What do you think about the TEACHER taking time off for a vacation?

[disneyjunkie]

BUT if you are being paid X amount of dollars to be a teacher - the way it is explained to me.....is that .... even though you have the summer off you are getting paid for it. So that is your paid vacation time? !!!

Teachers aren't "paid" during the summer. Some teachers receive a check during the summer because they opt to have a percentage of each check deducted during the year. That money is then paid out during the summer.

Teachers who opt out of the program, do not receive checks in the summer.

Most teachers work (and are paid ) for 10 months.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Yes but teachers are paid 60,000(at the LOW end of the pay scale for teachers here, most make much more!) + for 180 days of work, thats a darn nice salary for half a years work! 333 a day doesn't sound to bad in my book!

OK, let's say for instance that people work 5 days a week/52 weeks a year. The total amount of days off (due to weekends) is 104. Now, add 10 vacation days (2 weeks of vacation, not including weekends) so you are left with 114 days off. Now, if we would add federal holidays, let's say, 10 days, we're left with 124 days. Subtracting 365 days minus 124 days equals 241 of actual work days. Most people have more than 2 weeks vacation (I know I do and I work for a non-profit) so add those days in (I'll use my vacation time for instance, 10 vacation days/10 personal days), I would work for 231 days of for the year.

When you take the weekends out (which the 180 days of school don't include), what non-teachers work isn't all that more than teachers even if you take out winter break.

Granted, it does change from district to district and state to state, but this is just for an example.

 

[ticktock]

It's been proven? By whom? Do you have a link to the proof? As I've said before in other posts, we are required to leave detailed sub plans (it takes me hours). The subs are required to carry them out and to leave the teacher feedback on how the day went. We are not allowed to fill the day with worksheets and videos and games. Ever.

That said, teachers are people. We need to take days off of work just like you do. We get sick (sicker than most, since parents send their kids to school sick and they infect us), our kids get sick, we have deaths in the family, we have babies, we have personal issues. Just like everybody else.



As far as your DS's Science teacher, that was not her fault - - it was clearly the fault of your district for hiring a teacher who wasn't certified! Also, I've never known a surgeon to schedule surgery when the patient wants it done. It's always the decision of the surgeon, on his/her schedule.



I'll turn the tables on you here. I had the CEO of a big company spend a day in my classroom a few years ago. She came to my Kindergarten classroom in her Donna Karan suit and 3-inch heels. She whined and complained about not being able to sit down, getting paint on her skirt, needing to go to the bathroom and get some coffee at 10:00 (but, sorry! I can't pee when I want to --- I have to wait until NOON every day! NO MATTER WHAT). She was upset that she couldn't check her email, she wanted to make some phone calls. And on and on and on. She wouldn't survive in the education field, and yet she was hugely successful in the corporate world. Go figure.

Sorry I don't have a link, I've read it in several education journals (I have friends that work in education) and I hear it alot from teachers when they want to prove how important they are. They don't have to prove their importance to me BTW I've seen the insanely huge difference between good and bad teachers proved not only by their student's test grades but also by their classroom's working like clockwork, or not, as the case may be.I've also seen alot of movies (yes Herbie the Lovebug is very educational) being played in classrooms by subs so I can't see that what your saying is across the board.

Yes teachers get sick. That should be taken into consideration, a vacation shouldn't unless it's a once in a lifetime thing like the man who's grandkids were in the Olympics.

The teacher knew she needed the certification but didn't want to mess up her vacation to do it during summer. Why should she when she can get paid to teach but not be there? The school tried to schedule her during the summer but she wasn't going for it, she knew they needed her and she had them over a barrel. As far as the surgery, I've had many surgeries unfourtunately and I know how surgeons schedule. She could have had it done a few months later when she was off, she was just embarressed about her daughters "deformity" and wanted it taken care of ASAP.

