1. substitute teacher
Effective Preparation for a
Creating engaged students, with a global perspective on opportunity, fully prepared to realize their highest ambitions.

2. MATCHING EXPECTATIONS…
In order for learning to effectively take place during your absence, we must reach a point where teachers, substitutes, and students have common expectations for what takes place when the regular teacher is absent.

3. setting yourself up for SUCCESS
For any absence, it is critically important, and expected that when you enter your absence into AESOP you include in the “NOTES” section your:
NAME,
GRADE LEVEL,
SUBJECT AREA, AND
GENDER OF YOUR STUDENTS WHEN APPLICABLE (I.E. Girls’ PE)
Please also include a note if it is a day for special attire for your campus such as pink-out dates, or color specific dates for lower level character education traits, etc.

4. EFFECTIVE PREPARATIONS…
Always be prepared in advance for your absence. Keep an emergency substitute folder on hand for instances when un-planned absences occur.
Effective preparations for your absence should include:
Seating charts for all class periods
A daily schedule
Names of students who can be trusted to assist;
Names of students who may need specific attention for health/discipline issues;
A campus map
Safety Drill Procedures
Lesson Plans for the Day
Tools for holding students accountable and reporting incidents to the teacher. (See C&I Website>Staff Resources>Substitute Tools)

5. general standards & expectations
Plan for the substitute to be actively engaged with students all day.
Establish a NO CELL PHONE policy with students on days when the teacher is absent.
Refrain from assigning silent/independent work for the entire duration of the class period.
Do not leave a video for students to watch unless it is attached to a task/assignment that will be completed during the class period of the viewing.
Arrange your classroom in a way that allows the substitute/teacher to easily move around the room to monitor all students.

6. general standards & expectations
Based on student input received, we have established the following expectations with our team of substitutes. Please relay this expectation to your students.
general standards & expectations
It’s hard to respect a substitute who comes in and wants us to obey their authority while they sit behind the desk on their cell phone the whole class period.
Let’s Talk Cell Phones:
to-date they have been a deterrent to a positive learning environment with some teachers and many substitute teachers;
Plan of attack:
NO CELL PHONES
Again, it’s a matter of matching expectations.
Teachers, students, & substitutes need to be on the same page.

7. ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT the teaching zone proximity control
Our SISD Substitutes, have recently been trained on the following classroom management strategies.
the teaching zone
proximity control
non-verbal redirection
de-escalation
tools for praise
modes for holding students accountable

8. the teaching zone, proximity control, & non-verbal redirection
there should be no “front” of the classroom.
circulate, circulate, circulate.
diminish disruptions and/or off-task behavior by approaching the area where the problem is occurring.
non-verbal signals such as:
eye-contact,
quiet signal,
quiet tapping,
task assistance

9. verbal de-escalation
listen with empathy, try understanding where the person is coming from.
be non-judgmental;
stay calm;
manage your own response;
give limited options;
handle challenging questions;
prevent verbal and physical confrontation.
Teacher’s Volume
Student’s Volume

10. tools for praise & reporting
you can never give too much verbal praise when you keep it specific.
Verbal praise
100 Chart ( + / - )
Notes to the Teacher
As a last resort in limited situations-call for assistance.

11. tools for instruction
The following instructional tools have been provided to our team of SISD substitutes. Please pull upon these strategies when planning for instruction to take place in your absence.

12. establish a roadmap
Today we are going to…
identify end results

13. popcorn reading or round robin reading
One person reads, while others follow along. When one person finishes reading the next person reads, or they call on another person to read. (Teacher’s preference.)

14. note taking or worksheets
Teacher should model. Emphasize “WHY” we’re doing this. Then actively monitor, assist, and redirect.

15. partner work or group work
Teacher actively facilitates.
Then actively monitor, assist, & redirect.
In groups/partners reiterate the purpose, tasks, and final product.
Assign a group facilitator.

16. question & answer Teacher actively facilitates.
Engage others in expanding upon answers. Be aware of those who are not participating. Attempt to engage without embarrassing.
Give appropriate wait time.

17. facilitating test taking/quizzes
Teacher actively monitors Note any questions or issues that arise.

18. TECHNOLOGY
The following technology arrangements have been made to promote effective instruction taking place with your substitute in your absence.

19. TECHNOLOGY Computer Access (log-in information)
Our SISD substitutes have been trained in areas of:
Computer Access (log-in information)
Substitute Teacher’s Drive (E:)
SmartBoards,
Document Cameras,
DVD players,

20. computer access
All SISD substitutes now have individual log-in information for computer access.
SUBSTITUTE COMPUTER ACCESS BEGINNING DECEMBER 2015:
USERNAME: lastnamefirstinitial (ex. poenitzschn)
PASSWORD: 8-digit birthdate (ex )
month (##) day (##) year (####)

21. substitute teachers’ drive (E:)
SISD Teacher may leave powerpoint presentations, videos, documents, etc. on the E: drive for their substitutes. SISD substitutes now all have computer access and have been trained on accessing the E: drive.
All materials placed on the E: drive should be placed in a teacher created folder titled as-
the teacher’s first initial, last name, and date.
Example: N. Poenitzsch, December 4, 2015
DO NOT include notes with students’ names or confidential information on the E: drive.
Teachers are responsible for deleting folders once the date of their absence has passed.

22. npoenitzsch@sealyisd.com or ohurt@sealyisd.com
substitute teacher
Effective Preparation for a
If you have any questions regarding this information or the expectations established for preparing for your absence, please contact or