What do I leave the sub?

Question

I'm going to a conference for four days, including this coming Thursday and Friday. I teach an honors English course and two Spanish I courses. English will be finishing reading the play Medea, and Spanish will be learning to conjugate -ar ending verbs.

My inclination is to have English finish reading the play and leave a writing prompt or two and to leave a 20-page worksheet packet for Spanish in which they review every concept we've covered so far, including the -ar conjugation.

I hear movies are not the best choice.

Suggestions?

PS, our school runs on 90-minute blocks.

Answer 1

Twenty pages of worksheets? Are you joking? That is just going to bore the students into bad behaviour. Why not assign a different review activity? Maybe assign each group a major vocab AND grammar concept from the semester, and have them design a game to test their classmates' knowledge of that area. Or again, give groups a grammar and vocab concept and have them work together to write a script for a short play (or scene) that reviews that concept. Let them work together to memorize the play and they can perform it when you return to show the work they did.

As for English, if you normally spend the entire block in silent reading then I guess you could continue to do that. But again, why not give the students something that actually ENGAGES them in the learning process? Have them find a news story that reflects one of the central issues in the play. When they come to class they can work in groups to discuss how their chosen story relates to the play. Then ask them to swap news stories with a partner and write a letter to the editor relating that story to the play to current events to their opinions.

The worst thing you can do when you've got a sub is to give the kids mindless work, which seems to be exactly what you've got planned. You're just asking for them to act out.

Answer 2

The instructions should be a clear explanation of what your lesson plan would have been if you were there. Just remember there may be some confusion since the sub may not know the subjects you teach.

Also, don't be hard on the sub if mistakes are made. My mother has done some subbing and in one class, they always read magazine articles, wrote a quick report on the one they read, then watched a film. Well, Mom forgot to have them do their articles/reports and showed the film first, then went back. The next time she subbed at that school, different teacher, the first teacher bawled her out publicly.

Answer 3

I would agree with what you have planned. Also don't forget sometimes subs have an agenda of their own. I have had detailed lesson plans out only to have the sub let the students color for the day. Leave the movie only as a last resort maybe if you can find one on the play Medea so they can see it.

Answer 4

90 Minute Blocks are a lot of time. Generally, kids get bored and off task after 5 minutes time. Subs are usually seen as a break. It seems that you have a sound strategy in place. 4 days... Wow that is a lot. I'd go with three days of classwork that will be graded as a quiz! and the 4th day will involve a movie and note taking that will be graded in the form of a class discussion. In fact, grade all of the sub work as a class discussion and grade people on their participation.

Answer 5

mayo is the aspect with a purpose to move dangerous first and get probably the most unsafe. It's no longer simply the time within the refrigerator: it is the time sitting within the bag unrefrigerated until you've lunch that's the hindrance. The bread can have soaked up one of the most moisture from the beef and Vegi's, the mayo is also loaded with preservatives wherein case you'll no longer kill your self.

Answer 6

I am a student and since my school runs on the 4x4 hybrid block system as well, I think that you should leave something that is both fun, yet fundamental. Maybe even group work will help them learn the material while you are gone AND have a little fun while doing it.

Answer 7

A Spanish language learning video wouldn't be too bad if played for about a half hour for a couple days. I think your plan is good, and hopefully you have a good substitute. I've had some subs who haven't followed the plan given.

Answer 8

Just leave enough material so the sub will know what to do when she gts to class. ALso have your honor students help out so everything will go smoothly till you get back. ALso tell your students while your gone there manners and how they behave with the sub will be graded and tell the sub to grade them when she leaves that way you will kow how everything went

Answer 9

I think you've answered your own question. I'd go with your inclination. That's your best bet.