Substitute teachers, I appreciate you and your efforts. They do the impossible. There was the English teacher who gamely subbed for my science class after the birth of my boy. I came back after three weeks, because there was no other option in my rural locale.
You can’t make this stuff up.
But I also know that seesaw that kids walk as the teacher prepares them for a substitute. Preparing them used to go something like this:
“Hey, I will be gone for a couple of days for a funeral.”
“Mapowell, we’re so sorry.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it. Now let’s talk about what will happen when I’m gone…”
<extended conversation>
What absolutely, positively has to be in that conversation?
How will you respond if or when you get that email or text from one of your students in an age of digital media?
How do you communicate with the substitute and the students so the time is utilized effectively?
What is your plan to ensure a good experience for the subsitute (classroom guest)?
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