Do substitute teachers get to pick which grade levels they sub at?

Question

I'm thinking about becoming a substitute teacher, but my degree is only in elementary. I've heard that when your a sub they can call you in for all grades including high school. This terrifies me because I'm just out of college and my confidence is really only in the lower grades where I have the experience. I thought they would put you where you are experienced in but I have heard otherwise.

Answer 1

Yes. Well you're allowed to choose over here (Australia)

But you would have chosen whether to study to teach younger children (elementary) or older children (secondary)

Answer 2

It really depends on the district. I know at my district and my neighboring districts they allow you to pick primary or secondary because they are allfairly large districts. This may not be the case say in a district with only 2/3 schools are each level.

Typically you pick one "group". Some districts allow you to say not however many times you get requested (via phone or online) Some districts give you 3 chances and if you repeated decline jobs on days that you have notified them that you could work, they could cut you as a sub.  This of course doesn't apply if say you are on vacation and notify them. I used to sub and never did it on Fridays or the last 2 weeks of school therefore I was taken off the sub list on those dates so I never had to decline a job.

Careful though because I went to a sub job once thinking I would be working with kindergarten then they put another sub in that spot and stuck me in middle school p.e because it was a K-8 School - YUCK.

Answer 3

i am a teacher and I substituted before i got a full time teaching job.  it is great experience and i encourage all future teachers to get out there and sub.

to answer your question i would have to know what state and county you are in.  in the county i subbed for in california i was able to accept or refuse any job offered.  I usually had a myriad of choices of grade levels, therefore, i was able to pick whatever grade/subject i wanted to teach. I would encourage you to check out high school sub positions just because they are a lot less work than primary grades.  You usually only have to put in a movie.  And since you would only have to teach one or two subjects a day most periods will be repeats. I know many subs take a book with them when they sub in high school. good luck and congrats on taking the plunge into teaching!!

Answer 4

Most districts in my area have a form that you can request only certain grade levels and even schools.  Of course, you also have the option of turning down substitute positions, so you have the ability to "pick and choose" the jobs you take.  Depends on how busy you want to be and where you live.  I would suggest that you go ahead and sub in the upper grades at least once just to see what it's like -- honestly, the high school kids aren't that bad!

Answer 5

In IL you can choose where you sub.  At my school you can even be as specific as to which classrooms you will sub for.  I will tell you though that I am a 1st grade teacher and that it is WAY easier to sub for high school.  Teachers who are absent in high school usually give the students a prior assignment or if they are ill tell the students to have a study hall.  You just have to be in the room and make sure no one leaves.  When I subbed in the elementary building it was a lot harder because you have to try to be just like their teacher.  You hear a million times a day, "that's not how Mrs. _____ does it!"  I'm telling you that even though all my experience was in elem.  its soooo much easier to sub in the high school!  I started taking a book to read because I was so bored during the day!  Hope this helps!  Oh and trust me you can tell them to stop talking or you will get the principal and they WILL BE QUIET!!!  Good luck!  I hope you find a job fast!