How should I *prepare* to serve as a SUBSTITUTE TEACHER?

Question

I'm planning to serve w.i. my local Educational District as a SUBSTITUTE TEACHER beginning Sept, 2006.
I have served w.i. this same district, already during the past 7 years as an AMERICA'S PROMISE Mentor. - I get "such a high" helping those kids LEARN! :-)
My educational region is excited about any offer to help (either as a PROMISE ^ Mentor, or as an "on-staff" TEACHER.)
Commenting throughout my district, I receive comments, both PRO and CON for my (subbing) offer.
Listening to the "Nay"-side, (self-admittedly) I can "put up road-blocks" in my way.
Applying my "I'll SHOW YOU I CAN!"-attitude, I am already "PUMPED and primed" to inspire those kids to learn!
What sort of suggestions and ideas can everyone please provide to keep me and the kids inspired throughout the coming school year?
Thanks for all replies.

Answer 1

First of all, mentoring and subbing are two different worlds. Don't expect to be able to approach the classes you sub in the same way you approached your America's Promise mentor kids. If you do, you're dead meat.

A kid seeing a mentor usually wants to be there, and/or enjoys the attention.

A classroom is full of kids forced to be there, who will do everything they can to get out of working.

I worked as a sub for 7 years while I was getting my degrees, and I am now a full teacher.

1. Start the day/class period by clearly outlining the rules, and what you will do if they are broken. The rule set I used was: Work quietly. Show courtesy and respect to me, each other, and themselves. Finish assignments, then read a book or do a work page from my "backup" files.
The consequences I used were: Warning. Name written down for regular teacher. Loss of recess or passing period time. Sent to the office.
The reward I used was: Free time/recess at the end of the day/class period. I would take elementary students out for an extra afternoon recess (start the day with 15 minutes... lose minutes for each consequence step by anybody)... mid and high-school students were given a 5 minute "you may quietly talk with each other" break at the end of each class period.

2. NEVER make exceptions when applying the rules, consequences, and rewards.

3. You are there to follow the regular daily routine, and implement the teacher's lesson plans, NOT to get "creative." Most teachers WILL have lesson plans, work packets, and a clearly outlined schedule for you. Follow them. Failure to do so can throw off weeks of planning and instruction.

4. If you walk into a classroom that is NOT prepared for you (no plans or assignments...teacher may have gotten sick suddenly and not had time to set things up for you), be ready with your own packet of alternative work for the students. Have a packet with activities for each grade level, and grab the correct packet for the grade level you get called for. You also should be able to identify the classroom "snitch" rather quickly (almost every class has one or two)... have the kids start with silent reading, and ask the snitch to take the textbooks and workbooks and show you where they currently are working in each. Following the posted class schedule, start there in the appropriate subject's text/work book, do one section or 2 pages, and then dip into your packet.

Elementary packets:
--Two story-time reading books that score at ONE grade level higher in reading difficulty than the grade you are subbing (e.g. a 3rd grade packet would have a 4th grade level story-time book). Picture books are better, and are available through middle-school level difficulty. Don't just read them aloud ... make sure to ask questions from each page, including detail recall, and guessing what will happen next.
--spelling puzzles with words one grade level below the one you're working with
--A book of phonics-pattern poetry. You can develop lots of activities from these, including acting out the poems, illustrating them, writing their own poems, etc.
--Math worksheets and games that meet grade-level standards (check your state's website for standards and benchmarks).
--Science and social studies worksheets and games that meet grade-level standards.
--A couple of "open" games that you can plug questions into and apply to any subject.

Secondary -- also have these packets broken down by subject, since you'll be subbing one or two subjects only:
--Drill pages for skills one grade level below the one you're working with (you want them to practice near-mastery and mastery skills)
--Challenge pages for the smarter students who ask you for something more...challenging
--Trivia cards based on grade-level textbook information, and candy or another reward (if the students complete their work, but there's still lots of times, you can have a game of Jeapordy or Trivial Pursuit, etc.)
--A list of open writing prompts based on the content area.

5. Arrive early, especially to a school you have not subbed at before. Check for lesson plans, look over the daily schedule, see if you have assigned duties and where they will be, and identify a regular teacher close by who is willing to answer your questions about curriculum jargon (for example... do you know what Guided Reading means in the context of Balanced Literacy? Guess what... on your teacher's lesson plans, it may only say "Guided Reading Groups and Centers.") and duty stations.

Training is truly "on the fly" for subs... both for classroom management and for knowledge of instructional methods and school curriculums. Never hesitate to ask questions when you are new to a building. Early arrival is the number one key to having a successful day, because it gives you time to get familiar with the school and teacher's plans, and to plan for yourself to fill in any "holes" in the information and schedule.

