Substitute Teaching

Preparing for a Substitute Make materials accessible. Make materials accessible. Create a substitute folder or binder and keep it in an obvious location (top of desk, desk drawer). Create a substitute folder or binder and keep it in an obvious location (top of desk, desk drawer).

Suggestions for what to include in the folder: Suggestions for what to include in the folder: Detailed schedule of classes (regular and special) and supervision assignment Detailed schedule of classes (regular and special) and supervision assignment Phone numbers for office, security, nurse, other teachers Phone numbers for office, security, nurse, other teachers Names and schedules of students who leave the room during the day for special reasons Names and schedules of students who leave the room during the day for special reasons Names of students with special needs or disabilities Names of students with special needs or disabilities Seating chart/squad spots Seating chart/squad spots Procedures for reporting student absences, lunch, etc. Procedures for reporting student absences, lunch, etc. Lesson plans (Include an emergency lesson plan in case regular lesson plans don't make it to the sub.) Lesson plans (Include an emergency lesson plan in case regular lesson plans don't make it to the sub.) Your classroom rules and discipline procedures Your classroom rules and discipline procedures Names and schedules of aides and/or volunteers Names and schedules of aides and/or volunteers Names of students who can be depended on to help Names of students who can be depended on to help Names and location of teachers to call on for help Names and location of teachers to call on for help Procedures for dealing with sick or injured children Procedures for dealing with sick or injured children Floor plan of the building Floor plan of the building Procedures for emergency drills Procedures for emergency drills Preparing for a Substitute

Help them call students by name. Help them call students by name. Take a picture of the entire class, just boys and just girls, or individual squads and label a printout of the picture with student names. If a substitute knows students names, the students are much more likely to behave. Take a picture of the entire class, just boys and just girls, or individual squads and label a printout of the picture with student names. If a substitute knows students names, the students are much more likely to behave. Preparing for a Substitute

Communication and Feedback. Communication and Feedback. Tell students you are going to absent but make them aware they are still responsible for behaving properly. You can offer the class a reward if the substitute gives a glowing report. You may assign one or two “helpers” to assist the substitute in each period. Be sure to communicate the names of student helpers to the substitute in the materials folder. Ask substitutes to write a brief report (one paragraph) about each class period including specifics and student names whenever possible. Tell students you are going to absent but make them aware they are still responsible for behaving properly. You can offer the class a reward if the substitute gives a glowing report. You may assign one or two “helpers” to assist the substitute in each period. Be sure to communicate the names of student helpers to the substitute in the materials folder. Ask substitutes to write a brief report (one paragraph) about each class period including specifics and student names whenever possible. Preparing for a Substitute

Plan enough activities for the entire period. Even better is to provide extra activities. Plan enough activities for the entire period. Even better is to provide extra activities. May want to have material that is handed in at the end of the period May want to have material that is handed in at the end of the period Preparing for a Substitute

Table Work Make a list of ways you challenged (aka tortured) subs during your K-12 school years. Make a list of ways you challenged (aka tortured) subs during your K-12 school years. Separate sheet with your names Separate sheet with your names

Responses Merry go round of bathroom requests/extended (nurse) Merry go round of bathroom requests/extended (nurse) Leaving class and not coming back Leaving class and not coming back Sitting in non-assigned seat (pretend to be someone else) Sitting in non-assigned seat (pretend to be someone else) Spitballs Spitballs Invite non-class members to attend (skipping) Invite non-class members to attend (skipping) Try and get upset/loose cool (dumb answers) Try and get upset/loose cool (dumb answers) Call by first name Call by first name Work is already done/nap time Work is already done/nap time All work is group work All work is group work Challenge authority/personal Q’s Challenge authority/personal Q’s

Being an Effective Substitute **It is becoming increasingly difficult for school districts to find quality substitute teachers. Therefore, if you perform well, your chances of employment are improved. **It is becoming increasingly difficult for school districts to find quality substitute teachers. Therefore, if you perform well, your chances of employment are improved.

Pay varies by degree, years of service, and type of employment. Pay varies by degree, years of service, and type of employment. Long term substitute – varies but typically over consecutive days. Pay rate increases, sometimes to a level comparable with beginning teachers. Long term substitute – varies but typically over consecutive days. Pay rate increases, sometimes to a level comparable with beginning teachers. Daily substitutes Daily substitutes Coordinated through an office in the school district Coordinated through an office in the school district Coordinated through an outside agency such as Kelly Educational Staffing Coordinated through an outside agency such as Kelly Educational Staffing or or Can sign up for jobs in advance via a website or receive calls either from a computer or staffing personnel Can sign up for jobs in advance via a website or receive calls either from a computer or staffing personnel