I don't understand the relavance of your CEO story? What I was saying was that it is just as important that a teacher be there to interact with their students as it is for a business person to be there to interact with their clients EVERY time they are needed. If a business person doesn't do their job by being there their job is taken away. If a teacher doesn't do their job other teachers and the unions cover for them. Your showing that some CEO did a bad job trying to be homeroom super mom has no bearing as far as I can see? That isn't her JOB, how does her being a bad volunteer relate to her job as a CEO?

As for the pee breaks I think that is terrible. Though I've seen alot of teachers leave their classes to go to the bathroom while telling the students that the teacher next door is keeping an eye on them, so your school must be really strict.

If you're one of the good teachers, thank you! But my son goes to what is in essence an innercity school system so I know that there are ALOT of bad teachers out there. There are alot of people who went into teaching to get summers off and have their worthless butts kept in their positions by the unions. If you want more respect for your profession (which, when done well is worthy of immense respect) why don't you "out" the bad teachers? Why don't you demand that the unions and school administrators let bad teachers be fired instead of ruining thousands of students over their many fruitless years? Just like useless goverment employees or drunken doctors who kill people, really bad teachers give you all a bad name and leave such a bad taste in peoples mouths that they can't remember all the good teachers.

Teaching used to be a revered profession, almost of like motherhood in it's status as a minor sainthood kinda thing. It is NOT just overprotective whiney parents that have given it a bad name in the last 20 years. There have always been parents who think little Johnny walks on water, did you think that was a new burden for teachers to bear? It's just that there used to be teachers who didn't expect a vacation in the middle of the school year, who didn't expect to keep their job if they were blatantly bad at it, who didn't think they were the only ones on Earth with problems.

My aunt teaches. Unlike most of the other teachers she thinks that she gets paid the for whole year,doesn't consider that time off in summer to be unpaid leave (of course she has her checks split so she gets paid through out the year too). She is absolutely freakin' thrilled that she has to pay such a small amount, even with the yearly increases, for her amazing health insurance which includes eye and dental (try getting that anywhere else). In fact she says that teaching is the most rewarding job she has ever had, both emotionaly and monetarily. 40K a year for 9 months work and then you can get a different job during the summer if you want? Many people would love to have that position. Auntie sneers at people who whine about being a teacher because she worked in the corporate world for 20 years before she went back to school to teach. She knows what it's like in the real world and she loves her ivory tower, thank you very much. She is a GREAT teacher by the way, even the hard to please parents begrudgingly agree .

 

[Aidensmom]

Here we go again. Why does it always have to end up here? First of all, I don't know anyone who works 52 full weeks - - some of my friends get 12 weeks' vacation! Secondly, it's not like we're being lazy by only putting in 44 weeks - - it's all we're allowed to work.

And my bottom line to that sort of response is always, "You could have been a teacher, too!"

I don't have a problem with teacher's getting the summer off...but just to answer your question, there are a LOT of people who don't get vacation or sick days. They work 52 weeks or they don't get paid. Sure, maybe they can request days off, but many with jobs that don't have those days can't afford to, so in reality they have to work 52 weeks.

Next time you go through the drive-thru to pick up some food, ask them about their vacation time.

 

[Becky2005]

I don't think I would have a problem with it at all.

My DD seems to get the pregnant Science teachers.

Last year in 7th grade her Science teacher was pregnant and due in March. She was struggling a bit in Science as she didn't really get a whole lot of the teacher's explinations. The sub comes in and DD's grade shot up. DD says "She explains everything so much better, I get it". Has nothing to do with the 7th grade teacher being a bad teacher, just styles.

Turns out now in 8th grade, her Science teacher (completely different one) is pregnant and due in March. She just recently found out she's getting the same sub she had last year for Science. She's looking forward to it because she liked that sub.

I also know the Spanish teacher this year left to have a baby. I think she's coming back after Spring break (DD isn't taking Spanish but she is the Foreign Language Club sponsor).

