this class kids were actually going to sleep!

I was at my wits end, when the teaching assistant told me that this particular class likes to stand up and read the story as a play than to sit in their seat and the read the book out loud.

I quickly pivoted and asked for volunteers to perform the story as a play. Surprisingly enough I had more kids than parts.

Although the class only performed only a couple of pages of the book that information from the teaching assistant saved what would have been a wasteful day in class.

While most teachers leave notes to let you know what works in particular classes, sometimes subs are left to figure out what motivates a class by themselves without the help of a fairy godmother aka teaching assistant.

Like DJ’s and stand-up comedians, the ability of a teacher to read a class room takes years to perfect, but for subs, years are reduced to precious minutes to quickly figure or may not work in a classroom.

For substitute teachers, what method do you use to connect with your students? (I like to hear the good, the bad and the ugly).
For long time teachers, how long to did it take to figure out what works best in your classroom and what happens if you can’t connect to your students?

Stopped a School Fight...Scolded By Office

One of my first assignments as a substitute teacher was a physical education class in a middle school.

During my one of my classes there seemed to be a growing disturbance between a group of girls and another young lady who was developmentally challenged.
At some point during the class, a fight broke out between the girls.

As I stopped the fight out to find out what happened, I realized quickly that the fight wasn’t as simple as the group of the girls jumping on the special needs child.

In actuality, both of them said things that were derogatory to each other and seemed more likely that the special needs girl started the fight. With no resolution in sight, I decided to take all of them should be sent to the office.

Once I took the girls to the office, the secretary asked me who was watching the gym. I said no one. I was immediately reprimanded by the unit principal for leaving my class and was told to go back to the gym.

Once I went back to the gym, I noticed that the office that was in was ransacked and although my personal positions were not taken, (I put them in secret compartment buy the desk) all of the basketballs that were secured in the back room were gone.

I immediately shut everything down, retrieved the basketballs and made the kids sit until the bell rang.

Although I was probably wrong for leaving the gym that was the first time I was involved in a fight and I didn’t trust the girls to go to the office on their own. Nowadays, I know it’s best to contact security in those situations, but I still question what the best way to handle a school fight.

For my educating friends out there, how would you handle this situation differently or how have you handle fights during your time as teacher?

Local Companies Should Adopt Schools

One of the bright spots in my town is that all of the local public schools are either in new buildings or being rebuilt.

One of the middle schools I subbed in will be in their new school later this year, which is good thing.

The school itself looks and feels like Buchanan High from” Welcome Back Kotter”.

The paint is chipped, the floors are worn and the windows have bars on them.

Overall, the building has a cold, prison-like feel to it, which sub-consciously spills into some of students’ whom are at times quite unruly.

This shouldn’t have been the case.

The school is named after a local major corporation (which we will call “X”) which is still industry leader in the world.

In fact, the school and corporation X’s headquarters are only a few traffic lights from each other.

However, wouldn’t it have been interesting if corporation X decided to work adopt the school give it an “Extreme Makeover: Education Edition” look.

The school could’ve become state of the art inside and out, working with companies like Apple to furnish it with top flight computers and create education programs that would be beneficial for the students, their parents and the local economy.

In lot of ways, the school could have been a baseball farm system, where through excellent teaching and mentoring, a young middle school student today, might become an executive with corporation X tomorrow.

Experts from the around world could teach classes, while students would a chance to intern with company Corporation X in high school.

Not only could this stop the influx of young talent leaving the area long term, but it could give students, who might feel hopeless, a blueprint of success that they might not have gotten while learning in an old depilated building.  (Taking it a step further, parents of kids could take night classes, which could also help them focus on being successful in life and business).

I know this a pipe dream and most companies care more about the bottom line than the schools around them, but I become frustrated when I hear companies say that can’t find qualified applicants.

Maybe, if they thought outside the box and work with area schools, maybe they would realize there are far more qualified candidates in their backyard than they think.

