Substitute Teaching. Preparing for a Substitute Make materials accessible. Make materials accessible. Create a substitute folder or binder and keep it

Substitute Teaching Substitute Teaching

Preparing for a SubstitutePreparing for a Substitute

Make materials accessible.Make materials accessible. Create a substitute folder or Create a substitute folder or

binder and keep it in an obvious binder and keep it in an obvious location (top of desk, desk location (top of desk, desk drawer).drawer).

Suggestions for what to include in the folder:Suggestions for what to include in the folder: Detailed schedule of classes (regular and special) Detailed schedule of classes (regular and special)

and supervision assignmentand supervision assignment Phone numbers for office, security, nurse, other Phone numbers for office, security, nurse, other

teachersteachers Names and schedules of students who leave the Names and schedules of students who leave the

room during the day for special reasonsroom during the day for special reasons Names of students with special needs or disabilitiesNames of students with special needs or disabilities Seating chart/squad spotsSeating chart/squad spots Procedures for reporting student absences, lunch, Procedures for reporting student absences, lunch,

etc.etc. Lesson plans (Include an emergency lesson plan in Lesson plans (Include an emergency lesson plan in

case regular lesson plans don't make it to the sub.)case regular lesson plans don't make it to the sub.) Your classroom rules and discipline proceduresYour classroom rules and discipline procedures Names and schedules of aides and/or volunteersNames and schedules of aides and/or volunteers Names of students who can be depended on to helpNames of students who can be depended on to help Names and location of teachers to call on for helpNames and location of teachers to call on for help Procedures for dealing with sick or injured childrenProcedures for dealing with sick or injured children Floor plan of the buildingFloor plan of the building Procedures for emergency drillsProcedures for emergency drills


Help them call students by Help them call students by name.name.

Take a picture of the entire Take a picture of the entire class, just boys and just girls, or class, just boys and just girls, or individual squads and label a individual squads and label a printout of the picture with printout of the picture with student names. If a substitute student names. If a substitute knows students names, the knows students names, the students are much more likely to students are much more likely to behave.behave.


Communication and Feedback.Communication and Feedback. Tell students you are going to absent Tell students you are going to absent

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


Plan enough activities for the Plan enough activities for the entire period. Even better is to entire period. Even better is to provide extra activities. provide extra activities.

May want to have material that is May want to have material that is handed in at the end of the handed in at the end of the period period


Table WorkTable Work

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

ResponsesResponses

Merry go round of bathroom requests/extended Merry go round of bathroom requests/extended (nurse)(nurse)

Leaving class and not coming backLeaving class and not coming back Sitting in non-assigned seat (pretend to be Sitting in non-assigned seat (pretend to be

someone else)someone else) SpitballsSpitballs 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 nameCall by first name Work is already done/nap timeWork is already done/nap time All work is group workAll work is group work Challenge authority/personal Q’sChallenge authority/personal Q’s

Being an Effective SubstituteBeing an Effective Substitute

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

Pay varies by degree, years of service, and type of Pay varies by degree, years of service, and type of employment. employment.

Long term substitute – varies but typically over 10-Long term substitute – varies but typically over 10-20 consecutive days. Pay rate increases, 20 consecutive days. Pay rate increases, sometimes to a level comparable with beginning sometimes to a level comparable with beginning teachers.teachers.

Daily substitutesDaily substitutes Coordinated through an office in the school districtCoordinated through an office in the school district Coordinated through an outside agency such as Kelly Coordinated through an outside agency such as Kelly

Educational StaffingEducational Staffing http://kelly.aesoponline.com/login.asp or or

http://www.kellyeducationalstaffing Can sign up for jobs in advance via a website or receive Can sign up for jobs in advance via a website or receive

calls either from a computer or staffing personnelcalls either from a computer or staffing personnel

Often a stepping stone to a salaried Often a stepping stone to a salaried position but for others, a full-time jobposition but for others, a full-time job If possible, substitute in a district which If possible, substitute in a district which

you are interested in or will have an you are interested in or will have an opening within the next couple years.opening within the next couple years.

Hang out in the teacher’s room during Hang out in the teacher’s room during breaks or visit the gym.breaks or visit the gym.

May need to get first teaching job in May need to get first teaching job in an urban or disadvantaged school an urban or disadvantaged school district to get some experience district to get some experience before moving on to more before moving on to more competitive schools.competitive schools.


Training (from NEA.org)Training (from NEA.org) 89 percent of the districts provided 89 percent of the districts provided

little or no training for substituteslittle or no training for substitutes 93 percent offered little or no 93 percent offered little or no

training for regular teachers in training for regular teachers in how to use substitutes.how to use substitutes.