Answer 2

I can tell you my experiences if that would help.
I subbed for three years til I discovered I love working in healthcare so much more!

When I was a sub I found that some teachers did not have a lesson prepared because the absence was very unexpected (ie. sick in the middle of the night, car problem the morning of, family emergency, etc).

Students hate busy work and you don't want "study period" for the entire class time. So keep in your car trunk a box (rubbermaid kind of thing) with folders with various activity sheets and ideas. Seperate the folders by grade level and subject matter and have a couple that are just "fun activities".

You can find alot of great lesson ideas on the web that can be done in one day and would be appropriate in an emergency lesson pinch.

You also would want some short activities for the times when what the teacher has left for you to do has not filled up the class time (like a test and all the kids are done twenty minutes before the bell rings).

Your not looking for hard complicated lessons, you're looking for lessons that will keep them busy, teach them a little something they might not have known prior and keep them interested.

Since you've been working in the schools already you probably know your areas required reading that they use every year like "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "I know why a caged bird sings".
You can keep a few worksheets or creative lesson ideas related to the reading assignments as well.

When you get your assignment in the morning you grab the folder with ideas for that grade and that subject (if its a specific subject that is). When your in the classroom and look over what the teacher has left you (if anything), you will know if you might need your activity ideas or not. I found I usually need a few fillers a week, its rare the kids have enough to do to keep them occupied the entire period. Also only carry a couple of copies of your activity sheets, you can always get copies made at the school for the number of students in your class.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your subbing experiences.

Answer 3

I've done this for 7 years and love it most of the time. Over those years I've subbed from Kindergarten to 12th and my favorite is 2-4th grade. You may or may not develope a favorite "grade" to sub for but at any rate the first thing you have to remember is how your classes were when you had a sub- the younger you are the more relevant this is. You will have the kid from hell (or kids) and the kiss ups. Biggest excuse I've seen and heard so far is "He/She hasn't taken their medicine today" to which I simply and emphatically say that's no excuse to be rude/loud/etc as my daughter is ADHD and I don't allow her to use it as an excuse. They will lie to you (and about you to the regular teacher)and you will have an abnormally large contingent needing to see the nurse for one reason or another. This happens most in elementary. High school - my favorite was when a 9th grader stood up during class and said "miss i need to go to the counselor's office so i can call my attorney before he leaves the office." Best advice for elementary - keep them busy. When in doubt (like when someone finishes way before the others) have them read or ask if they have any work that needs to be finished to be turned in. High school - don't turn your back on them. Actually, my first day subbing I had a first grader try to stab me with scissors - seriously and 2 years ago I had a 6'6" 10th grader try to sneak up on me while I was putting a video in the vcr in the front of the room - and no one said a word. Be fair but make sure they know you aren't fresh meat - even if you are - and they need to know you are as much authority as their regular teacher. Don't be afraid to get another teacher if necessary - some districts limit your "authority" in the classroom. And when you go home give yourself 30 min. of down time. Good Luck.

Answer 4

I am a current teacher, and I know that its hard to keep a class motivated each and every day. For a substitute it will be a bit harder because the kids will think because the teacher is gone, theyc an do what they want. I would find out what sort of policies the teacher you are subbing for has, what rules he or she has laid down, and then go from there. If the kids already know you, then it will be easier, because they know what sort of attitude you have and they know how to take you. It will also help if the teacher you are subbing for leaves you a game plan, that way you arent thrown into the fire without knowing what to do.

Answer 5

Many of the other former subs who have posted here have a lot of useful things to say. Just a couple of additions:
- The most important thing is to set expectations and stay consistent.
- Never believe that "Ms./Mrs./Mr. So-and-so lets us"...she/he doesn't.
- Don't be concerned about whether the kids like you or not. I saw a fellow sub break down and leave after about 4 months, because she was most concerned about being friends with the students. They saw this and walked all over her.
- Be prepared...for anything. You can have all the packets and worksheets in the world. The unexpected will happen. Be flexible.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Don't expect to work miracles. Show the students respect. Understand that they'll try to mess with your head and find the humor in it. Laugh at yourself. If the students are responsive to the lesson and they ask a question you don't know the answer to, be honest and don't make something up to seem smart. All the things a real teacher does.

Answer 7

substitute teacher=day off. the real teacher isnt in class, so the kids wont want to do anything. dont try to be a hardass with the kids, they wont take it. but dont let them walk all over you either, give them some leeway. i wouldnt make an attempt to teach anything either because that would be stepping on the toes of the real teacher.

Answer 8

See the movie "School of Rock"

Answer 9

Valium.

Answer 10

You don't prepare. You just sit and make sure they don't burn the school down.