All this to say -- since she has done just fine with subs coming in for this length of time, I can't even fathom having a sub for 1 week is really going to make or break a year.

I won't pull my children out for other reasons but IF there happened to be a time when it was necessary, I wouldn't hesitate (might happen next year if we get snow days. We may end up missing the last day of school which is only 1 hour anyway.)

 

[daisyduck123]

Delete..
Hmm....I don't want any points...so it's time to unsubscribe from this thread.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Sorry I don't have a link, I've read it in several education journals (I have friends that work in education) and I hear it alot from teachers when they want to prove how important they are. They don't have to prove their importance to me BTW I've seen the insanely huge difference between good and bad teachers proved not only by their student's test grades but also by their classroom's working like clockwork, or not, as the case may be.I've also seen alot of movies (yes Herbie the Lovebug is very educational) being played in classrooms by subs so I can't see that what your saying is across the board.

Yes teachers get sick. That should be taken into consideration, a vacation shouldn't unless it's a once in a lifetime thing like the man who's grandkids were in the Olympics.

The teacher knew she needed the certification but didn't want to mess up her vacation to do it during summer. Why should she when she can get paid to teach but not be there? The school tried to schedule her during the summer but she wasn't going for it, she knew they needed her and she had them over a barrel. As far as the surgery, I've had many surgeries unfourtunately and I know how surgeons schedule. She could have had it done a few months later when she was off, she was just embarressed about her daughters "deformity" and wanted it taken care of ASAP.

I don't understand the relavance of your CEO story? What I was saying was that it is just as important that a teacher be there to interact with their students as it is for a business person to be there to interact with their clients EVERY time they are needed. If a business person doesn't do their job by being there their job is taken away. If a teacher doesn't do their job other teachers and the unions cover for them. Your showing that some CEO did a bad job trying to be homeroom super mom has no bearing as far as I can see? That isn't her JOB, how does her being a bad volunteer relate to her job as a CEO?

As for the pee breaks I think that is terrible. Though I've seen alot of teachers leave their classes to go to the bathroom while telling the students that the teacher next door is keeping an eye on them, so your school must be really strict.

If you're one of the good teachers, thank you! But my son goes to what is in essence an innercity school system so I know that there are ALOT of bad teachers out there. There are alot of people who went into teaching to get summers off and have their worthless butts kept in their positions by the unions. If you want more respect for your profession (which, when done well is worthy of immense respect) why don't you "out" the bad teachers? Why don't you demand that the unions and school administrators let bad teachers be fired instead of ruining thousands of students over their many fruitless years? Just like useless goverment employees or drunken doctors who kill people, really bad teachers give you all a bad name and leave such a bad taste in peoples mouths that they can't remember all the good teachers.

Teaching used to be a revered profession, almost of like motherhood in it's status as a minor sainthood kinda thing. It is NOT just overprotective whiney parents that have given it a bad name in the last 20 years. There have always been parents who think little Johnny walks on water, did you think that was a new burden for teachers to bear? It's just that there used to be teachers who didn't expect a vacation in the middle of the school year, who didn't expect to keep their job if they were blatantly bad at it, who didn't think they were the only ones on Earth with problems.

My aunt teaches. Unlike most of the other teachers she thinks that she gets paid the for whole year,doesn't consider that time off in summer to be unpaid leave (of course she has her checks split so she gets paid through out the year too). She is absolutely freakin' thrilled that she has to pay such a small amount, even with the yearly increases, for her amazing health insurance which includes eye and dental (try getting that anywhere else). In fact she says that teaching is the most rewarding job she has ever had, both emotionaly and monetarily. 40K a year for 9 months work and then you can get a different job during the summer if you want? Many people would love to have that position. Auntie sneers at people who whine about being a teacher because she worked in the corporate world for 20 years before she went back to school to teach. She knows what it's like in the real world and she loves her ivory tower, thank you very much. She is a GREAT teacher by the way, even the hard to please parents begrudgingly agree .

