Are you substitute teaching? Better you than me! Lol just joshin. Seriously, I subbed for 5 years and have developed this substitute teacher survival guide. Here are 10+ coping strategies including tips on classroom management, student interaction, discipline, teaching strategies and more. Briefly introduce yourself briefly and get to work: Name and a few quick details suffice, no long rambling filibuster, please. Students have work to do and your job is to help them. You are also not the entertainer. I know of one sub who brings his guitar with him. That might be alright for very young grades, but it's really not appropriate for junior high or high school.
Bring some activities appropriate to the subject you are teaching. Most teachers leave lesson plans, but I have subbed in emergencies when we could not do the lessons or when the teacher didn't have time to write much down. It's nice to have something up your sleeve just in case.
Follow lesson plans. Teachers have so much to fit in that they need to know that when they are gone the students will get what is needed for that day.
Learn students' names. This means a great deal to students, especially older kids. They may act like they don't care, but they do. I try to get names down in the first half hour. I have a horrible memory, but I make the effort. Your day will go much smoother. Kids respond much better if call them by name.
Be upfront and genuine. Never hint, threaten or use sarcasm. Tell them what they need to do. You don't have to go into a big spiel. You'll find out soon enough who's not on the same page.
Don't give hecklers airtime. Don't waste the rest of the class's time dealing with problem kids. Politely and calmly warn them. Keep going with the lesson. When everyone is working independently, deal with the problem if it is still occurring.
Seek solution. If a child is causing trouble, politely ask what's up. Listen compassionately. If she settles down, great. Move on. If not, give her the option to get to work or go to the office, because she can't disrupt others. If he's out of control, call the office. Explain the situation. Continue to be present for the rest of the class.
Redirect or diffuse potential bombs. If you see a kid about to go off, redirect attention. If that doesn't help, get help. Don't get in the middle of fights. Have a parapro remove student to a neutral zone where her anger won't endanger anyone else. If it's just a disagreement, a class discussion can be useful. But never patronize.
Greet students when you see them about. If they seem comfortable with it, acknowledge them. I sub in my local area and countless students stop to say "Hi" when we're out and about.
Learn to be a tech guru: Familiarize yourself with all the current teaching tools: overhead projectors, ELMO, software on computers, Smartboards.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes: You never know what you will need to do. I've dealt with fire, tornado and lock-down drills, diaper changes, assemblies on dusty floors, messy projects, vomiting, class pets, nosebleeds, lunch messes, injuries, phys. Ed., mice, broken bones and pants wetting.
Bring a water bottle: This is a must with Covid 19. On the best of days, most drinking fountains don't work, put out bath water or have UFO's in them (Unidentified Floating Objects).
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Keep your personal views out of the classroom: I knew of a sub who got into quite a heated political debate with a student and another who tried to hold kids hostage.
Ask other staff if you have questions: Naturally there will be some students who try to 'get away' with things. I don't trust or distrust students; if it's not in black and white, I ask support staff.
Never bully: I was called in to replace a sub who threatened a student. The class was tense and wary. I had to work overtime to show them that they were safe and that I would handle problems fairly. I have subbed in this class many times since and we have a good rapport.
Don't trash talk other subs. In the above situation, I let them vent for a few minutes and said that I was sorry and that they did not deserve that. Then we got to work. Least said soonest mended.
Smile and laugh; relax: I don't know of any sub being eaten by students.
Don't try to change school rules. Whether you agree or disagree, follow building policies. Don't bend rules to earn brownie points with students.
Don't ever belittle, mock, embarrass any student. Ever.
Don't be thin-skinned: I've dealt with students who are rude, who curse, who even yell at me. But in all the schools I've been in, I have never encountered a student who's issue was with me personally. Don't let them browbeat you, but do keep in mind that students may just be hungry, angry, lonely, tired or ill. Don't take it personally.
Try really hard to help them complete their assignments and understand the material: Students are generally very grateful for your help. If we have to take notes, I write them on the board.
Keep moving. Don't be a desk potato. Walk around the classroom and see if anyone needs help. Watch for potential problems but also needs.
I wish you well as a substitute teacher. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
