These tips have been collected from real teachers! If you have something you can add to this growing collection, let me know!
* STEDI.org- site to get lots of free resources (with the code off your Substitute Teacher Handbook)
* 32 Interesting Ways to Get to Know Your Class
* Amie Dean Toolkit-Lots of good ideas!
* "Use an agenda for the day that you post in a clearly visible spot. Lots of times the classroom teacher will have a spot already devoted to this. Make sure it reflects the things the class will be doing that day. (This is very comforting to the kids!)"
* "Smile often!"
* "Tell the kids about yourself. Make yourself "human" to them!"
* "Organize any collected papers with paper clips and leave on the teacher's desk along with any notes about the day. (The teacher will love you!)"
* "Be professional!"
* "Stay off your phone when in front of kids."
* "Don't yell at kids. Don't be sarcastic. Be comfortable asking for help." - Intermediate school principal
* "Leave a note listing things from the lesson plan you did not get to during the day or things you didn't understand so that the teacher can be more clear next time." - 6th grade teacher
* "Be gentle, but firm, follow a teacher's plans as closely as you can, leave details on how the day went (I hate it when they leave absolutely none!)"- 6th grade teacher
* "Don't be afraid to sub in EC. Go in with an open mind and you will be fine." -EC Teacher
* "Never make racist or derogatory comments."
* "I've noticed that the students don't go for the "meanies". They like routine...firmness, but the ones that think they have to be mean to be successful (as a sub) are the ones the kids push back the hardest on. They (our students) like to get to know them a bit (tell a little about themselves...esp.if they have kids and have experienced kids during this age...connect with that). The students know they (subs) are human...they know that being a sub is hard...but the behavior of the kids will follow the confidence of the sub in what they demonstrate in the first 15 minutes of class-and maintain throughout the day." - School Counselor
* "Always leave a note about how the day went (the more details, the better!)"
* "The above may depend on the teacher-I prefer to only know the most important things-I expect the sub to deal with the little things. If the note comes across as critical or nitpicking, I probably won't ask them back."
* "Always thank the teacher for the opportunity to sub in their classroom."
* "For middle school: don't try to be "that cool teacher"- middle school teachers rarely ever ask substitutes to come back if the students report "That was the most fun sub ever, they let us (fill in the blank with a rule that is prohibited)."
* "Students will ALWAYS tell the teacher if you let them break the posted rules in the classroom. Always."
* "Follow the teacher's/classroom rules, not your own. Along with following rules-follow the sub plans!"
* "Avoid unnecessary power struggles with students."
* "Remember, the sub is the teacher in the room that day. If the teacher didn't leave something you may need, do your best to be flexible and make it work."
* "Breathe."
* "Here's an idea I use when I'm working in classrooms where the teacher is not present. I draw a quick sketch of the desks and write in the students' first names on my sketch as they come in. Throughout the day, I use tally marks next to students' names when students are engaged and on task. This helps students realize they are being held accountable, it helps me call students by name, and it's helpful if I want to share some positive feedback with the teacher."
* "Please follow the lessons the teacher leaves. If the teacher doesn't give you an answer key or ask you to review an activity when the kids finish, please don't! The number of times I have had to do damage control because a sub incorrectly reviewed an activity or inadvertently messed up the follow up activity I had planned for the following day..."
* "Have your own bag of tricks-fun yet educational things you can have students do if the class flies through the assigned work."
* "Please feel free to discipline if necessary, but be fair and kind. We've had to block subs who were rude or aggressive with students. Remember, in these days of BYOD, kids can and will record your actions."
* "Best advice I ever received about subbing (and teaching): whenever you address a student, imagine his/her parents standing directly behind him/her. If you wouldn't say it in front of the parents then don't say it to the child!
* 32 Interesting Ways to Get to Know Your Class
* Amie Dean Toolkit-Lots of good ideas!