Unbelievable.

Have you looked into home schooling?

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Delete..
Hmm....I don't want any points...so it's time to unsubscribe from this thread.

It's just sad that whenever there is a thread about teachers, it always becomes so nasty and snarky. I just don't get it...


By the way, it's my dad not my grandfather who took time off from school to see my twin and I (his daughters) dance at the Olympics. My dad is a dedicated teacher, but he still is my dad.

 

[ticktock]

So teaching is her ONLY responibility? I don't think so. Her child comes first, regardless of what you think. You're putting your child first in your eyes, and she is putting her child first in hers. I can't believe that you feel that her daughter isn't her obligation, that your child comes first. That is insane and completely inappropriate. Who are you to say that it wasn't 'medically necessary? While the teacher was out, did you work with your child at home during the evening?




But it's ok for you to pull your child out (and for you to take time off from your job any time you want) to go to WDW? I don't see the difference. Another teacher comes in and takes her place - however when you pull your child from school, nobody is there to take her place.



So, my sister shouldn't schedule her knee surgery because she's going to miss a few days of school and it's not an emergancy? Once again, who are you to say if it's an emergancy or not? So when my dad had his heart attack, he should have waited until the weekend to have his stint put in that saved his life so he wouldn't miss any school time? Funny thing is that it was a set of parents who drove him to have the heart attack in the first place.

Unless you've been a teacher, don't call their job a luxury. Trust me, I could NEVER be a teacher. If you think it's easy, go back to school and get your education degree, then see if their job is so easy.

The child had a minor hair lip. She did not have a cleft palate, in fact the deformity was so minor that her insurance said it was cosmetic and didn't want to pay for it (but of course they had to, noone can withstand the might of the teachers union). If I was in the same position I would have waited. I actually believe that I have an obligation to my employers, (I know that is so old fashioned!) and I wouldn't take time off during a critical time for something which could be put off with no ill effect. I don't think she should put my child before hers. I think she should fulfill her obligations to her job and all her students when it is not going to effect her daughter anyway. You think that's insane?

If your sister needed knee surgery to walk that is not a nonemergency . I seriously doubt that if your sis couldn't walk that she was back to work in a couple days after major knee surgery though, having known two people who were laid up for several weeks after knee surgery. I'm sorry about your dad but if he needed a splint those parents didn't CAUSE his heart attack, thought they may have excurbated it. The only way stress can cause a heart attack is if someone has an arythmia, stress doesn't cause clogged arteries. Hope your family is feeling better .

I don't need to work as a teacher to know about the stresses as I've worked (unpaid) in classrooms for years and have several friends and relatives who are teachers.The ones who've worked in the outside world think they're jobs are well paid and rewarding. The ones who started teaching right out of college think they have such a hard life .

 

[ticktock]

Unbelievable.

Have you looked into home schooling?

What is unbelievable? The teachers behaviour, my perception of it or that my aunt feels that she is well paid for her position?

No, I haven't looked into homeschooling. I know that my DS will encounter many people in life who are just as useless as some of his bad teachers and he should get used to compensating for it now.

 

[DizneeMommy]

I wasn't going to even post a response to this thread, but the more I thought about it, the more I had to.

I am a teacher, and, I think, a good one. I have been teaching for fourteen years. I currently teach first grade. Yes, I am thankful for my summer vacation, Christmas break and other holidays I have with my own children. Yes, I am VERY thankful for good insurance. I absolutely love my job. However, an ivory tower it is not.

I am responsible for the foundation of my students' learning. Everything they learn from now on builds on what they learn this year--that is an awesome responsibility for a teacher, no matter the grade level. No matter what the obstacle, my students MUST learn.

