What teacher hasn’t eked out those words at three o’clock in the morning? I know I have! In fact, I’m pretty sure I willed myself back to wellness on several occasions, especially during my first few years of teaching. Just the thought of trying to describe my class schedule (which varied daily) and my learning center rotation could break a fever in a snap! Then there were the lesson plans… I always had them; I just didn’t always follow them to a tee. 🙂
Do you keep a set of emergency plans for the unexpected? If so, how do you decide what to plan? Are you able to rely on technology when the unexpected happens or do private passwords get in the way?
Here’s to staying healthy (and being prepared just in case)!
Diane
I wouldn’t dare get sick right now! Just the thought of it stresses me out….I am supposed to have emergency plans but haven’t found the time to write them. And even if I wanted to take a “sick day” its not worth it…because of all the planning that goes into having a sub. However once I do get my emergency sub plans ready you can be sure the plans will be filled with Mailbox resources. Wouldn’t know what I would do without ya!! Thank you for being a lifesaver to so many of us busy teachers!
Lol, funny this is the new blog topic…I have been battling a cold/flu thing for several days now and just will not call off. Just the thought of it makes me cringe! I always feel way too guilty to not be in my classroom so, I usually push through and ‘will’ myself back to health.;) I, too, do not have a set of emergency plans in my room…although, I certainly need to do that. I just have to take the time to sit down and prepare them. I have basic plans in my head that would suit anytime of the year…just need to write them up. Ugh…the procrastination of it all! I also will be adding alot of Mailbox ideas into my emergency folder when I get it all complete…you cannot go wrong with those ideas!:) Thanks for ‘pushing’ me in the direction of getting those plans done…you just never know when an emergency will happen and a poor sub is going to need those to fall back on.
My wonderful husband has alot of health problems and often enters the hospital through emergency with little notice. I have to call off.
Through my many experiences with this I have learned to make 2 sets of plans and keep them at the school available. They are easier plans full of fun things my preschool class likes. I also include a letter to them asking them to be extra special good. I also have special stickers that the kids get if they are good while I am away.
I have two great tools:
A standing paper-sorter gizmo holds 6 manila folders.
I file the next week’s worksheets with an outline of that day’s lessons in manila folders labeled with the day of the week. The 6th manila folder is labeled “Get Set” and is filled with several class sets of fun, simple to do worksheets – I use these for kids to do as they arrive and I take attendance and lunch counts, and they work well for a substitute teacher to pick and choose if s/he wants something more.
A red notebook labeled “Sub’s Notebook” sits on my desk so it’s fairly easy to find. Attendance slips. lunch order forms, health room slips, and office referral slips are in the front pocket. Sections in the notebook include Daily Schedules with a one page schedule, showing specialists and recess times, for each day of the week, Emergency Procedures, Classroom Management techniques that work with this class, and a class roster in triplicate for the sub to use for note taking. Our first grade teacher showed me how to set this up.