I was recently in a classroom with an aide that gave repeated tattlers what they wanted. Someone would point out that someone else was "breaking the rules, no fair" and aide would call out the "rule breaker." This was soooo disruptive and the tattlers knew it got everyone off task. This also caused an unreasonable amount of bickering among the students.
My M.O. is to acknowledge the comment with "O.K., but WE are doing this now" and deal with the "rulebreaker" later and in a quiet, non-attention seeking manner, if necessary.
Should I have said something to the aide? Is this not a battle worth fighting?
If you WANT or NEED to say something to the aides or paras then do so. This is how I look at it. When *I* am in the room as the substitute teacher *I* AM the teacher. Period. *I* am the one ultimately responsible. Even w/ these little things if a principal or other teacher comes in the room and we are off task or there is chaos in any degree that affects MY ability to get hired in the future and it IS my fault since I AM the teacher in the room. I think if you look at it that way you won't feel bad or guilty doing what you need/want to do in the room you are left in charge of. If aides dont' like it then can get sub certified KWIM?
I actually have one aide that I had to have leave the room. It was in high school. We had a bit of time before students arrived so we chatted. Found out we both were in the same profession before entering the school dist. WE had actually heard of each other but had never met. So class starts. This is high school. The kids were sitting quietly and doing their work. She kept chatting. I tried to politely move on as it was distruptive to the students. She kept at it. THEN she started talking about the STUDENTS! I couldn't believe it. She was pointing and saying things like, "this one always does such and such." and "that one is a punk that's why he sits back there". Finally I had enough. I said to her that I have other work to do and the kids are behaving great for me and I believe in going off current behaviors rather than their past which I know nothing about. She kept at it. I finally grabbed some papers and asked her to make copies. Now, as soon as I see her I tell her - we dont' need help today and she can go to the office ot get reassigned for the day.
I have had others that discipline over me when they are supposed to be doing other things and I have to tell them (quietly and to the side) that she needs to concentrate on doing xyz and if I need her to help w/ tommy's behavior I"ll ask her (and sometimes I do!)
YOU are in charge. It is your room and your reputation and your responsibility. Choose your battles but do not be afraid either.
Today I was in a regular grade 4/5 classroom that had two special education assistants and one child care worker that were in and out (but mostly in) the class all day. That's four adults in one room. I found that while I was trying to get most of the class to work quietly, they could hear the aides talking to the other students (2 were autistic, one behaviour) and their noise level kept going up as a result because it was never truly quiet.
I had a 6th grade class in which there was a handicapped child with an aide. When the students shushed each other when I needed quiet the aide got mad and told them it was not their job to shush. I felt like telling her to leave them alone because it was working. Seems if the class doesn't act exactly as they do when the teacher is there, any adult needs to reprimand them and tell them, "You would not do this if your teacher was here." It gets old.
I don't know about having a para leave the room. They are there everyday and could make things difficult for you. One high school, that I have not returned to for several years, has or had a group of the most gossipy paras you can imagine. They gather in the lounge and talk about everyone and everything. It doesn't help that there are sisters, a sister-in-law, and all good friends that see each other socially after school and weekends. I can't imagine why anyone thought it a good idea to hire that group. I heard that one was telling the others about some things I had done in the classroom that didn't meet with her approval. Well, KMA.
I want to remind all that these schools are an incestuous place. They are filled with mother-daughters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins like you would not believe, children of teachers, etc. I could go into detail about one school that would amaze you, but I don't want to tip my hand. Just keep that in mind if you say anything. We are under a microscope in more ways than one.
Augustus, you have such a keen eye for such stuff!!!! I totally can related to that..how about adding...secretary/and administration positions to that too!!!!
This is why I don't sub as much.....and why I've picked up a part time job...because the politics just STINK LIKE GARBAGE!!!!
I've decided that "managing" the para/paras is part of the teachers job. I agree w/ previous posters about "incestuous" schools, but if it can be done firmly but delicately....
That said, I don't know if saying anything changes anything anyway! Maybe subs should just endure quietly and let them solve their own challenges! Fly below the radar as other posters have said around this forum.
It is very frustrating when situations like this happen... It's like a power struggle Personally, I wouldn't have said anything to her (she may have thought she was helping you) BUT I would have said some thing to the class... I have the same rule as you do but I tell the kids that unless it is very important (someone is hurt, sick, etc.) then they need to wait until recess or lunch to let ME know and I will handle it...most of the time they forget about the little things or don't bother because they don't want to lose precious recess time . I go on with my whole speech about being a Guest Teacher and how Guest Teachers do things differently... So in my own little way, I am letting the other adults in the room know what my expectations are as well
I would say something to the aide, but offer it as information rather than correction. Model to him or her how you deal with these things in how you give your feedback.
She/he may not be aware of what they are doing--that way of dealing with things may be what has been modeled for them and is simply a habit. I know very early in my teaching career I was a finger pointer until someone (kindly by clearly) pointed it out to me and it was an "aha" moment that changed how I taught.
Just acknowledge the aide's concerns about rulebreakers, and go on and share what you shared with us, how calling out can be disruptive, creates student bickering, and also is not beneficial for the rulebreakers or the tattlers, for a variety of reasons.
Of course, I might not have said anything at all...I get the sense that feedback from subs is generally not wanted.
The thing about Paras is that they can try to tattle on YOU. Twice in 7 years I've had paras that tried to tell the teacher about my behavior. I was NOT pleased because neither story was accurate and only had the slightest resemblance to truth. Luckily both teachers came back to me and I told them my side of what was going on. I was asked back in both rooms but only accepted if I had to.
Another time a para said I was too strict with her special needs kids. The teacher questioned me in front of the vice principal on that. I told her that yes I was strict with them but only after they had been rude, off task and disrespectful repeatedly. I told her that if she needed a sub that was going to allow that kind of behavior then by all means find another substitute teacher. No hard feelings whatsoever. There are always classrooms out there that want a sub that keep the kids to the school's behavior standards. I went to walk away and the vice principal stop me and said that I was ALWAYS welcomed at his school. VERY NICE!
But REMEMBER some people love to be mean and they will destroy your reputation only to make themselves feel better (or in their warped world - look better). BE CAREFUL!
11-04-2009, 02:40 PM
Personally, I wouldn't have said anything to her (she may have thought she was helping you) BUT I would have said some thing to the class... I have the same rule as you do but I tell the kids that unless it is very important (someone is hurt, sick, etc.) then they need to wait until recess or lunch to let ME know and I will handle it...most of the time they forget about the little things or don't bother because they don't want to lose precious recess time 
. I go on with my whole speech about being a Guest Teacher and how Guest Teachers do things differently... So in my own little way, I am letting the other adults in the room know what my expectations are as well 
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