Two of my students have been sexually abused in the past. Two more are living with grandparents because their parents lost custody for being unfit (and neither one have ANY contact with those parents--they have been abandoned). Two others have been in and out of foster care in the past year. One has a father who is in jail. Another has parents who are currently going through divorce. One has severe learning disabilities. One has severe emotional problems--to the point she was planning how to kill her parent. Yet another student has been to a total of 6 schools in a year and a half. Still others come to school hungry, dirty. . . .

And yet, they must learn. I provide, for many, the only safe, caring, stable environment they know. I am not only a teacher, but a counselor, a surrogate mother, a cheerleader, a nurse. . . No one knows how often I've gone home and cried and prayed for a student. No one knows how many rude notes, letters and phone calls I've put up with. No one knows how many parents I've met with and counseled on how to help their child. No one knows how many hours outside of school I've worked (without overtime pay) when my own children desperately wanted me to be with them.

Do I get paid enough? No. I will never be paid "enough" compared to others who have had six years worth of post-high school education. Most new graduates with an MBA START at more than I'm making now! Is it worth it? Yes. Every time I see a child's face light up when they finally realize they can "really" read, it's worth it. Every time I hear a child get excited about learning, it's worth it. Every time I hear, "I love you, Mrs. XXX," it's worth it. Every time a big 18 or 19 year old fellow comes up, hugs me, remembers specific lessons and thanks me for "putting up with" him way back in first grade, it's worth it. And every time a child who came from one of those horrible circumstances "makes something" of himself, it's worth it.

Will I take a week off to take my family on vacation during the school year? Probably never. However, if I did, I think I would deserve it.

 

[Breezie]

I wasn't going to even post a response to this thread, but the more I thought about it, the more I had to.

I am a teacher, and, I think, a good one. I have been teaching for fourteen years. I currently teach first grade. Yes, I am thankful for my summer vacation, Christmas break and other holidays I have with my own children. Yes, I am VERY thankful for good insurance. I absolutely love my job. However, an ivory tower it is not.

I am responsible for the foundation of my students' learning. Everything they learn from now on builds on what they learn this year--that is an awesome responsibility for a teacher, no matter the grade level. No matter what the obstacle, my students MUST learn.

Two of my students have been sexually abused in the past. Two more are living with grandparents because their parents lost custody for being unfit (and neither one have ANY contact with those parents--they have been abandoned). Two others have been in and out of foster care in the past year. One has a father who is in jail. Another has parents who are currently going through divorce. One has severe learning disabilities. One has severe emotional problems--to the point she was planning how to kill her parent. Yet another student has been to a total of 6 schools in a year and a half. Still others come to school hungry, dirty. . . .

And yet, they must learn. I provide, for many, the only safe, caring, stable environment they know. I am not only a teacher, but a counselor, a surrogate mother, a cheerleader, a nurse. . . No one knows how often I've gone home and cried and prayed for a student. No one knows how many rude notes, letters and phone calls I've put up with. No one knows how many parents I've met with and counseled on how to help their child. No one knows how many hours outside of school I've worked (without overtime pay) when my own children desperately wanted me to be with them.

Do I get paid enough? No. I will never be paid "enough" compared to others who have had six years worth of post-high school education. Most new graduates with an MBA START at more than I'm making now! Is it worth it? Yes. Every time I see a child's face light up when they finally realize they can "really" read, it's worth it. Every time I hear a child get excited about learning, it's worth it. Every time I hear, "I love you, Mrs. XXX," it's worth it. Every time a big 18 or 19 year old fellow comes up, hugs me, remembers specific lessons and thanks me for "putting up with" him way back in first grade, it's worth it. And every time a child who came from one of those horrible circumstances "makes something" of himself, it's worth it.

Will I take a week off to take my family on vacation during the school year? Probably never. However, if I did, I think I would deserve it.

That was wonderfully put.

 

[MushyMushy]

Students aren't employees with full time jobs.

School IS their job!

I can't believe any parent would allow their kids to think otherwise.

 

[DISUNC]

What is it with so many Disers and their hatred for Teachers?

