After that, it was kind of awkward to get caught up, and to pick up where the sub left off. It seems that the sub didn't stick to the plans I had left in some ways, so some of the students had no idea what to do even though I painstakingly made the instructions very clear (so I thought). This being the case, I had more wasted time when I returned to class on Thursday a.m. than I would have liked. It was hard getting the "slow workers" caught up to where the "good students" had gotten to when I was gone. All is well now though, for the most part, and I'm looking forward to starting from a clean slate on Monday.
The only things I feel like I could re-do from this week are due to hind-sight. It was very hard to know what to expect after being gone for three days with a substitute trying to handle my classes. Knowing what I do now, after being home from FBLA, it's easy to point out the problems that could stand to be corrected. However, I had no way of knowing how the classes would be until I actually got back into the classroom.
The most beneficial thing for me was the whole process of planning out lessons that the sub would be able to do in my absence. That was a good learning process. This, combined with taking the class back over when I returned, all proved to be very beneficial, and is something I can apply to the rest of my career, as there are certain to be days that I will not be able to be there that a sub will have to cover for me in my absence.
Overall, another week down! My days down vs. days to go ratio is now 51:15. Bring on that last day!
I agree after returning from the conference on Thursday it took some time to get caught up on exactly where the students were with the work I wanted them to complete. Writing lesson plans for a sub is an interesting process and it is one I have worked with over the semester. I usually write my directions once and then condense them so the sub isn’t trying to read a book before the lesson starts. Sounds like your ready for this week to start and move one day closer to being finished! Keep up the good work, see you on Monday.
ReplyDeleteI think it's fair to say that out of all of us student teachers, you are one of the two who had the most responsibility at the FBLA conference. You didn't go just as a student teacher volunteer, but as a chaperone for your students. As far as plans go for a substitute, I think it's easier just to actually be at school rather than leave plans for a sub. You are right-you think your plans are clear and to the point, yet class doesn't go as planned. Oh well though, life goes on! See you Monday!
ReplyDeleteYeah, you had your share of "fun" at FBLA. I felt it was really hard to come back after three days off as well. The catch up work was not worth being gone for three days I felt. It was a great lesson for me on how much preplanning these kinds of things take. Glad you made it out alive though, and those high school kids didn't get the best of you. :)
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