(Adapted from my notebook that I walk around with when subbing, because children tend to behave better if you are writing in a notebook, even if you are just scribbling down your grocery list.)

“Children help but I have no clue how the math game works. We are lost together. Many children help. We cannot make the math game work. Technology run amok. Or simply lacking explanations and guideposts.

You cannot fool me. There’s no possible lesson here. Abandoning ship and closing the laptops.”

Eduhonesty: I’m good at making the plan up as I go, but I prefer to look like I have some idea what I am doing. Toward that end, I recommend the simple paper lesson plan. The above lesson blew up when the math game did not work, and we had no fallback position.

Subs sometimes have trouble even getting into the school internet. School security is ubiquitous and not always well aimed. On top of that, I don’t know Claire’s password. When Claire forgets that magic word, what then?

I strongly recommend a batch of hard copy, paper review questions be available, along with a box of those mini golf pencils. I recommend one batch for the whole class, along with a set of random, single review questions. This solves the cannot-make-the-math-game-work problem and can be used when Fred insists he has forgotten his password and therefore cannot do anything and so should just go to the gym instead.