The Bus Stop Blog by STEDI.org

Information About Bullying

Tue, 01 May 2012 13:54:00 -0600

Bullying is such a big issue in our schools today. Here are a couple of links and resources of where we can go to learn more. I'll keep posting websites as I find them. If you have a great resource, please post it as a comment below!

What is Bullying? Bullying and Victimization: What Adults Can Do to Help Warning signs that someone is being bullied or is bullying.

Brain Breaks

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:54:00 -0600

Here are some great suggestions for activities to give the students a brief break during the teaching day. Enjoy!

A Few Good Men

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:44:00 -0600

Following are a couple of articles about stellar substitute teachers. Enjoy! Popular High School Substitute Teacher Makes Science Fun
Substitute Teacher Receives All A's

Facebook Friends

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:26:00 -0600

When I was teaching, I set my Facebook profile to be extremely private, I didn't want any of my students finding me on there. With a name like Jessica Smith, it is pretty easy to remain invisible. When my students asked me if I was on Facebook, I would politely ask them if they were on Facebook and we'd end up talking about how many friends they had, how many pictures they posted, etc. To my students I needed to remain a professional, inside the classroom as well as outside the classroom. And I didn't see that Facebook would help me facilitate professionalism. So what do you think? Should teachers and students be Facebook friends? Why or why not? Leave your opinion as a comment below.

Great Quotes About Teaching

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:40:00 -0600

A compliment is verbal sunshine. - Robert Orben A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer. - Ralph Waldo Emerson A moral being is one who is capable of reflecting on his past actions and their motives - of approving of some and disapproving of others. - Charles Darwin A student who is busy is less likely to behave inappropriately. - Substitute Teacher Handbook A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. - Henry Brooks Adams A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils. - Ever Garrison A teacher should have maximal authority, and minimal power. - Thomas Szaz A teacher's purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image. - Author Unknown A truly special teacher is very wise, and sees tomorrow in every child's eyes. - Author Unknown A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. - William Arthur Ward A winning effort begins with preparation. - Joe Gibbs Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. - William James Always gotta keep busy or the voices start telling me to do wild things. - Steve Brown An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. - Benjamin Franklin Over the last few years, I have been gathering quotes about all aspects of teaching. Here is a compilation of my favorites: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. - Benjamin Franklin Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction. - E.F. Schumacker [More]

Rise Each Time We Fall?

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:08:00 -0600

I find the video of this young man so inspiring! The way he turns heartbreak into opportunity is amazing. What lessons do you learn from him?
Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall. – Confucius

6 Tips for Substitute Teaching in High School

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:40:00 -0600

By: Robyn Copa Robyn Copa was a high school Chemistry teacher and volleyball coach for five years. She has an incredible ability to make students enjoy learning the difficult concepts that Chemistry can present. She held high expectations for her students and they lived up to them. Her dream is to write children's books about complicated science concepts. She is now teaching full time by raising her three children in Southern California. [More]

Are Students Understanding?

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:31:00 -0600

Here is a great website to help you gain skills in understanding if students are comprehending what you are teaching. Which suggestion do you think is best? Leave your thoughts as a comment below.

Life Long Learning

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 06:18:00 -0600

I love this article about Jeremy Gleick - talk about life long learning!

Working in Special Education Classrooms

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:37:00 -0600

For those substitute teachers who work regularly in special education classrooms, what advice do you have for other substitute teachers? Have you had any noteworthy experiences when working with students with special needs? Please share your thoughts as a comment below.

A Must Watch!

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:36:00 -0600

Before you accept an assignment to work in a Special Education classroom, view this talk by Aimee Mullins. Aimee is an athlete, model, and actress who has thrived in the opportunity that adversity has presented.

Makes Me Happy!

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:35:00 -0600

News clips like this make me happy!

Teaching Like Harry Wong

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:15:00 -0600

Harry Wong's, The First Days of School is a gold mine of helpful information for permanent teachers. There is a great deal of information that substitute teachers can use as well.
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Teacher Observations

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:26:00 -0600

Rachel, over at SubHub blog, shared this excellent article regarding observing the permanent teacher before taking a long term position. What excellent insights!

What do you think? Should substitute teachers observe the permanent teacher before taking a long term substitute teaching job when possible? Have you ever done it? Is it worth it?

Techniques in Transitioning

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 06:56:00 -0600

Substitute teachers experience their most difficult time with student behavior during transitions. As students change from one activity to another, return from recess or a special event, or move from one part of the room to another, successful substitute teachers need a number of strategies. Consider using the following:

As you announce an upcoming transition, remind students of the kind of behavior you're looking for. Restate your expectation of moving quietly and slowly without touching others. Give them a keyword to indicate that it's time to move. You can say something like, "When I say GO, I would like everyone to quietly get a microscope and return to your seat. Go."
Publicly compliment those groups of students complying with your transition expectations. Say things like, "I like the way Josh, Emily, and Madison are moving quietly to their seats. Some of you, I see, are already sitting and ready to begin. Okay, now I see more of you that are ready to work.
As students reenter the classroom, have the next activity waiting for them. Put a message on the board about how to get ready for the next lesson, or have an assignment or the seatwork for a lesson already distributed on their desk.
After all students have reentered the room, give a signal that you are ready to begin. You can say something like, "Alright, let's get started," or "We have a lot of work to do." You could also turn off the lights, count backwards from 5, or ring a bell.
Look at the clock, set a timer, or raise fingers on your hand with the prearranged understanding that lost minutes of instruction will be made up by the whole class (or a few individuals) before leaving for recess or lunch. You can say something like, "If you need to use my time now, I will need a bit more of your time at lunch or recess."
Keep students focused on the next activity. Intently whisper what comes next, making it sound too inviting to want to miss.
Avoid redirecting individuals, repeatedly reprimanding the class generally, or pleading for student attention and compliance. If transition time takes too long, sit down, take a deep breath, and quietly go over the rules and consequences and then try the transition again.

When you have a variety of methods for making transitions run smoothly, you minimize the chance that students will behave disruptively at these times. Try out some of the ideas listed above and see which ones you feel most comfortable with. Let us know which techniques have worked for you by leaving a comment below.