* "Use an agenda for the day that you post in a clearly visible spot. Lots of times the classroom teacher will have a spot already devoted to this. Make sure it reflects the things the class will be doing that day. (This is very comforting to the kids!)"
* "Smile often!"
* "Tell the kids about yourself. Make yourself "human" to them!"
* "Organize any collected papers with paper clips and leave on the teacher's desk along with any notes about the day. (The teacher will love you!)"
* "Be professional!"
* "Stay off your phone when in front of kids."
* "Don't yell at kids. Don't be sarcastic. Be comfortable asking for help." - Intermediate school principal
* "Leave a note listing things from the lesson plan you did not get to during the day or things you didn't understand so that the teacher can be more clear next time." - 6th grade teacher
* "Be gentle, but firm, follow a teacher's plans as closely as you can, leave details on how the day went (I hate it when they leave absolutely none!)"- 6th grade teacher
* "Don't be afraid to sub in EC. Go in with an open mind and you will be fine." -EC Teacher
* "Never make racist or derogatory comments."
* "I've noticed that the students don't go for the "meanies". They like routine...firmness, but the ones that think they have to be mean to be successful (as a sub) are the ones the kids push back the hardest on. They (our students) like to get to know them a bit (tell a little about themselves...esp.if they have kids and have experienced kids during this age...connect with that). The students know they (subs) are human...they know that being a sub is hard...but the behavior of the kids will follow the confidence of the sub in what they demonstrate in the first 15 minutes of class-and maintain throughout the day." - School Counselor
* "Always leave a note about how the day went (the more details, the better!)"
* "The above may depend on the teacher-I prefer to only know the most important things-I expect the sub to deal with the little things. If the note comes across as critical or nitpicking, I probably won't ask them back."
* "Always thank the teacher for the opportunity to sub in their classroom."
* "For middle school: don't try to be "that cool teacher"- middle school teachers rarely ever ask substitutes to come back if the students report "That was the most fun sub ever, they let us (fill in the blank with a rule that is prohibited)."
* "Students will ALWAYS tell the teacher if you let them break the posted rules in the classroom. Always."
* "Follow the teacher's/classroom rules, not your own. Along with following rules-follow the sub plans!"
* "Avoid unnecessary power struggles with students."
* "Remember, the sub is the teacher in the room that day. If the teacher didn't leave something you may need, do your best to be flexible and make it work."
* "Breathe."
* "Here's an idea I use when I'm working in classrooms where the teacher is not present. I draw a quick sketch of the desks and write in the students' first names on my sketch as they come in. Throughout the day, I use tally marks next to students' names when students are engaged and on task. This helps students realize they are being held accountable, it helps me call students by name, and it's helpful if I want to share some positive feedback with the teacher."
* "Please follow the lessons the teacher leaves. If the teacher doesn't give you an answer key or ask you to review an activity when the kids finish, please don't! The number of times I have had to do damage control because a sub incorrectly reviewed an activity or inadvertently messed up the follow up activity I had planned for the following day..."
* "Have your own bag of tricks-fun yet educational things you can have students do if the class flies through the assigned work."
* "Please feel free to discipline if necessary, but be fair and kind. We've had to block subs who were rude or aggressive with students. Remember, in these days of BYOD, kids can and will record your actions."
* "Best advice I ever received about subbing (and teaching): whenever you address a student, imagine his/her parents standing directly behind him/her. If you wouldn't say it in front of the parents then don't say it to the child!
All Kinds of Helpful Tips
ReplyDeleteagree with:
1. map out the desks and tally marks
2. note for teacher about how the day went
3. stay organized
questions
1. how do you remember all these great ideas?
2. what are some real expectations of the students behavior in a ordinary class day?
my "ah ha" moment - be fair and consistent and practice practice practice!!!
Angela Broadhead
1. Many of these came from teachers across the county! Once you get into a classroom for the first time, you will quickly see things that should and should not happen from a sub! You are going to be amazing!
