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January 2009
Vol 6 No 1
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Teachers.Net Gazette Vol.6 No.1 January 2009

Cover Story by Alfie Kohn
It’s Not What We Teach;
It’s What They Learn
"I taught a good lesson even though the students didn't learn it,” makes no more sense than "I had a big dinner even though I didn't eat anything.”


Harry & Rosemary Wong: Effective Teaching
The Sounds of Students
Learning and Performing

Columns
»Six Easy Resolutions for 2009Sue Gruber
»Learning the Value of DiversityLeah Davies
»Flash Nebula is in the house! Will standardized tests detect him?Todd R. Nelson
»Teaching is an art, not a science.Marvin Marshall
»The Busy Educator's Monthly FiveMarjan Glavac
»Dear Barbara - Advice for SubsBarbara Pressman
»5 Ways to Activate Your Natural Teacher CoachKioni Carter
»Global Travel GuruJosette Bonafino

Articles
»PRINTABLE 2009 Multilingual, Multinational Calendar Tim Newlin
»Thoughts on the Use of Failure as a Teaching Technique Bill Page
»Traits of a Good TeacherAlan Haskvitz
»January 2009 Writing PromptsJames Wayne
»Let's Get Started with SmartboardMarjan Glavac
»Using Photographs To Inspire Writing IIIHank Kellner
»Phonemic Awareness: Letting The Horse Pull The CartGrace Vyduna Haskins
»Reading Strategies: Teaching Students to VisualizeLisa Frase
»Teaching the Alphabet to Diverse LearnersHeidi Butkus
»The Metaphor Of Collaboration - What's missing from group work?Ambreen Ahmed
»A Taste of InspirationSteven Kushner
»Activities & Games for Foreign and First Language ClassesRebecca Klamert
»Four Years of High School Math and Science Should be a National PolicyStewart Brekke

Features
»Apple Seeds: Inspiring QuotesBarb Stutesman
»Today Is... Daily CommemorationRon Victoria
»The Lighter Side of Teaching
»Some Rooms
»Printable Worksheets & Teaching Aids
»Lessons, Resources and Theme Activities: January 2009
»January Lesson Plans Especially for Preschool, Kindergarten & Early Primary
»Video Bytes: Dr. Martin Luther King, One Minute “I have a dream” speech by Daniel Stringer, Crystal Photography – Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley, FDR Fireside Chat on the Banking Crisis – March 1933, President Elect Barack Obama Reassures Americans – Thanksgiving 2008, T-Netter ron nj aka “Man of Steel” plays Sleepwalk, Big Dog Robot
»Live on Teachers.Net: January 2009
»T-Net chefs share their favorite warm-up-winter recipes
»Newsdesk: Events & Opportunities for Teachers


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Cover Story by Alfie Kohn

Effective Teaching by Harry & Rosemary Wong

Contributors this month: Alfie Kohn, Sue Gruber, Kioni Carter, Marvin Marshall, , Marjan Glavac, Todd R. Nelson, Leah Davies, Barbara Pressman, Tim Newlin, Bill Page, James Wayne, Hank Kellner, Josette Bonafino, Grace Vyduna Haskins, Barb Stutesman, Ron Victoria, Lisa Frase, Alan Haskvitz, Heidi Butkus, Ambreen Ahmed, Steven Kushner, Rebecca Klamert, Stewart Brekke, Artie Knapp, and YENDOR.

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Barbara Pressman

Advice for Substitute Teachers
Archive | Biography | Resources | Discussion


Balancing Fair with Stern
and
Standing up to the Defiant Student
Dear Barbara - Advice for Substitute Teachers
by Barbara Pressman
The author of Substitute Teaching from A to Z (McGraw-Hill, 2008)

Continued from (page 1)
January 1, 2009

Standing up to the Defiant Student

Dear Barbara,
Recently, I started subbing for a high school in a district I have been working in for nearly a year. My experience thus far has been pretty good and I do enjoy working there. The other day, I subbed for a ninth grade English class in which the teacher gave a lot of work. He even told me to write down the names of students who misbehave and to tell them that if their names are written down, they would get a zero in their grades. There was one student who refused to do the work at all. He was also rude and left the class without my permission. When I told him to do his work, he said, "How many times did you tell us to do our work and we're not doing it, don’t you get the message?” Next, I told him that I was writing his name down for the regular teacher to see (and I even wrote the details). At my next period class, he made faces at me through the door window so I opened the door and asked the security guard to assist me. While I was speaking to the security guard, the student started making fun of the way I talk by mimicking everything I said. I did not respond to the teasing because I did not want to indulge it. The regular teacher was told everything and he stood by my side. I’m still bothered by this incident and I am wondering if there was anything I could have done better or differently. Am I taking this too personally? Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Abby, New York

Dear Abby,
High School students can be extremely challenging. You stated that you have had good experiences at this high school up until now. So be assured that you are a capable and successful sub, or they wouldn’t have invited you back.

The student in your ninth grade English class is a very troubled young man. I’m sure that if you were able to look at his record, you would find that he has emotional problems, and probably learning issues too. His behavior shows me that he is avoiding doing his work and trying to impress his friends at the same time. What better time to do this than when a sub is in the room!

You were correct in writing the details of the encounter to the regular teacher. I’m pleased that he backed you up. When the student made faces at you, you kept your cool. You didn’t feed in to his teasing routine. If you had, the situation would have escalated.

There are plenty of negatives about subbing. But a positive aspect is that when you have a student like your ninth grader, you just have him for one day. The regular teacher has to face him five days a week!

Hold your head high and rise above this student’s immature behavior. He has problems. It’s not you and it’s not personal. You dealt with him in a professional manner.

Best,
Barbara



» More Gazette articles...




About Barbara Pressman...

Barbara Pressman is an adjunct professor at the College of Education, Florida Atlantic University. She has been a classroom teacher for more than 20 years, and a supervisor for student teachers for 10 years. She currently mentors Substitute Teachers as well.

Teachers.Net asked Barbara how she came to be interested in writing for substitute teachers. Her response:
I have subbed for many years during my teaching career. When my children were small, I found subbing to be a wonderful "free lance" job. At that time, I took on a 6th grade long term subbing assignment, which led me back to full time teaching. Upon retirement, I went back to subbing once again.

Barbara is the author of book
Substitute Teaching from A to Z (McGraw-Hill, 2008), available in all major bookstores and Amazon.com. To find out more, visit: www.substituteteachingatoz.com

Substitute Teachers:
Barbara invites you to submit your question by email. Your question could appear in a future column!


Barbara Pressman Articles on Teachers.Net...
Related Resources & Discussions on Teachers.Net...

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