From: wecooks@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: Ideas needed.
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 10:00:41 -0600 (CST)
Dear Laura, I understand your frustration over the sub issue. As a sub, myself, I've been confronted with a lot of wierd situations. In Douglas County, we're supposed to be able to teach the lesson plan, whatever it is. I remember one time going in and they were on matrix construction in Algebra II! I remember matrices back in college 25 years ago, but... Then most of the time, it's show this video--five times in one day! As a regular teacher, I do rely on videos a lot. I figure they can't do too much harm that way. Many subs are afraid of middle school, so having stuff really laid out completely will help. I don't see why, since your kids know the routine by now, they can do simple labs or activities as well as the writing and readng that goes along with them. I think the Live from activities are pretty cookbooky and straight forward. If you made sure everything was ready, the kids should be able to do them. Making simple changes could help with some, like, I used copies photos of volcanoes from books one day when the TV was down and they took the slope measurements from those. Then they wrote a three paragraph essay explaining shield and composite volcanoes and why Martian shield volcanoes are different than Terran. That was a whole week with measuring, disscussing in small groups, writing and rewriting. If you did one activity per week and really did it up big, even a babysitter should be able to handle it. Good luck, don't give up hope! jkc Janet K. Cook, Science Instructor, Night Program Colorado's Finest Alternative High School 2323 W. Baker Ave., Englewood, CO 80110 Phone (303) 934-5786 (2:00 pm-10:30 pm) Fax (303) 934-9183 Voice Mail (303)806-2000 x 1904 Cook Enterprises Voice Mail (303)692-3872