Everyone talks about the One bad teacher they encountered, and then blames the whole flippen profession.

Jeeez!

 

[disneyjunkie]

What is unbelievable?

Your disgusting, demeaning posts are unbelievable.

I've dealt with plenty of parents like you, and they used to drive me insane.

I feel sorry for any teacher that has the misfortune of having your child in his/her class.

 

[Buckalew11]

I don't have a problem with it. When DD was in 6th grade her math teacher went on a mission trip in Sept. for a week. We have a well-prepared sub.

This year (8th) she had a teacher get married in between Fall Break and Thanksgiving. She was out a little over a week. I wondered why they did not plan on Fall Break (a week) but it didn't bother me that she chose a different date that may have been special to them instead.

I think teachers should try to vacation during summers and time off throughout the year but if those times do not work for them, OK by me. Just have good plans for the sub and a good sub.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

Wow! It seems the mentality of many is "I pay taxes, so I pay your salary and I WILL tell you what to do." All this reminds me of when I had to take a few days off last year. I was having some rather extreme pain. To make a long story short, doctor says he needs to go in to get an accurate diagnosis. I could not pick the day of the week to have surgery. It had to be Wednesday. He tells me to stay home till Monday. Monday comes and what do I have? Parents complaining that "she's just being selfish. How dare she ignore my child's education." The point is that while many think they know what is going on is usually wrong. I don't care that you pay taxes and in turn pay maybe 0.002% of my salary. My personal life is none of your business.

And for the record, I have been district teacher of the year and a finalist in the state teacher of the year. It seems as though teachers are a polarizing factor. Someone had one bad teacher and thinks all are bard or sees one part of the classroom day and is immediately in the office complaining. Come in my room day and try to do what I do. My students would eat you alive.

 

[golfgal]

I don't have a problem with teacher's getting the summer off...but just to answer your question, there are a LOT of people who don't get vacation or sick days. They work 52 weeks or they don't get paid. Sure, maybe they can request days off, but many with jobs that don't have those days can't afford to, so in reality they have to work 52 weeks.

Next time you go through the drive-thru to pick up some food, ask them about their vacation time.

There are VERY few jobs that don't offer some sort of vacation time. Fast food workers are generally part-time employees and last time I checked doesn't require a college degree. You are comparing apples to tennis shoes here. I personally know of NO ONE that doesn't get PAID vacation time that works a full-time job. My DH has so much vacation time/personal days that if he actually took any of that time off would work WAY fewer days then the teachers in our district.

Also keep in mind that teachers are contracted for a certain number of student contact days, 188 in our district, yet they have to report for teacher inservice 2 weeks before school starts, so that is now 198 days worked. They have teacher inservice days through out the year and when the students have off for parent/teacher conferences surprisingly enough the teachers are actually at school having these parent/teacher conferences and working, that adds another 10 days, so now we are up to 208 days of work. Then, in order to keep their teaching license they have to take continuing education and since there isn't time during the school year they have to take that in the summer, all un-paid work time AND they have to pay for their own classes. Add another 2 weeks to a month of a class and now you are up to 223-238 days worked, on a 188 day contract mind you. So now you there are 12 days separating your average non-teacher worker and the teacher and considering the average number of PAID vacation days in the US is WELL over 12 days, teachers work MORE then the average non-teaching job. Also keep in mind that the average work day for a teacher is 10+ hours. Oh, and remember NONE of the school vacations are PAID time off for teachers. Teachers in our district get 2 personal days/year, that's it for paid time off.

 

[Daxx]

It has been proven again and again that when a teacher is absent from their room, for whatever reason, be it sick leave or one of those stupid useless seminars, that it is academically a wasted day. .

ETA - this statement is v. insulting to all the wonderful subs out there who have it more difficult than the teachers b/c they walk right into situations that they're not familiar with. At least we teachers know our students, their quirks, etc. ... a sub never knows what he/she is in for. I used to sub and remember what it was like.

