Bag of Tricks for the Substitute Teacher (page 6) Carmen Morales
is always prepared. When students see her walk into their
classroom, they relax, knowing that this substitute teacher will
be in control and ready to spend a productive day with them.
There will be no chaos when Mrs. Morales is in charge. Carmen
keeps her “bag of tricks” packed with teaching essentials and
brings it to school each day. The bag contains items that might
be useful for any circumstance that she is likely to encounter.
“Are we ready for today’s spelling test?” asks Mrs. Morales in
her trademark lilting voice. A hand shoots into the air,
attached to a little boy with a growing frown. “Mrs. Morales, I
can’t take the spelling test. I don’t have a pencil.” The little
boy seems close to tears. Carmen smiles in a way that shows mild
disapproval (after all, the student should have a pencil) but at
the same time expresses sympathy. She reaches into her bag of
tricks and out comes a well-sharpened pencil. Later in the day
after recess, a stu