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Computer Labs

On occasion, I will sub in a computer lab.  The success of this assignment USUALLY depends on the set up of the lab and, of course, teacher expectations.  If I can view ALL computers from MY computer either visually or remotely (they have a nifty program that allows me to bring up each student's  computer screen--IF the teacher has programmed that for me) , I have a much better level of "compliance"--i.e. DOING the assignment and not playing games, checking e-mail etc.--when I can SEE what they are working on.  Luckily, I am not a technophobe and know quite a bit about technology--for someone my age. :)  I always allow five minutes to check their e-mail, grades, etc., so that SEEMS to cut down on some of the "inappropriate use". 


SOME computer labs were set up more for privacy (like you might want in a library) and NOT education.  I sub 3 different high schools and 4 different middle schools within our district.  The BEST high school lab has the teachers desk at the back of the room where I can view the screens, just by looking up.  The worst lab is one, in that same building, that has the computers facing each other and the teacher desk to the side of the room.  So, WHEN I am up walking around, they see me coming and either minimize the stuff they are not supposed to do or "X" out of it.  At one building, there is a game they play that they can all shoot each other and, for the life of me, I cannot figure out why it is not blocked.  This game has been a HUGE factor in me not wanting to sub in the computer labs at that building.  Apparently the teacher just doesn't care. The set up of that room has the computers in a "U" shape and the teachers desk up front, facing sideways.  So I can see MOST of the computers, but the kids don't care if I leave their names. ( BTW--this is also the same school that had the  Insolence incident.)

Today, I am at our oldest (i.e. building) high school and the kids are really quite on task.  The teacher made sure the remote screening possibility was available to me.  Although, while on the teacher computer I can only visually see half the room, if I turn around I can see all but 4 screens.  The kids here on are task, for the most part.  That is good for a sunny Friday in April. 

Half Days

This week, I subbed for a middle school music teacher.  It was a half day for the students.  In their infinite wisdom, the administration decided to run the full eight classes in a half day.  That meant each class was 19 minutes long!  Nineteen minutes. This is shorter than their TV shows!  

Now, on a sunny half day in April, it is going to take more than a minute or two to quiet these kids.  Then there is attendance to take and the time announcing what the plan for the day is.  The Reading class, which only has 6 people enrolled ( and only 3 showed up) probably got a full 15 minutes of class time.  But the other classes were lucky to get 12.  One even was as low as 10, because it took time to find out where they left off, the last time they had seen the video. 

Was this a good use of taxpayer money?  I think not.

Spring Break

The day before Spring Break, I had the "privilege" of subbing for my teacher friend who had the insolent kids in her first two hours.  Luckily, the boy who was the worst, did not show up to class--actually about half the class was missing.   All the kids behaved well and had no write ups for the whole day.  

Haven't subbed since, but have a half day scheduled for tomorrow at one of the middle schools. Music. Should be fun, since the kids have a half day, also. :)

Insolence

I subbed, last week, at the high school that I and my children attended and, at which, I was the building sub for 4 years.  There have been some changes in administration and it is becoming apparent in the kids.  When you have a great, solid administration, you have great, solid teachers and then great, solid kids.

For the past 8 or 9 years, whenever a teacher leaves a video, I give my "Video Spiel".  It goes something like this: "You are big kids.  I can't MAKE you watch a video.  My job is not to make sure you get an education--that is your TEACHER'S job and YOUR job.  My job is to make sure that those who WANT to get an education have that opportunity.  So if you CHOOSE to NOT watch the video, that is YOUR choice-YOUR grade.  However, you do not have the RIGHT to take away this learning opportunity from anyone else.  SO....if you are not respectful of your fellow classmates, I will give you a verbal warning.  If, after a verbal warning you continue to be disrespectful, I will ask you to move seats.  IF, when I ask you to move, you argue with me in any WAY, SHAPE or FORM (such as "What'd I do??? It was him!!" etc.) I will send you to the hall and you WILL be written up.  If you choose to sleep, I will note that for your teacher, but will not wake you, as that is more disruptive to the rest of the class."