OK - you've forced me to do it. Here are my lesson plans for when I'm out ... this was for last week b/c I had to attend a seminar (that, for my students was v. useful btw):

CURRICULUM - FRIDAY

For many of the tasks, you will split the children into groups. Two groups will go on headphones while you work w/one group. Each student has his/her own set of headphones. You can seat them and pop in their headphones. When you switch out of groups, be sure to change out the headphones. There are a variety of learning videos on top of the television.

GROUPS:

Kdg. – Ella, Paige, Lacey, Grace, Andrea, Brianna
Pre-K Group A – Jackson, Clarice, Bricelyn, Joseph, Kevin, Rose
Pre-K Group B – Nicholas, Nicole, Gysma, Marissa


PHONICS – Beginning Letter Sound R – Worksheet pg. 90 –
Kindergarten Group: These students are aware of beginning letter sounds. They may work on this alone however, if they require support, that is fine.

Pre-K Group A: This group is very good with beginning letter sounds. Go around the room and ask each child if the word starts with the letter R sound. If it does, they will circle it. If it does not, ask the child to tell you what letter sound the word begins with.

Pre-K Group B: You will run this the same way as you did with Pre-K Group A. These children will need extra support.

Correct papers and have students put in mailbox.

KINDERGARTEN MATH – Symmetry/Equal Parts – wksht pgs. 91, 92 & CW41
Kdg. Math Group: Ella, Paige, Lacey, Grace, Andrea, Brianna
Review the fact that symmetry means equal parts or the same on both sides. We discussed this already.
Wksht. pg. 91: Students will color the shapes that show two equal parts. They will draw an X on the shapes that do not show equal parts.
Wksht. pg. 92: Students will color the pizzas that are cut into equal parts. They will draw an X on the pizzas that do not have equal parts.
Wksht. pg. CW41: Using the dots and the straight edge of the protractor (on my desk), students will draw lines to make equal parts.

Correct papers and have students put in mailbox.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN MATH – Numbers: Counting and Writing –– worksheet pgs. 288 & 292

PK Math Groups:
Group A: Kevin, Joseph, Bricelyn, Clarice, Jackson
Group B: Marissa, Gysma, Nicholas, Nicole, Rose

Group A, they may work individually but might need some support which you may offer as needed.
Page 288: They will identify the number on the side and color that number of objects in.
Page 292: They will count the number of objects and print that number on the line.

With Group B, you can push the desks together into a cluster to make it easier. This group will need more support.
Page 288: Ask a student to identify the number at the side. Tell them they need to color in one shape. Ask if they’ve colored in that many yet. If not, have them color another and ask if they’ve colored in the number necessary. If not, keep going until the desired number is colored in. Group B will need more support than group A. If you only get through one sheet with this group, that is fine!
Page 292: Have students work on this alone and offer support when needed.

READING – RACCOONS AND RIPE CORN–
Gather all students on the mat. Reread the book to them (in folder) Do the sections as follows

1. Oral Language – Discuss speaking voices and practice speaking voices.

2. Comprehension – Apply setting and plot. Explain that setting is where the story takes place. Do activity (as modified). Continue to next page and ask questions on the page.

READING – COBBLER, COBBLER POEM – photocopied sheet
Read the poem and ask children to answer the questions listed below the poem.

READING – THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT – photocopied sheets
Read story to students. Then, do as follows from photocopied sheets attached to story:

1. Comprehension – ask questions as listed on paper attached to story.
2. Dramatize Causes and Effects – do bullet pointed activity.
3. Oral Language – Ask questions.
4. Full Day Options:
 Oral Language – ask the two bullet pointed questions
 Reading – Reader Response – ask each child the question.
 Have students draw a picture of Peter Rabbit’s house … what they think it looked like. Paper is in folder.

ELA – My Little Book – KINDERGARTEN ONLY!
Students will fill in the blanks of the book as you read it to them. They will be able to figure out the missing letters. Assist where necessary.

