I used to bring candy, but we can't do that anymore. It sure helped, with all ages. Now I bring stickers which works for the little ones. I used to bring books and coloring pages, but no time for this with our new curriculum and flexing schedules. Ideas? What are some of the things you won't leave home without?
After constant colds, I carry a can of lysol to spray down the room before the kids come in. I also have a nerf ball to play "quiet ball" as a treat for the kids if they make it through the day.
What is quiet ball? Is it like the silent game where you pick one person to be the helper and then they silently pick someone whos being quiet and go from there.
I bring way too much stuff I'm sure! However, I've used a lot of it already. I bring: -extra supplies (glue, pencils, markers, crayons, scissors, etc) -read aloud books -mini puzzles -mini cones for PE -various lesson/ideas for all grade levels -blank transparancies -stickers/stamps -whistle -prize box with stickers, erasers and pencils -bell -Styrofoam clock (for clock practice) -fake money & check book register for a lesson -sight word flash cards I think there is more, but those are the main things. Many teachers have commented on my sub bag and how they like that I bring so much stuff!
What sort of prizes to do get for students? I figure students in K - 2 are interested in little toys, pencils, stickers, and stamps... What prizes do you save for 3 - 5 grades? 6 - 7 grades? 8th? I can imagine you would reward older kids with free time or a fun game, but surely there's other ideas...?
Honestly, I've found that I only ever have had to use the prize box for the younger grades. I only use it when i need to. I have tickets that I hand out, and then I do a raffle drawing at the end of the day. Most of the time, I use whatever classroom management plan the teacher has. If that doesn't seem to be working, I use my own.
I can spell but I can't type! I carry a few books for the younger students; "The 3 little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig" is great for grades K-2, so are any of the "If You Give a .... a ...." books. For older kids, I have "Rebus" puzzles, palindromes, etc. The puzzles work even for high school students. The Kids Page at niehs.nih.gov has many activities you can print out under Brainteasers, etc. IQ tests available at Mensa and other sites usually have interesting puzzles you can use. Of course I have stickers -pretty, sparkly ones I get at dollar stores- but beyond 3rd grade, these are useless. Since I disapprove of handing out candy as an incentive, I wouldn't do that. Besides, so many kids have nut allergies; and it's very difficult to find a candy or food with no trace of peanut oil...
I like this idea! What do you have on the tickets? Like just plain little slips of paper, or did you decorate them/give them a title?
I've only been "subbing" (we call it supplying in Ontario) a couple weeks, so my bag is still growing. I have these puzzles called "The Ultimate Puzzle" (you can google this and find results - I don't know if you're allowed to post links in here?). It's one of those puzzles where there are 48 solutions but it seems impossible. They were only $5 each at an Amish marketplace. They have been my lifesaver in a couple classes. They seem to be so versatile. Grade 3's enjoyed just building shapes out of them. And grade 7's were determined to find the solutions. It kept the troublemakers busy and kids that were finished their work occupied. I want to find more puzzles like this. I also have some riddles and stuff that I haven't used yet. I thought I'd be using my "bag of tricks" a lot more but I find I haven't really referred to it. I don't know if this is cause I'm a newbie or what? I do want to venture out and try some new things!
As long as you don't use any of my incentive prizes, I'm okay with it. My grade 7 and 8 students love stickers!
So do my high school kids. I've had Calculus kids remind me that they broke 90 on a test and that I owe them a sticker!!