This little spiel has worked well for me and, even though there have been a few write ups for arguing I have NEVER, until last week, had a kid outright REFUSE to move!  And not only was it ONE kid, but THREE different kids, in TWO different classes!  I actually think my mouth dropped open when the first kid said, "No".   I said, "Did you just say "no" to me?"  He said that he did.  I reminded him that I could write him up for insubordination.  He said, "Write me up".  I said, "Okay".  The next hour was similar, however one boy took it a step further.  When I asked him to move, after his verbal warning, he said, "I'm not moving, so write me up".  He, however, continued to be disruptive, so I asked him to go into the hall.  He refused.  So I called the office for an escort and that is when he finally got up and went down to the office.  Mind you, there was another 'real' teacher in the room who followed him to the office.

What this level of insolence and insubordination says to me is that the administration is not doing their job.  If kids are not afraid of the consequences, it must be because the consequences are nothing to be concerned about.  SO, for the first time ever, I e-mailed EVERY administrator at the building and explained what happened.  The teacher I was subbing for happens to be a friend and I found out that 2 of the kids have been suspended. The worst offender, I JUST found out, was given an "After School Detention" !!!  OMFG!  That is an insult to every substitute teacher out there and every other kid that was in that room. He was demoted into that position, about 6 years ago, and has made it fairly clear that he is just biding his time until he retires.  Unfreakingbelievable. 

The joy I have, is that I can e-mail him and diplomatically tell him to "grow some".    I'm sure the administrators now see me as a thorn in their side, but I am not trying to impress anyone and that is the freedom I have with subbing.  I am not trying to get a job in the district.  I don't NEED the job, as I have a private practice.  I have no children in the district anymore.  In many ways, I have always seen subbing as a community service, since the pay is low and is the same as when I started 10 years ago.   Now excuse me while I go write an email. :) 

"Guest Teacher" aka Substitute aka Behavior Management Specialist

I am a "jack of all trades", of sorts.  After nearly 20 years in Prevention and Training, I have a burgeoning  private practice for families with children on the autism spectrum. In addition to that,  I have been an English tutor to foreign auto execs and their families.  I have 2 lifelong ( I hope) friends from that gig. 

One of my favorite "other jobs" is substitute teaching.   For 4 years, I was a "Building Sub" at one of our 3 high schools.  That was great fun because I saw a freshman class through to graduation and got to know more kids than the average teacher.  I only sub secondary (6-12) and Preschool-Adult Special Education.  The little kids intimidate me.  First off--as soon as they see me, their day is ruined.  Then they don't adapt well to doing things different from how the teacher does it.  Additionally, elementary subbing means you have the class for the WHOLE day.  In secondary, if you have a bad class, you just have them for a hour or so and know you will be rid of them, soon.

Since most of my clients are after school, I substitute teach a few days a week.    I LOVE subbing.  I love having a different group of people, every day.  I love that I can be on the computer all day and get my sub jobs online--with general ed. kids, especially.  (In Sp. Ed., I rarely get a chance to see the computer.)  I love the kids and I love not having to take any work home with me.

Subbing is best when I get a teacher who is organized and gives me the tools I need to be successful.  Those tools include a SEATING chart and plans that will keep the kiddies engaged for the hour.  Seating charts are very important to learn the names of the kids.  If they know you know their name, they are WAY less likely to goof off.  Some of the teachers even give PICTURED seating charts--those are WAY fantastic!

Subbing is worst when a teacher leaves me a video with NO reason for the kids to watch it and NO seating chart.  If there is no quiz, notes, or "reason" for the kids to watch, they will not watch it--unless it is a GREAT movie.  When this happens, I assign notes, 'due at the end of the hour'.  What amazes me is how many kids will know that I am the one who made the assignment--NOT their teacher.  Kids will only be as good as what is expected of them.