*(have you read or come across any big time company invested time and money into area schools?)

ROTC Rocks!

I was in a high school one day where I was monitoring the open gym at lunch time.

I assisted by the ROTC commander at the school and we got into a discussion about his program.

He was a cool dude with a buzz cut and a definite military structure, but he had a jovial urban slant in his speech that embraced him his ROTC kids and non-ROTC kids alike.  

He told me that he was in the military for a long time and he was looking for a new challenge. 

When the opportunity arose to run ROTC program at this high school, he jumped at the chance.

During our conversation, he told me about the physical training that kids go through on weekly basis., Now for a non-work out person like myself , it seemed like a lot, but in essence, those  students were arguably in better shape physically than their most of the peers AND their  teachers.

He noted that ROTC gives his kid a structure that some may not have at home or in the other cases strengthens the path of success for those students who are either headed to the military or remain as civilians.

The best part of our discussion was when he told me when they have events where the ROTC cadets receive awards.  

The parking lot and the gym are packed full of parents, guardians, friends and family who cheer on the cadet’s success. This type of the support means a lot to the ROTC students and it reinforces that their hard work actually meant something.

In contrast, he mentioned  that there very  few cars and even less parents who attend the  parent- teacher conferences, which is a shame since no- ROTC kids also needs that kind of encouragement.

This is not say that every kid should be in ROTC, but maybe some of the structured principals from ROTC should be adapted into schools where the grades are low and the lack of disciple is high.

But if parents do not get involved in PTA or even attend parent’s teacher conferences that child might not reach their full potential.

If they see that their parents do not care about their education, whys should they?

*(If you are part of ROTC program, can you tell us the success stories of your students?   If you subbed in a ROTC program or worked in a school that was discipled, can you tell us the difference between that school and a regular school?)

Where is Ms. Crabtree?

During my travels as a sub, one of the things that surprises me is when I walk into a classroom and several of students will ask me “Where is Mrs. Lewis” or “Is Mr. Murphy” sick?

Even if the kids complain that they are glad their teacher is not in class that day, it’s rather touching to see students have that much empathy about their teacher.

It doesn’t matter if its first grade or high school seniors, good kids or troublemaker, students seemed to be knocked off balance when their teacher is not in their room. 

For some students, maybe seeing their teacher everyday gives them a safe haven.

 A structure consistency they need to succeed or the daily reassurance of words they need to survive, especially if their lives are rocky outside of school.

For a sub, it’s difficult to fill those shoes.

All I can do is reassure them that their teacher is fine and to make sure they do their work efficiently; but it’s quite heartening to see the impact a teacher makes on his or her students.

I’m sure there are quite a few  teachers out who already knows how much their students care about them, but there are probably much more  who has no idea that when they are away, their  students truly misses them.

If you are sub, who do students react when you fill in for their teacher?

If you are a teacher how does it feel when students tell how much they care about you or the impact you made on their lives?

Fast Company Spotlight's Michelle Rhee

In the lastest issue of Fast Company, the business magazine spotlights former  Washington D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee.

The read is very interesting look at Rhee as she struggled to figure out what to do with her life after her ouster and the steps she is taking to carry on her message of education.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/152/forget-100-million-michelle-rhee-wants-to-spend-a-billion.html

What To Do With School Absenteeism

A month after I was at the middle school with the tardy kids, returned there for another assignment.

One of my duties this time was to call the homes of the kids who were absent to see why they did not attend school that day.

As much as I was shocked by the kids who were tardy, I was even more surprised by the number of the kids who were absent, which was about a page and a half, (the secretary told me that the list usually longer than that!?!)

• Amazingly, most the calls went pretty fast:

* About half of the phone numbers were disconnected (probably due to people losing their cell phone service).

• Some of the parents/guardians could not speak English, so it was difficult to ask them about their child, (there should be a bi-lingual educator on staff who should handle these calls).

