www.claytonschools.net
* = Elementary
** = Secondary
*** = Both
January 2015
5 Classes Resume
8 Marzano (HN)
14 ITT Release (HN)
16 Substitute Training
16 Early Release
19 MLK, Jr. Day (NS)
21 ITT Release Day (HN)
27–29 Content PD (HN)
Looking Ahead……
February 2015
4 Cognitive Coaching
9-11 METC (HN)
13 PD Day (NS)
16 President’s Day (NS)
25 ITT Release Day (HN)
March 2015
4 ITT Release Day (HN)
16-20 Spring Break
25 ITT Release Day (HN)
NS = no students
HN = high needs for substitute
teachers/mark your Calendar
Log Into AESOP
January 2015
Classroom Management
Making Use of a Starter Activity***
Often times, students will walk in, see there is a substitute teacher and instantly
think it will be a day they can get away with anything. One way to dispel this idea
is to greet students at the door. This is a really simple technique that will
demonstrate to students you are a professional.
For this technique to be most helpful, you will need to couple it with a starter
activity they need to begin upon entering the classroom. Starter activities are
indispensable for substitute teachers.
Having a starter activity is an excellent way to get students on task immediately.
Once students are on task, it is much easier to keep them on task. Some
suggestions on implementing a starter activity should include:
1. Students should be able to work on the activity individually.
2. Students should be able to begin whenever they enter the classroom,
which will be at different times.
3. Students should be able to complete the activity in 5-10 minutes (enough
time for you to complete attendance and necessary pre-teaching tasks.
Many teachers will have a starter activity in the lesson plan. If not, be prepared
to come up with one of your own. For ideas, see the article below. Start the new
year using a new strategy that helps get and keep students on task!
Instructional Strategy
Ideas for Starter Activities***
Following are some ideas for starter activities:
• Ask students to design nametags or executive nameplates for their desks.
• In Math class, provide students with quarter sheets of paper and have them
write five sentences about how they used math outside of the classroom last
week.
• Provide students with quarter sheets of paper and have them express what
they learned to previous day in class using a graphic organizer.
• Put a large poster of a picture in the front of the room, have students study
the picture. After three minutes take the picture away and ask them detailed
questions about the picture.
• Photocopy a worksheet of addition, subtraction, multiplication or division
facts; have students time themselves on how long it takes to complete a line
of equations.
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January 2015
Instructional Strategy
Quote of the Month
Ideas for Starter Activities*** (continued)
“Leadship is practiced not
• Write a brainteaser on the board and allow a few minutes for students to try
somuch in words as in attitude
to solve.
and in actions.”
• Provide students with a piece of paper and have them write a letter to the
President of the United States about how they feel about a current decision
-Harold S. Geneen
that was made.
• Ask students to respond to a question that will provoke some thought about
the topic you will be covering in class.
www.claytonschools.net
Computer Access
Each building allows you to have
internet access in order to search
Aesop for assignments and give
feedback at the end of the day. For
January the username is subsub and
password january2015!
The possibilities are endless for what you can do as a starter activity. It is best if
you can relate the activity to the subject you will be covering for the day.
Remember, starter activities aren’t busy work. They need to have a purpose and
feedback should be provided on student work. Instead of you grading papers,
have students trade papers. Each partner should write something they liked
about the other student’s work at the top of the paper.
For more starter activity ideas check ou the “Five Minute Fillers” section in the Substitute
Teacher Handbook. They can be found in each of the District libraries and at STEDI.org.
Substitute Teacher Ongoing Training
The School District of Clayton will offer ongoing training for all substitute
SubLine Newsletter
teachers. The goal of ongoing training is to support our substitute teachers in
If you have any suggestions that
the areas of curriculum, instruction and classroom management. Sean Doherty,
you would like published in the
SubLine Newsletter, please
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, will facilitate the training session
contact Cindy Whitney at
on Friday, January 16 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at the Administrative Building.
[email protected] Participants will be paid the substitute rate of pay for a half day as long as they
are active in Aesop.
Please RSVP to Cindy Whitney 314-854-6039 or
[email protected] seating is limited.
Log Into AESOP
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