69 percent of the districts did not 69 percent of the districts did not formally evaluate substitutesformally evaluate substitutes


Tips for Being an Effective SubstituteTips for Being an Effective Substitute Follow the teacher’s lesson plan (major Follow the teacher’s lesson plan (major

complaint of regular teachers)complaint of regular teachers) Provide a write-up at the end of the day. This Provide a write-up at the end of the day. This

may be a simple statement that all classes went may be a simple statement that all classes went well or be detailed and include any problems, well or be detailed and include any problems, deviations from the lesson, etc. deviations from the lesson, etc.

Provide your name so teachers may request you Provide your name so teachers may request you by nameby name

Leave the room, materials, and equipment the Leave the room, materials, and equipment the way you found itway you found it

Set your behavior expectations early in the day Set your behavior expectations early in the day and stick to them, or the kids will, most likely, and stick to them, or the kids will, most likely, take advantage of youtake advantage of you


Tips for Being an Effective SubstituteTips for Being an Effective Substitute During attendance, make a note of the names of During attendance, make a note of the names of

students you believe might cause trouble. students you believe might cause trouble. Have a good game-face – look sincere and firm, Have a good game-face – look sincere and firm,

yet approachableyet approachable ““never let them see you sweat”never let them see you sweat”

Bring some fun extra things the students can do Bring some fun extra things the students can do when, and only when, their work is done. This when, and only when, their work is done. This could be a whole-class or individual activity. could be a whole-class or individual activity.

Make a discipline plan and announce Make a discipline plan and announce expectations at the start of classexpectations at the start of class

Example: Only allow bathroom breaks during the Example: Only allow bathroom breaks during the last 10 minutes of class (depends on the school) last 10 minutes of class (depends on the school) or make students sign their names and times or make students sign their names and times (verify they are signing their name)(verify they are signing their name)


Tips for Being an Effective SubstituteTips for Being an Effective Substitute Talk to students when they arrive for class, build Talk to students when they arrive for class, build

the rapport early. 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 Getting lost on the way, finding/reviewing the sub plans, adjusting the plans if necessary, setting up plans, adjusting the plans if necessary, setting up the room to minimize behavior problems (desks, the room to minimize behavior problems (desks, materials), difficulty accessing the room, etcmaterials), difficulty accessing the room, etc

Have a reward for the class if it meets your Have a reward for the class if it meets your expectationsexpectations

Have “bell work” students can begin once they Have “bell work” students can begin once they enter the room. More structured time means enter the room. More structured time means less off-task time. less off-task time.


Tips for Being an Effective SubstituteTips for Being an Effective Substitute Write your name on the boardWrite your name on the board Have a Have a log sheet students must sign, students must sign,

communicate this during introduction communicate this during introduction Elementary only:Elementary only:

Come prepared with stickers or rewardsCome prepared with stickers or rewards Stick to routines as much as possible but Stick to routines as much as possible but

remind students that doing things differently remind students that doing things differently can be fun. can be fun.

May have one student be the teacher’s May have one student be the teacher’s assistant. Students love the opportunity and assistant. Students love the opportunity and know the ins and outs of the classroom. know the ins and outs of the classroom.


Behavior ManagementBehavior Management When management issues arise, When management issues arise,

many of the same principles used many of the same principles used in the gymnasium also work in the in the gymnasium also work in the classroom.classroom. Some differences:Some differences:

Can rearrange student seatingCan rearrange student seating Hallway conferenceHallway conference


Substitute Teaching HandbookSubstitute Teaching HandbookDearing, GAKansas City, KA Charlottesville, VACharlottesville, VA

ResourcesResources

http://www.nea.org/teachexperience/http://www.nea.org/teachexperience/subk030417.htmlsubk030417.html

http://www.qnet.com/~rsturgn/index.htmhttp://www.qnet.com/~rsturgn/index.htm http://www.kdp.org/teacherresources/http://www.kdp.org/teacherresources/

substituteteaching.phpsubstituteteaching.php http://users.erols.com/interlac/subtch.htmhttp://users.erols.com/interlac/subtch.htm http://www.education-world.com/http://www.education-world.com/

preservice/classroom/substitute.shtmlpreservice/classroom/substitute.shtml http://www.lps.org/hr/handbooks/http://www.lps.org/hr/handbooks/

subteacher/default.htmlsubteacher/default.html

ResourcesResources

Documents

Substitute Teaching. Preparing for a Substitute Make materials accessible. Make materials accessible. Create a substitute folder or binder and keep it