ReplyDelete2. An ordinary class day can be unpredictable. Most of the time the class will be well-behaved, but there is always the potential for mischief! If you keep them engaged and build relationships off the bat you will have a better chance of great behavior.
This is definitely something that I will end up printing out. I think this is a great list of tools to have and to remember. My favorite is the "Breathe!" I think often we get caught up and forget to have fun. I also love the stay off your phone. I feel like that shows the students a very apathetic attitude. I also loved the link that listed 32 interesting ways to get to know the class. I think it is super important to build those connections and make those children feel special and that someone cares. It may be the kindest thing that happens to them all day. And also trying to remember that I do not know what these kids go through. So being patient and making sure to show them that I care and am an ally.
ReplyDeleteAutumnn Chandler
I like to know that we are all human. It helps to learn from each other.
ReplyDeleteTaking a moment to breathe will help everyone and get the day started on the right foot.
I like to stay on task myself and leave notes for others, that is a great communication tool for everyone.
questions:
1. Could we add the new one I learned about from your students while visiting? As a sub, do not write your name on the board, children rearrange/change letters and give nicknames.
2. I am still a little nervous about when nothing is left from the teacher, do we get a choice to never sub in that school/teacher again? Can we give feedback as subs as well as the "sub black list"?
A-ha - The sketching of the desks and writing names is helpful just to add respect in the class but also holds them accountable. I like that idea and will use it.
1. Yes, that was a surprising one!
Delete3 Things I agree with:
ReplyDelete1. Great idea to imagine the student's parents behind them the whole time before saying something to them.
2. Great to remind yourself that even though you may be a substitute, you are still the teacher for the day and the main adult in the kids' lives aside from their parents, even if only for one day.
3. Good to know that sometimes the teacher may get annoyed by overly-detailed notes left for them by the sub.
Questions:
1. Do teachers go home for lunch or stay at school?
2. If you have a planning period as a sub, is it ok to read a book, or do you have to look busy?
A-ha moment: Students will always tell the teacher if you let them break the posted rules - this was often not the case when I was in school but I imagine it happens all the time.
All Kinds of Helpful Tips
ReplyDelete3 Things I Agree With
1. I agree that it's good to avoid unnecessary power struggles -- it's not worth it to get into arguments with students over nothing when it could prevent you from ever being hired at that school again.
2. I agree that it's best to not break posted rules -- breaking a rule that you couldn't have known about is not as big a deal as ignoring something school-wide or something posted on that wall. That makes you look awful! And don't be overly mean or "super cool" -- aiming for a happy medium seems like the most likely way to be asked back.
3. I agree that it's best to follow the teacher's rules/lesson plan and not invent anything yourself. I don't think it's a sub's place to start inventing rules and reward/discipline systems.
2 Questions:
1. I definitely agree that we should stay off of our phones, but what should we do if we receive a really important phone call (family emergency, etc)? I know that if we aren't looking at our phones, we won't see any calls, but I have a very sick mother, and if I see 20 missed calls from my family, I'm going to want to call back.
2. How common are teaching assistants in Buncombe County/Asheville City Schools? Growing up, we only had them in younger grades, and the EC classes always had them. If we substitute for an EC class, would there be assistants there to help?
A-Ha Moment:
1. Too many details in a sub-note can seem like you're nitpicking! But too few details looks just as bad!
Great thoughts and questions!
Delete1. I totally understand about having phone calls you need to take and the need to look at your phone at times. I keep mine close because of my daughter. The thing that works for me often is I wear a clip on my side that I put my phone on, it is on vibrate so I will feel it if it rings. It is not a big deal to look down at it quickly. Even keeping it out on the desk is fine then you can glance at it occasionally to make sure you haven't missed a call. The important thing to avoid is browsing apps or playing games or needless texting, other than that as long as you are attentive to the kids you will be fine.
