From "What should I bring?" to "What I actually bring."
This March marks my four year anniversary as an Occasional Teacher! When I first started out on the list, I was determined to be prepared for anything! Every job I went on, I brought a binder containing cheat sheets I had made for different schools, and ready to photocopy handouts/worksheets for a variety of grades and subjects.
In addition to my binder, I collected an assortment of other supplies—books, games, flashcards, math manipulatives, etc.—and sorted them into 3 different age categories (primary, junior, and intermediate). I had them all packed into bins so that I could quickly grab whichever one I needed on my way out the door!
Convenient, right? Well...not really... Good idea in theory, but it has not always work out as well as I had hoped. What I used to bring to be prepared has changed quite a bit in the past four years, now that I have more experience expecting the unexpected!
Going Paperless - Ditching the Binder
1st year:
As I learned about each school, I created cheat sheets of useful information—directions to get there, names of school staff, which educators teach which grade, a map of the school, and any additional information—which came in handy during my first year on the Occasional List. The following school years, and even throughout each school year, I found my cheat sheets quickly getting out of date. Educators went on leave, L.T.O. teachers filled in, administrative staff members transferred, schools gradually switched over to balanced day schedules, etc. It did not seem to be worth the paper and ink to reprint the sheets each time I noticed something had changed. Also, having to pull a binder out of my backpack while rushing down the hall to find the next classroom, or to remind myself of information not included in the lesson plan, was not the most convenient or discrete.4 years later:
My cellphone has replaced my binder; it is much more portable, convenient, discrete, and updatable! When I was a in Teacher's College there was a lot of emphasis on keeping your cellphone stashed away or at home while you were working. Now, more and more schools are integrating various technologies within the classroom and even encouraging students to bring in their own electronic devices to learn how to use them appropriately for learning, organizing, and as tools for accommodation. Obviously I would not answer calls or text during class, but when I need to use it for teaching I will let my students know what I am doing to model appropriate use.
1st year:
There are always going to be times when an activity provided goes much quicker than expected, or you need a plan B for something that is just not working. There is even the rare occasion where you arrive at a school to realize lesson plans have not been provided. No problem! Take out your binder full of ready to be photocopied handouts and activities for a variety of grades and subjects! Sounds simple enough. Unfortunately, in my experience as an Occasional Teacher, the situations where I would go to this are the ones where I either do not have time to run off photocopies, or I have not been provided with a photocopy code.
4 years later:
It became more of a chore to update and lug around my binder than I was finding it a useful tool to use. A binder containing ready to photocopy handouts used to be an essential item of my Occasional Teaching kid, but having knowledge of a variety of engaging activities that require minimal supplies is way more practical for me, and more engaging for the students!
Prioritizing Supplies - Ditching the Bins
1st year:
Hmm, the callout did not specify what grade the class would be. Well, no problem! I'll put all 3 bins in the car and go out and get the one I need once I get to the school! Half day in the morning for a grade 8 class, another half day in the afternoon for a kindergarten class? No problem, I'll keep 2 bins in the car and switch them out when I switch schools! Okay, carrying these bins back and forth from the car first thing in the morning every morning is really awkward and inconvenient... I'll just leave them in the car, that way I'll always have them when I need them! Hmm...these things take up a lot of room...and they do not hold up well to sitting in the hot sun all day, or getting frozen in the winter. Wait, planning time teacher in a variety of grades and classes throughout the day? I can't lug around 3 bins all day!
4 years later:
The bins were not as handy as I originally anticipated. Fortunately, now that I have been an Occasional Teacher for a couple of years I have a better idea of how to prioritize the supplies/resources that I bring with me daily. I can now fit everything I am likely to need into one backpack, which is much more practical.Next post: I will provide my list of Essential Items that I bring daily, my reasoning for why each one made the cut, as well as some of my favourite go-to games/activities for the classroom!