Often a stepping stone to a salaried position but for others, a full-time job Often a stepping stone to a salaried position but for others, a full-time job If possible, substitute in a district which you are interested in or will have an opening within the next couple years. If possible, substitute in a district which you are interested in or will have an opening within the next couple years. Hang out in the teacher’s room during breaks or visit the gym. Hang out in the teacher’s room during breaks or visit the gym. May need to get first teaching job in an urban or disadvantaged school district to get some experience before moving on to more competitive schools. May need to get first teaching job in an urban or disadvantaged school district to get some experience before moving on to more competitive schools. Being an Effective Substitute

Training (from NEA.org) Training (from NEA.org) 89 percent of the districts provided little or no training for substitutes 89 percent of the districts provided little or no training for substitutes 93 percent offered little or no training for regular teachers in how to use substitutes. 93 percent offered little or no training for regular teachers in how to use substitutes. 69 percent of the districts did not formally evaluate substitutes 69 percent of the districts did not formally evaluate substitutes Being an Effective Substitute

Tips for Being an Effective Substitute Tips for Being an Effective Substitute Follow the teacher’s lesson plan (major complaint of regular teachers) Follow the teacher’s lesson plan (major complaint of regular teachers) Provide a write-up at the end of the day. This may be a simple statement that all classes went well or be detailed and include any problems, deviations from the lesson, etc. Provide a write-up at the end of the day. This may be a simple statement that all classes went well or be detailed and include any problems, deviations from the lesson, etc. Provide your name so teachers may request you by name Provide your name so teachers may request you by name Leave the room, materials, and equipment the way you found it Leave the room, materials, and equipment the way you found it Set your behavior expectations early in the day and stick to them, or the kids will, most likely, take advantage of you Set your behavior expectations early in the day and stick to them, or the kids will, most likely, take advantage of you Being an Effective Substitute

Tips for Being an Effective Substitute Tips for Being an Effective Substitute During attendance, make a note of the names of students you believe might cause trouble. During attendance, make a note of the names of students you believe might cause trouble. Have a good game-face – look sincere and firm, yet approachable Have a good game-face – look sincere and firm, yet approachable “never let them see you sweat” “never let them see you sweat” Bring some fun extra things the students can do when, and only when, their work is done. This could be a whole-class or individual activity. Bring some fun extra things the students can do when, and only when, their work is done. This could be a whole-class or individual activity. Make a discipline plan and announce expectations at the start of class Make a discipline plan and announce expectations at the start of class Example: Only allow bathroom breaks during the last 10 minutes of class (depends on the school) or make students sign their names and times (verify they are signing their name) Example: Only allow bathroom breaks during the last 10 minutes of class (depends on the school) or make students sign their names and times (verify they are signing their name) Being an Effective Substitute

Tips for Being an Effective Substitute Tips for Being an Effective Substitute Talk to students when they arrive for class, build the rapport early. Talk to students when they arrive for class, build the rapport early. Arrive to school early for a myriad of reasons: Arrive to school early for a myriad of reasons: Getting lost on the way, finding/reviewing the sub plans, adjusting the plans if necessary, setting up the room to minimize behavior problems (desks, materials), difficulty accessing the room, etc Getting lost on the way, finding/reviewing the sub plans, adjusting the plans if necessary, setting up the room to minimize behavior problems (desks, materials), difficulty accessing the room, etc Have a reward for the class if it meets your expectations Have a reward for the class if it meets your expectations Have “bell work” students can begin once they enter the room. More structured time means less off-task time. Have “bell work” students can begin once they enter the room. More structured time means less off-task time. Being an Effective Substitute

Tips for Being an Effective Substitute Tips for Being an Effective Substitute Write your name on the board Write your name on the board Have a log sheet students must sign, communicate this during introduction Have a log sheet students must sign, communicate this during introductionlog sheet log sheet Elementary only: Elementary only: Come prepared with stickers or rewards Come prepared with stickers or rewards Stick to routines as much as possible but remind students that doing things differently can be fun. Stick to routines as much as possible but remind students that doing things differently can be fun. May have one student be the teacher’s assistant. Students love the opportunity and know the ins and outs of the classroom. May have one student be the teacher’s assistant. Students love the opportunity and know the ins and outs of the classroom. Being an Effective Substitute

Behavior Management When management issues arise, many of the same principles used in the gymnasium also work in the classroom. When management issues arise, many of the same principles used in the gymnasium also work in the classroom. Some differences: Some differences: Can rearrange student seating Can rearrange student seating Hallway conference Hallway conference Being an Effective Substitute

Substitute Teaching Handbook Substitute Teaching Handbook Dearing, GA Dearing, GA Dearing, GA Dearing, GA Kansas City, KA Kansas City, KA Kansas City, KA Kansas City, KA Charlottesville, VA Charlottesville, VA Charlottesville, VA Charlottesville, VAResources

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