The Sub Tub, Part Trois: The Guest Teacher Handbook

We’ve already talked about The Sub Tub, and what to put in it.  Now, for my favorite part!

Before I continue, I should mention that I actually prefer to call substitutes Guest Teachers, and I use that language with my class.  Some might think that titles aren’t a big deal, but if you think about it, it’s a much more appropriate and respectful name.  And it will make the rest of this blog entry make tons more sense.  Anyhoo…

Part Trois is:  Make a student-created Guest Teacher Handbook.  It’s a student written-and-illustrated, laminated, bound (whatever it takes to make this thing last) book that tells the Guest Teacher everything they need to know for his/her day in the classroom.   We write it together, having brainstorming sessions about what a Guest Teacher might need to know.  Each student writes and/or illustrates a page or two.  I suggest waiting until about 4-5 weeks into the year, when students pretty much have the routines down, to create this.   I like to ask the Guest Teacher to read the Guest Teacher Handbook as a Read-Aloud during Morning Meeting.  It reinforces the routines and expectations for the students, and gives the Guest Teacher an idea of the various nuts and bolts that keep your classroom a well-oiled machine!

At this point I’m going to give a big shout out to the folks at The Repsonsive Classroom for this idea – itcame from one of their newsletter articles a few years ago.  Check out of the full article and another example of a Guest Teacher Handbook here.

Here’s some sample pages from my 2nd grade class last year:

The Cover Page

An explanation of our jobs chart

Explaining Our Choice Chart

Be sure to keep this in your classroom library in an easily accessible spot.  Students like to read books they’ve created, but you also want to make sure it can be found easily when you are out.  (I keep mine in the easel bins.)  The Guest Teacher Handbook has been a hit with every Guest Teacher that has been in my room.  Carry on, Teacher Geeks!