RELIGION – St. John Bosco – Booklet – gather on the mat.
Introduce St. John Bosco and tell the students that he’s a saint. Read the booklet to the students and ask the following questions after reading:

1. Who is the story about? (St. John Bosco)
2. What did St. John Bosco want to do? (Tell people about God/God’s love)
3. What did he do to get people to listen to him? (Juggled)
4. What did St. John Bosco do when he was older? (Became a priest, helped poor and homeless children)
5. How did he help poor and homeless people? (found work for them, a place to live, showed them how to pray)
6. Did John start schools for the children? (Yes)
7. What did the children learn? (How to do things, about God)

When finished, children may put their booklet in their mailbox.

SCIENCE - Weather Symbols - wkbk. pgs. 181 -184 - using our weather station, show the children the various symbols for the weather. Discuss the symbols, what they mean and what we can do when we see the symbol (ie: fly a kite in the wind, etc.). Discuss clothing we wear for the different types of weather.
wkbk pg. 181 - children will choose the appropriate picture of an activity they can do for each weather symbol.
wkbk pg. 182 - children will draw their favorite activity to do according to the weather symbol.
wkbk. pg. 183 - children will choose the appropriate picture of clothing they can wear for each weather symbol.
wkbk. pg. 184 - children will draw the clothing they would wear for each weather symbol.


POP THE BALLOON GAME –

On the shelf behind my desk there are bags of M&M’s. Open up a new bag for this. On the chalkboard, draw balloons and on the inside of each balloon, print an uppercase letter, lowercase letter or number. Go around the room and ask a student if they can tell you where a letter, letter sound or number is. Or you can point to a letter and ask what it is or what sound it makes or what number it is. If they answer correctly, they “pop” it (by you erasing the letter or number out of it). If a student pops the balloon, they get an M&M, you erase the letter or number and put a new one in its place. If they don’t pop the balloon, you continue with the next person.


This should be enough work to last the whole day. If not, you may read them a story from the book basket and when you're done reading, you can have them illustrate their favorite part. Do not worry about finishing everything. If the children seem restless, move on to something else … esp. if they’re in their groups.


So, DO NOT tell me that a day w/o me in there is a wasted day! I have yet to have a day go by w/o me there that isn't a full day. All the subs who have come in have been able to complete the work given based on my lesson plans b/c everything is so self-explanatory.

Note -- I do not have an aide in my classroom and I teach a combined Pre-K and Kdg. class.

In our school, if a sub isn't good and doesn't perform, then she's taken off the sub list.

 

[Daxx]

especially when I am paying for that teacher to be in the classroom

I guess this is one of the benefits of working in a parochial school. The parents don't pay me ... the diocese does.

A student that misses classes affects more than himself. The teacher needs to work with that student to get them caught up when they return. If they were part of a group, the absence affects the group. If they were part of a team (academic or athletic), it affect the team as well.

ITA. I have a student who will be out for 5 weeks to go visit Grandpa in Africa b/c Grandpa's never seen her. Uh ... what about those 4 other years?! Mom wanted me to prepare all the worksheets, etc. she'd need for when she was gone. Thankfully, my school doesn't allow that. She will get the make-up work when she comes back. Can you EVEN imagine a teacher taking 5 weeks off to go visit someone in Africa!? But, b/c it's a child and Kdg. "doesn't matter" (according to this mother) it's ok. Do you have ANY idea what kind of time it's going to take me to get her up to speed w/in the classroom once she returns?!!?!?

Yes but teachers are paid 60,000(at the LOW end of the pay scale for teachers here, most make much more!) + for 180 days of work, thats a darn nice salary for half a years work! 333 a day doesn't sound to bad in my book!

Wow -- that's funny. $60K is on the HIGH end of the pay scale for teachers where I live. Most of my friends make under $40K teaching. We'd all kill to make $60K and have that considered low!