Each Monday evening at 8PM EST, music teachers get together and share ideas about important topics within music education. It’s a great chance to interact directly with educators from all over the world and to get new tips and tricks to help you succeed in the classroom. The entire #musedchat discussion is organized and moderated by Joe Guarr.
#Musedchat Here goes nothing.....welcome to tonight's chat make sure to introduce yourself..We'll be chatting about sub plans....Antoine here from Woodbridge Ontario Director of the @FrBressaniBands
So I hope my Canadian accent doesn't throw you off here's Q1
Regarding Sub plans what are your go to resources? For either a planned or unplanned absence #Musedchat
#Musedchat A1 I leave instructions for the students to work independently on their final playing exam. The grade 9's and 10's usually follow task but I can't say my Srs do the same.....those same kids then complain they can't get it up to tempo or its too hard..
A1: https://t.co/OtQE8Ccrhk is a solid source for me, not just for music theory class but to help review building scales, rhythms and interval training #musedchat
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Unplanned or when I trust them: sectionals or working on solo rep.
Planned: I use Google Forms here and there to survey sections on their progress of our music.
Desperate: I have a worksheet from another MI t which analyzes any movie's soundtrack and scene.
A1: It really depends if the sub has a musical background or not. My go-to plans are for classes to rehearse as chamber ensembles, and the sub can act as a coach and give advice to S ensembles in each class period. #musedchat
A1. It depends on the sub. I have a former band director who subs for me at times. They do band. For the others I try to do something other than worksheets and movies. Usually involve youtube items with questions. GO GOOGLE FORMS! #musedchat
A1: Teaching Rhythm Logically rhythm sheets. When I was out last week for state music conference I had students write in the counts for 5 of these sheets. Helps me to know what to reteach. #musedchat
A1.b. I am working on my plans. Hopefully soon I will make my sub plan folder public. Maybe during a snow day I can get it done. I think there is some good stuff in there. #musedchat
K-2 I made a sub tub and the subs usually choose a picture book related lesson. 3-5 I leave things written out. Since most subs don't have a music background I do a lot of partner work on those days. #musedchat
A2: It’s great to have a few “band/music” subs on the list. When I can’t find them I try to have some leaders within the class that can keep the rehearsal/sectionals going. #musedchat
A2: If I'll have one! Sub shortages are rough. Most of the subs also have no music background so I have to leave things the kids can do independently. #musedchat
A2. I had a sub who was in band during 6th grade. They thought it would be cool if the kids played. It was not. What we do is different than other subjects. Its hard. #musedchat
A1: K-2 I made a sub tub and the subs usually choose a picture book related lesson. 3-5 I leave things written out. Since most subs don't have a music background I do a lot of partner work on those days. #musedchat
A2: they can’t figure out the tech setup, or think they can rewire things, or (my favorite) they dismiss my lesson entirely and do something else. #musedchat
A2 Trying to find a music teacher sub is next to impossible. Tho I did have one once, by utter fluke, and she told the class that I should have known that she was qualified to teach music and that I shouldn't of left theory work....
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A3 In @ycdsb we can request a particular sub, so theoretically it is possible to request a music teacher for a sub. How I find the list of sub teachers and their qualifications I have no clue.
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A3: We have a list of requested subs who are called by the system, and a list of rejected subs who won’t be called for that job. I find my requested subs by word of mouth. #musedchat
Q2: I never know who will be subbing. I've got a marvelous sub whos a pianist, but who I end up with is a crapshoot. So my plans are: if you are a music person do this, if not, do that. #musedchat
#musedchat Subs are afraid of our classes usually because of numbers. I have had many day where my request did not get filled. HArd on the other teacher.
A4: Setting up consistent expectations from Day 1. No matter who is on the podium, students are expected to act accordingly. Allow student leaders to lead from time to time while you are present. #musedchat
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A4: I try to train the JH kids to work in sectionals by having us hold some before I am gone. I walk around and monitor while letting them work independently.
I do try to warn my classes when I will be gone.
A4: I let them know when/where I'm going and why. My expectations are to listen to whoever is there and be polite. If I get positive reports they earn a paw which helps us get all school rewards. If not, it's consequences for the next class. #musedchat
I train my Ss early on to get used to Ss leading them in warm ups, songs, etc. My subs are enforcers and the kids run themselves. It took me a couple years to realize how productive they can be, especially when compared to death by worksheet and non-interested subs #musedchat
#musedchat Completely agree. I'm trying to build on the Student leaders concept @FrBressaniBands so I can delegate and not try to do everything myself.....how does one build or start that concept?
#musedchat with younger Ss I have a post sub worksheet asking what they accomplished, who lead the best, and the kicker... who gave the sub the most problems....
A2: I don’t have music subs in my district, so if the class isn’t ready to lead themselves, I have an online assignment, we’re 1-1 Chromebooks. #Musedchat
HaHa - ditto - I train a couple students on my sound system and video setup because I've had too many subs get confused/overwhelmed with trying to setup the technology. #musedchat
A6: found out a sub had gotten into my office and fell asleep for most of the day. Another day, came back to find out a kid had messed with a personal instrument, then lied about it. Sub wasn’t 1 much longer and that kid got the boot 4 lying. #Musedchat
A6 Not a horror story but a story none the less. I was in the hospital a day after my first child was born and I got a text from a student (not sure how he found my number) If I really expected them to finish all of the theory package....
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A4: do my best to let them know in advance (dr appointment), give them a list of what needs to be worked on and I check it when I get back. Helps keep them all accountable. #Musedchat
#musedchat A6 - I think we've all had at least one episode of well layed out sub plans sitting on a podium/desk that the sub "couldn't find" so they told the kids to have silent reading time or something to that affect..... $%^&*(
A6: I would frequently sub in special ed for one particular person or as a para. There were a LOT of situations that I had to tap out for, but one in particular involved a kid being ummm... calming himself in the calm down room. #musedchat
My favorite sub day was when a HS asked to go to the bathroom and came back with a rabbit. I taught the rest of the 45 minute class holding a rabbit because I couldn't figure out what else to do without giving in to him. #musedchat
A6: My favorite sub day was when a HS asked to go to the bathroom and came back with a rabbit. I taught the rest of the 45 minute class holding a rabbit because I couldn't figure out what else to do without giving in to him. #musedchat
