MIA: Clipboards!

If you have been living under a rock then you may not know that taking scrapbook paper and mod podge to clipboards is one of the easiest ways to jazz up your classroom environment. But did you ever think that its also a great way to keep your clipboards safe? Miss Gleason is a learning support teacher. She has kids coming in and out of her classroom at all times. She decorated her clipboards not only for style reasons but she knows they will be more easily identified and returned to her.

I'm sorry can you say "adorable" !?!

Thanks Miss Gleason for sharing a part of your wonderful classroom with us!

The Do's and Don'ts of Subbing: Part Two

• DON'T pack lunches that require a microwave. You're time to catch up, review the lesson plan for the day, and set up supplies for the rest of the day will be when you're students are at their special and at lunch. You do not want to be finding your way to the faculty lounge to heat up food and then make your way back to your classroom. That can easily kill half of your precious lunch period. I bought myself an insulated lunch bag and ice packs. I was able to keep my lunch with my in the classroom all day without having to find a fridge to put it in. 

• DO dress in layers. Room temperatures vary from building to building, even room to room. You don't want to be freezing or sweating. Have a universal cardigan or sweater you can bring with you. 
• DO pack a mini first aid kit. I make sure to have the following with me in my bag:

              -  band aids
              -  tums
              -  ibuprofen
              -  feminine essentials
              -  hand sanitizer and lotion
              -  cough drops/throat lozenges

 You just NEVER know what situation will arise. You want to make every day in a new place as comfortable as possible. Remember: do not give your students any medicine you may have. Send them to the nurse for that. You can give them band aids. This will help stop the constant flow of nurse goers. When you're a little kid, band aids fix everything, right?

• DO stay healthy. Get flu shots, take your vitamins, whatever you need to do to stay healthy during flu season. Teachers will be calling out left and right. They will be sick and/or their children will be sick. You need to be on your a-game ready to work. Substitute teachers get paid by the day, if you don't work, you don't get paid. You do not want to miss job opportunities because you were sick. 

• DON'T yell. You will have classes that put you on the edge of a breakdown. The calmer you stay the better. Nothing will get a classes' attention more than silence. If you stand in front of the class and refuse to go on until you get quiet, you will get the quiet you demand. Children will tune you out the louder you become.

The Do's and Don'ts of Subbing: Part One

• Don't arrive on time, arrive at least 15 minutes earlier. I don't know how many times I have gone to a school thinking I'll be teaching 2nd grade and I am moved to a 5th grade classroom and I have to run around the building looking for another teacher who is supposed to have the lesson plans for that day. You'll be happy to have that extra 15. 
• Do leave a report of how your day went. Teachers want to know what was covered, where finished work was placed, and how the behavior of the class was. If the class was a nightmare, be gentle when you write your feedback. Try to write that note as if you were writing it to a parent about their child. Try to start and end with something positive. Or tell the teacher which students really stood out to you with good behavior. 
• Do introduce yourself to the teachers in the rooms around you. I know the morning is hectic but you are letting those teachers know you are there and may need their help. They are more likely to check in with you through out the day if you have told them who you are. You also are more likely to have them ask you if you can sub for them. When you make a good impression, even a simple introduction it can put a teacher's mind at ease when considering you as their substitute. It puts a face to a name - always good. 
• Don't leave without saying goodbye. Always stop into the front office. Ask if you need to sign out. Most times you don't but its a good way to get back into that office and have them see your face again. It's a great time to thank them for having you and wish them well. If you have a card with your sub information on it - now is the time to hand it to them. 
• Don't ignore people in the hallways. Always walk with your head up, give eye contact, and smile. You may feel invisible in this new school but your face needs to be seen as many times as possible. People pay attention to your actions no matter where you are. 
• Don't freak out. So many things happen in a day. You may get lost, you may get sick, you may lose someone or something. Take a deep breath. Take things seriously but try not to be on the edge of a nervous breakdown when you go seek help. Faculty and staff are there to help you through anything. Stuff happens - people will be impressed with how you handled yourself during a crisis
• Do ask for help. No matter how big or how small. The longer you take to ask for help the more time you've wasted. Pick the appropriate person to ask for help. Don't call down to the office every time. Make the first person you ask the teachers next to you.
• Do turn off all lights and technology in the room. ESPECIALLY projectors. The bulbs are very expensive. I've been in many schools and teachers and staff make a point to make sure those are turned off when they are not being used.

Start Your Year Off Right

With the school year fast (emphasis on fast) approaching I find myself looking back to this time last year. I was about to embark on my first year as a substitute teacher. I was terrified. Would I enter a classroom with no lesson plans? How would I handle the students? How many times would I get lost? Would I have a job every day? I began searching the internet for some substitute teacher guidance. There really wasn't a lot or enough to put my nerves at ease. About two months into my subbing year, I had already attained so many tips and tricks in my little "subbing suitcase", I knew I had to find a way to share. That is when Pink Lips and Teaching Tips began. I went through my blog archive to give you all the links to my posts that pertain to subbing and how to make it an easier transition for you great substitute teachers.

Sub Tracker

My Teacher is Missing

My Substitute Teaching Behavior Plan

Easy Time Fillers

The Do's and Don'ts of Subbing

Substitute Teacher Toolbox

Fabulous Steals

I walked out of Target yesterday feeling like I needed to high five someone.

Yes, Dora, like that. 

I snagged some great deals and I really felt like I was stealing. First, was the t-shirt sale. I am pretty sure it is going on all week. Mossimo Supply Co. tees and tanks are on sale for $5.

I bought three Mossimo scoop neck tees for $5 and another was $4 on the clearance rack. These scoop neck tshirts are so comfortable and soft. I now am the happy owner of eight of them. Basic scoop neck tshirts are comfy and easy to dress up or down. Perfect for a full day of teaching :)

Now, for the best steal of all. I recently fell in love with OPI's nail color, Cajun Shrimp.


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The color is between coral and red. It is really a beautiful color. I came to Target prepared to spend the $8.99 but I decided to quickly go up and down isles to see if I could possibly find a cheaper match to this simply gorgeous color. GUESS WHAT!? I did!!!!

For $1.97, I bought NYC's color, Time Square (224). It is their quick dry polish line. It covers in one coat and dries almost instantly.



I am so overjoyed by all the savings at my trip to Target yesterday. My original price with the OPI polish and full price t-shirts would have run me $40. By changing my polish and taking advantage of this great sale I walked out spending only $20!

Paper Plates for Days!

I'm really quite disappointed that I am just catching on to all the wonders and uses of paper plates. My summer of nannying is almost through and I could have done a paper plate craft EVERY DAY with all of the ideas I have found. Just search "Paper Plate Crafts" on Pinterest and you will be able to find a craft for almost anything you are teaching. For most of the ideas on the blog today, you will want to use the cheapest paper plates you can find (not styrofoam). These paper plates can be found at the dollar store as well. If you wouldn't trust the paper plate to hold your food, you've got the right paper plate!

Word Walls

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 Banners

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 Hanging Above Tables

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 Teaching Time

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