February 2011
District Information
CONROE ISD
3205 W. DAVIS
CONROE
TEXAS 77301
936-709-7710
936709-9710 FAX
[email protected]
SUBstantial News
Quick Five-Minute Fillers
The last five or ten minutes of class
can be the most difficult time to
keep students on task. Often times
the lesson plans will end by this
point and the students will start
misbehaving. To prevent these
problems from happening, the best
thing to do is to be prepared with
an activity that will keep students
focused and engaged.
Following are examples of prompts
that could be used to keep students
on-task. Depending on the situation
this activity may be completed as
a class, by individual students, or a
small group of students.
•Write down all of the places you
find sand.
•List as many love songs you can
think of.
•List all the forms of
transportation you can think of.
•Name all of the different types of
musical instruments you can.
•List the states that have the letter
“e” in their name.
•Write down a manufactured
product for every letter of the
alphabet.
•Name as many different
individual and/or team sports as
you can.
These lists can be created verbally
or by writing them down. Setting
a time limit for compiling a list,
challenging students to come up
with a specific number of answers,
or tallying which student/group
has the most original answers will
add interest and motivation to the
activity. �
The Questioning Trap
Quick Tip
Stay on your feet the entire
class period, if you have to
sit down, avoid sitting at the
teacher’s desk.
Quote of the month
Well done is better than well
said.
- Benjamin Franklin
When students misbehave, it’s easy
to get caught up in asking students
questions about their behavior.
“Why did you leave the classroom
when I told you not to?”
We do this because we feel as
though we should say something
but are uncertain of what else to
say – which is understandable.
However, it’s important to realize
that asking students questions
about their misbehavior is not
accomplishing the goal of getting
students on task. Students could
easily answer these questions and
answer them correctly, but their
answers will not help or improve
the situation.
There are rare times when
questioning students about their
behavior is appropriate. You can
ask students “why” they behaved
the way they did only when the
information is necessary in getting
them back on task. Otherwise, it
is important to make sure that we
avoid questioning students as to
why they behaved a certain way.
Our dialogue with students should
constantly encourage them to get or
stay on task. �
SUBstantials by STEDI.org – for substitute teachers about substitute teaching • copyright ©2011 STEDI.org
February 2011
SUBstantial News
Being an Effective Presenter
There is so much information
available to those who want to be
more effective public speakers.
Much of this information can
and should be implemented by
permanent and substitute teachers.
One of these suggestions that is
essential for teachers is to remove
filler words such as, “uh,” “umm,”
and “like” from your vocabulary.
One technique teachers can
implement to help eliminate these
filler words is to simply close their
mouths after speaking. This silence
will seem awkward at first, but
will feel more and more natural as
this technique is put into practice.
It might also be helpful to have
friends and family members point
out when a filler phrase is being
These words distract students from used. Often we don’t even realize
what you are actually trying to say. we are using these phrases.
An appropriate alternative to filler By eliminating filler words,
words would be silence. It is okay
substitute teachers are improving
for teachers to pause while talking. their ability to be effective
presenters. By being better
Not only is it appropriate, it’s
more effective. These pauses allow presenters, substitute teachers can
students time to grasp the concepts teach with more confidence the
information left by the permanent
being taught.
teacher. �
Things you need to know!
During testing times in April and May there will be requirements for substitutes to
change assignments. Substitutes may be asked to cover a different class when the
regular teacher has testing duties. The substitute may be asked to take a different class
each period.
Thank you for helping during these exceptional times and for remaining flexible - it is
appreciated! Teachers and administrators do remember those substitutes that were
willing and able to help when the responsibility or assignment changes.
SUBstantials by STEDI.org – for substitute teachers about substitute teaching • copyright ©2011 STEDI.org