 

• I left quite a few messages on voicemail, which at times felt like I was calling a club due to music and slang that I heard on the voice mails, ( Hey its C-Dizzle, you know what to do…Beep!)

But some of the calls were encouraging.

• The parents/guardians whom I was able to connect with told me they forgot to call the school to report the child’s absence and some asked me about the child’s homework.


• Unfortunately in other cases, the parent/guardian did not know their child was absent  from school that day.

When I was growing up, the very thought of me skipping or flicking school wasn’t in my vocabulary.

 I knew once the school called my home, my mom and then my dad would punish me swiftly. 

I know that kids skipping school is nothing new and this has been going on schools began, but having nearly two pages or more of children absent is quite frighteningly because some of these kids might not ever come back.

It’s hard enough to find a job with a degree, but to try to find a job with a limited education, makes the world a much tougher place to survive.

So why do you think so kids skip school these days?

What do you think parents and school systems should do to decrease these numbers?  

Should we give kids incentives for going?

Hey, Its a Sub!

My name is Kevin Lockett, my background is in traditional media and social media, but over the past year I have worked as substitute teacher.  

Being a teacher is probably one of the most rewarding, but one of the most challenging professions to do in life.

Nurses are the only ones who come to mind when it comes to dealing with people that you are trying to help, but at times their help is not appreciated.

During my sub assignments, I thank teachers for what they do, because in all honesty I don’t think people understand the stressors that are placed upon them.

Teaching is more than just educating youth on their ABC’s.

It is about molding young minds.

 It is working with kids who might not have stable homes.

It is trying to be creative, when funding has been cut and the pressure to do well as school for the proficiency tests.

Being a teacher is not a 9-5 job.

 Granted their days in the building might be shorter than some professionals, but being a teacher does not stop when the bell rings.

Teaching comes home with them every night as they grade papers and create new assignments; and if you have a family, you have make sure create time for them and if you are a parent that your own child is doing well in school.

Education should America’s number one priority as a country, but too often, education is not treated as such.

My blog “It’s a Sub” is dedicated to the hard working teachers who fight a gallant fight everyday substitute teachers who help them when they need assistance.

Kevin Lockett

...And You're Late Because?

One day I had an assignment at a middle school, where part of my duties was to sign in students in who were late for homeroom.

Growing up, the only time I was late was if I overslept, (which as rare since my mom mad sure I got up on time).  I figured, how many kids could possibly be late for school?

Umm... a lot

By the time the last home room bell rang, I was deluged by over 20 kids waiting for me to sign hall passes for homeroom, (the line was so long, I thought the kids were waiting for the next Twilight movie).

At first I began filling out the slips carefully, but because there so many kids, I had to write fast. Astonishingly, some of these kids became upset with me.  

Some kids were upset that I wasn’t writing fast enough (really!?!), while others were frustrated because I wrote their name wrong, (hey kid, blame your parent for your name, not me).  

The thing that was most shocking was that neither one of the two secretaries didn’t help me at all until one realized that I was completely overwhelmed and she reluctantly assisted me filling out hall passes.

There were a few kids who had their parents with them and they explained their child was late, but the rest of these kids didn’t have an excuse for their tardiness, (I later found out that most the tardy students are usually on school grounds before the bell rings, but they rather hang out with their friends than go to homeroom).

For kids who are late, they are sent to detention during lunch time.

The guy running the detention lunch hour was pretty tough, but I don’t think that he nor the detention was much of deterrent, especially since quite a few of the kids were tardy on a regular basis.

I think if you are tardy for homeroom more than three times, you don’t have detention for lunch, you actually have to help clean up during the lunch hour.  

This means sweeping the cafeteria, cleaning lunch tables and dumping trash.  

No child, especially during their puberty years, does not want to be seen cleaning up their peer’s Jell-O Pudding cups. Though embarrassing, this might be a way to make sure kids show up on time for school.

During your assignments, have you encountered kids being late for homeroom?

What did the school or teachers do to alleviate this problem?