2. Assistants are in grades K-2 usually full-time, 3rd and 4th half time as needed, and in EC classes for a little while. For example, in my EC class there is another teacher there for around 45 minutes.
I agree that:
ReplyDelete1. Teacher/sub communication is a must! A substitute should endeavor to leave detailed, but not nitpicky notes about what happened, how much content was covered, if the sub didn't understand something, etc.
2. Substitute teachers should be careful what they say to the students. A lot of things are obvious. You might not have known something was a bad thing to say to students, but you should educate yourself on what could be offensive. When in doubt, don't say it. But if you do say something you didn't know was contentious or problematic and the students call you out, listen to what they have to say and apologize/correct yourself.
3. There is a wealth of activities to get to know the class you are subbing. Of which, what is best may change depending on age group and how long the class period is.
Two questions:
1: I have multiple face and ear piercings. If I wear retainers (small/clear or hidden) in my face and small, unobtrusive jewelry in my ears, should I be okay? I know dress code is "professional" but that doesn't say much about piercings/hair (to me at least.)
2: If a student asks to go to the bathroom and doesn't return, should I send a student after them or get another teacher to watch while I go look or just call the office?
Aha moment:
To quote the counselor, "the behavior of the kids will follow the confidence of the sub in what they demonstrate in the first 15 minutes of class-and maintain throughout the day." To me, this means I know I will be nervous and the kids will pick up on it, but if I am genuine and try to act more confident than I feel, I should be okay.
Thank you for your thoughtful responses and questions Alex!
ReplyDelete1. You should be fine with the retainers and unobtrusive jewelry. Even with my tattoos I am still able to look professional and I know several teachers with nose rings. I believe it is all in how you carry yourself.
2. I would probably send another student to look for them first, it may be an innocent reason that they are taking a long time. You can definitely ask another teacher to watch while you walk down to the bathrooms and save the office as last resort.
Great questions!
All Kinds of Helpful Tips.
ReplyDeleteI like the suggestion of thinking of the student's parent standing right behind them listening.
I think making a seating chart and using the student's names all day is very wise
Giving the teacher the right amount of information about the day without wasting their time will make the teacher happy.
I liked being told that you need to be very careful about doing Exactly what the teacher wants, no more and no less.
My A-ha moment would be the concept of filling extra time with fun but meaningful activities and having all kinds of activities lined up to pick from. There are so many categories!!!
It is definitely a good strategy to think of the student's parent behind them and this is something that should be thought about at all times nowadays. There is always someone watching, videoing, posting, etc. Just a good rule of thumb.
DeleteI added several things to the Subpack list. Some of these items will help a substitute Not send students to the office, which is a good goal to have. Treasure Box geared toward a short lesson toward the end of the day.... let them look in the box during the day to make them "wonder"./ Dress as if you are going to freeze to death or burn up all day-- because you may! Pack a sleeveless black shirt in case you need to change/String... To tie up pants that are too big. Tie through the back and side pant loops/ small pill box with a few of all your meds and Ibuprofen/a small flashlight to look at throats/ small plastic bags to put teeth in... they do fall out, my bags are 1'x1'/thermometer with disposable covers/ Various bandages that will wrap around the arm/ small feminine pads/witeout/a colorful Flag to "call" them from the playground (referee or race start type/lanyard for your new nametag/ gloves and folding hat/nail file/I'm taking my old Iphone and using it as a "device". I have IHeart Radio app and a wireless speaker with App. I can choose an appropriate station and play for background music (Spanish Language/Classsical/Jazz etc./Nut free personal snacks as some schools are nut free/ Old blank envelopes or scrap note pads for them to make "a list for themselves" or a quiz or whatever (saves them from having to hunt for a sheet of paper and makes a lesson a "novelty"... they will see the unusual paper and remember the lesson?/lessons prepared in case the Art/Music/PE/Spanish teacher are out that day.... Art could be to take them outside and have them "Draw That Tree".
ReplyDeleteThese are such great ideas!
ReplyDelete