It is AMAZING how teacher expectations will follow, even when the teacher is absent.  Many years ago, I was subbing a class that was a "dyad".  One teacher taught them English and the other taught Social Studies, different hours, but the same group of kids.  When the kids were in the English teacher's room, they were so unbelievably wild, that I learned how to write people up that day. The next day, I subbed the SAME kids in the Social Studies room and you could've heard a pin drop!  Half way through the class, I actually said, "Okay--are you guys messing with my mind here?  Is this really the same class I had yesterday???"  I subbed that dyad frequently and was amazed at the difference the teacher's expectations made on the behavior of the group.

10 Things I love about Living in Michigan

1.)    True "Four Seasons".

2.)     In the Winter, your garage doubles as a fridge/freezer.

3.)     Hard to go a mile without hitting some kind of water.

4.)     The beauty after an ice storm.

5.)     Mackinac Island

6.)     Christmas lights peeking out through snow.

7.)     The 45th Parallel--exactly halfway between equator and North Pole

8.)     Lake Michigan

9.)     Traverse City

10.)   The Mackinac Bridge

Cross Country Skiing

What a beautiful weekend--fresh snow and blue skies!  It was a bit cold, but not too cold to ski.  Although DH has been out, this year, I have not.  He found my skis and boots and I dressed for the weather (I thought!).  We put on our gear in the garage and headed towards the beach.  Snowmobile tracks made for a semi-"groomed" feel.  The beach is on a bit of a slope and I decided to follow the snowmobile tracks onto the lake--figuring if THEY didn't break the ice, I wouldn't.  Half way down the beach slope, I was unsteady and couldn't remember how to stop!  So, I fell, but did so with grace and no injury. :)

This picture (above) is of the next day, at Richardson--yes, even though we live by the lake, we drove over to the wooded trail.  It was beautiful and I remembered to bring kleenex, water, earmuffs and my phone/camera.   We forgot the dog leash.  So DH had to fashion one from what he had in the car.  In true "gym teacher" manner, it consisted of exercise stretch bands.  Poor Milo!  Tried to take a picture of it, but sometimes (and I don't know WHY), my phone camera takes the pic--it LOOKS good, but when I go to retrieve it, it is all pixilated. See?

If we were younger or better on skis, we would've just let Milo run free, like all the other dogs we encountered, but we were afraid he'd run over our skis or cause us to fall, if we did that.

Starting out good

The first week of 2010 has been good, so far.  Found a free medical service for DB and my dad filled out the forms and sent them in.  I know he qualifies, just have to see if they have room.

Have a new client and she is progressing suprisingly well.  Only worked with her about 10 hours and her extended family is even noticing a difference. :)

The father of a former client left a voice message, yesterday, to thank me for helping them apply for the Children's Waiver.  They qualified and their daughter is getting many services that she wouldn't have received.  I haven't worked with her in about 6 months, so I was surprised and pleased to hear from him.


Son3 is coming out of his "den", more, now that we have a Wii. :)  It is "my" Wii, so it is on the living room computer.

I'm subbing today and tomorrow, which is always an easy gig for me. Well, maybe not "always", but 98% of the time.  After subbing I go PLAY with 15 year old for 4 hours.

I've decided to not sub on Fridays, as I am getting too many requests and all of my pm slots are taken.  So, business is good. As is life.

Happy New Year!

Wow!  It is 2010!  I remember as a kid thinking, "The world will blow itself up before the year 2000".  I truly did not believe I'd see this day.  

Things to be thankful for in 2009:  Son3 getting Firefighter job, Son2 stabilizing (somewhat), no major disasters, all of my clients and their trust in me with their children, DH still has good job, 50th birthday and all the friends and family who attended, our free NAET lady, good/better health, roof over our heads and plenty to eat, cars working, safe vacation trips to FL and TN, Facebook (has gotten me back in touch with so many people and keeps me in touch with others), both parents still living and in fairly good health.


Things to hope/pray for in 2010:  World Peace, Autism Cure (even though it would put me out of business), cure for Bipolar Disorder.  More tangible hopes:  new hardwood floors, repaint kitchen, son3 stays employed and in school, son2 keeps stable and on meds, my laptop gets fixed, I lose 20 pounds, more time to read, a healthy and successful garden,get DB dx and treated.