The Bus Stop Blog by STEDI.org

This is a guest post by Patricia, a substitute teacher in California.

As teachers, we are often asked to teach vocabulary words to students. For those students who have been speaking English their entire life, sharing a synonym of the word usually clarifies it. But for those students who aren't as familiar with the English language, following are a few suggestions on how to help students understand their vocabulary words.

1. Write the word on the board.
2. Say the word out loud.
3. Ask the students to repeat the word out loud.
4. Ask the students to write down the word on their own paper.
5. Mime the word for the students. (There may be students who would like to mime the word.)

For example, if the vocabulary word was "dawdle," the teacher should write it on the board, say it out loud, ask students to repeat the word and write it on their paper. The teacher could then walk over to the desk and act as if they were dawdling to help students who are still unclear about the word's meaning.

I had a substitute teacher email me this last week and asked what apps are good for substitute teachers. If you are a smartphone user, what apps do you have that you find most helpful? Please share by leaving a comment below.

Thanks!

The slides from this presentation are available by clicking the "Download" button below.

A few weeks ago, I interviewed Michelle, a substitute teacher who works to make learning fun for the students. She mentions that maintaining high energy and engaging students into the lesson decreases her classroom management problems.

To hear the interview, click the "download" button below; also please share what you do to make learning fun for the students!

I often hear substitute teachers ask, "Why is it that I do everything right when it comes to classroom management but the students are still off task?"

This is an excellent question! You will find that no matter how excellent your classroom management skills are, unless you have engaging activities, there is no hope for keeping the students on task.

There is a profound relationship between classroom management skills and teaching strategies. The better your teaching strategies are, the easier classroom management becomes. Also, the better your classroom management is, the more time you have to implement teaching strategies because you're able to get through the lesson plan more quickly. I realize that you are bound to the lesson plan that the permanent teacher left, but there might be room for some creativity as to how that content is delivered.

Next Monday being Martin Luther King, Jr Day, here are some activity ideas that you might want to use. Enjoy!

Hello, Bus Stop readers! I am Rachel Friedrich of the Sub Hub blog. I have been a substitute teacher in grades K-5 for three and a half years. At Sub Hub blog, my goal is to provide teachers and subs with ideas, tools, and activities to make substitute days be just as productive as regular school days. You can find me at SubHubOnline.blogspot.com.

I wanted to share a few things I have come across as a sub that are refreshing and make my life easier. And on the other hand, I have also seen a number of practices that throw up stumbling blocks and are to be avoided.

Happy 2012!

In the tradition of welcoming the New Year, it's time to make some resolutions. As CS Lewis stated, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." In education, we can't settle for complacency; we each need to challenge ourselves to be better.

In this new year, consider how you will challenge yourself to be a little better than you were last year. Here are some suggestions to get you thinking: