Tech On Call

For a TTOC/Professional Substitute, you have to be prepared for anything. Though it may be a rare occurrence that you are left without notes or a day plan, the fear of this happening is ever present for those of us on call. If (and when) it happens to you, don't despair, because the internet is a magical place and there are so many wonderful lesson plans and activity guides mere clicks away. Most schools nowadays are equipped with at least one computer in the classroom. Being ready to go with your own lessons and plan is easy and simple. Here are some ideas to have at your back when you need them:

1) Pinterest- It's not just for girls! Make a board to pin education ideas. There are literally thousands of grade and subject specific activity ideas, as well as rubrics and classroom management ideas. Check out the App Review of Pinterest on this site on the "Tools" page.

2) Webquests- Be ready to go with these, or brainstorm your own ideas! Check out my blog post on creating your own Webquests here.

3) Videos- I know we never want to be the kind of sub that just rolls into a classroom and puts on a video- that's not very pedagogical! However, using educational videos (ALL OF BILL NYE IS ON YOUTUBE!) as a lead in for class discussions, or to build on subjects they have just covered is a great idea! Having students write a reflection or journal entry on thought provoking videos on climate change, bullying, social media awareness are all fantastic activities, and I'm always amazed at what my students come up with. It's a great way to get to know who is in your class.

4) Lesson Pool sites: There are many of these popping up. Some are better than others. Essentially, the big idea is that educators have mapped out lesson and unit plans by subject and grade. They have activities and sometimes rubrics that you can download and access by signing up and paying a membership fee, or paying by lesson. Buyer beware! Some of these lessons have limited previews, and are sometimes cheezy or disinteresting. Also, make sure when shopping for lessons that you are using ones that fit your curriculum. BC has a very different curriculum for grade 4 than Texas, for example.

5) Learn to Code sites- need an activity for half an hour? Have your students complete some coding challenges or lessons on one of the many free coding sites (Check out my list here).

6) Khan Academy- As a TOC, teaching Math can be a nightmare, because you have no idea where the class is at until you get there. If you feel like you may not be confident in teaching a new subject, or you have a few early finishers but the rest of the class is struggling, put on a Khan Academy explanation. Sal is amazing and deconstructs math concepts in a way that is organized and easy to follow. I wish they had this when I was in school.