Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Guest Teacher Tip

I can count on one hand the number of sick days I've used in my 19 years of teaching.  Thank you God for a healthy body.  I'm also a bit stubborn though.  I have to be in pretty bad shape to miss school.  I have missed days for professional reasons, but I try not to be out of the classroom if I can help it.  

Any teacher knows that it's a whole lot more work to be gone, especially when preparing for a guest teacher.  I'm in the midst of all that work right now, because I'll be at a math workshop on Thursday.  Fortunately I've got an amazing guest teacher lined up, so I know some learning will take place while I'm gone.  One of the things that I always leave behind for guest teachers, which I do believe helps them do their job more easily, is a document called "Who's Who in Miss McMorrow's Class?"  


For obvious reasons, I blurred most of it out, but it has the pictures and a little summary of the kids I'd like her to know about.  Hopefully this information will give her a leg up if problems arise, and I'm thinkin' they most likely will.

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10 comments:

  1. I just love that you refer to your substitutes at guest teachers ... we do that, too! I'll bet that your kids will make you proud!

    On a personal note, thank you for the sunshine that came in a card from your corner of the world to my mailbox in the teachers' lounge ... such a nice surprise for my first day back!

    Barbara

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    1. Barbara, I'm glad some sunshine found its way to you. You spread so much of it, that you deserve some back!

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  2. What a brilliant idea. I bet guest teacher's LOVE this.

    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

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  3. This is such a great way to help the guest teacher! I am sure your guest must appreciate the extra tips about the students.
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Lori, I figure the more they know the better things will go...hopefully!

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  4. Good idea-since I teach middle school, I keep a notebook with important student info, but I cannot give info on each kid-they wouldn't have time to read it all!

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    1. Jennifer, no I can imagine they certainly wouldn't with that many students to keep track of!

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  5. What a great idea! If I had to be out when I taught Kindergarten (which was SO much work) I always had my guest teacher start the day playing "who stole the cookie from the cookie jar" with name tags. I'd leave the kids names on stickers and the teacher would put them upside down in the center of the circle. This was a game we played at the beginning of the year so it was fun for the kids to do it again and then the kids would wear the tags for the rest of the day. Well a few might not but those were the ones whose name she would have learned right away :) It is so much easier now because my assistant just takes over as head teacher with a parent sub.
    Lyn

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    1. Lyn, oh how I wish I had someone like that who could just step in if I'm ever gone. How much easier that would be!

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