usually two teachers assigned to a classroom, I can offer some suggestions to classroom teachers for the smooth functioning of their class during times of teacher absences with the following: Assign to substitute teachers the class reading of textbooks where students can take turns orally reading from the textbook. Assign review questions usually shown at the end of textbook chapters, to be answered in written format and returned to the teacher. Assign review tests to maintain order and quiet in the classroom. Provide the substitute with plenty of worksheet materials. Provide a book of literature to be read to the class by the substitute teacher. Ask the substitute teacher to provide the names of those students who are misbehaving for future punishment. By September, I had not procured a teaching job but was offered a job of teaching assistant which I accepted in my mind as a one year “stepping stone” to a permanent teaching job. This teaching assistant job was part time where I worked with small groups of students on reading, writing, and comprehension skills. It is my opinion that the noise level permeating from other reading groups contained in the classroom results in a distraction that effects the concentration of both students and teachers.
A suggestion was provided by spouse and me to son during this autumn, to join a young boys’ soccer team that was established in the area. Son was congenial to this suggestion and so he became a member of this young boy’s team. There were a few practices prior to the first game played where the coaches introduced the boys to the rules and mechanics of the game. The first game was played between two teams on a middle school’s sports field. During the game, I could not believe how the tempers of some people and one particular coach were flaring based on some of the young boy’s performances on the field which seemed to create further anxiety in the boys. One boy was found running in the wrong direction and was subjected to the red faced anger and derogatory remarks of a coach. After viewing this incident, spouse and I decided that son would no longer be participating in this sport.
One snowy, cold and icy winter evening after gratefully arriving safely home from work and errands, I realized that there were few groceries in our home to prepare dinner. One of our children suggested that food be ordered from a restaurant providing delivery service. I stated to daughter and son that if one believes that the weather to be too dangerous for driving, then one should not expect another to drive in said weather to service the person who is unwilling to venture out in the weather him or herself. Years later a person known to me and as part of the person’s job requirement, was to deliver prepared foods to people. This person stated that food delivery requests to private homes are busiest during snow and ice storms and other dangerous inclement weather.
In the spring, spouse, daughter, son, and I vacationed for about one week and a half on the Hawaiian Island of Maui. We received an excellent discounted price by a major hotel which prompted us to make these vacation travel arrangements. We realized why the special deal was offered after we arrived at the hotel. The hotel swimming pool was not available for use as it was being repaired and refurbished. I remarked to spouse that people should be informed of facts such as this by a hotel prior to confirming reservations with payment. We spent our holiday visit bathing in the beautiful warm ocean, touring a plantation, visiting a sugar museum, ascending to the crater of a large volcano, whale watching, and