How does a substitute teacher successfully do his or her job?

Question

I've student taught but have never subbed. I don't understand how a person can walk into a room full of kids and carry out lesson plans that are 1 sentence long, if that. How does the sub carry out the procedures that the regular teacher has set? The sub has no idea how things are run in the room. Plus, how does the sub carry out discipline strategies in such a foreign environment?

I'd like specific strategies please.

Universities should offer classes on substitute teaching. I imagine it to be very different from having your own classroom. I'm asking this because I may begin subbing in the near future. I'm going to do it no matter what, but I have my concerns, as you can see.

Thanks!!

Answer 1

your teacher you are subbing for needs to leave detailed instructions on each subject and class. if they do it makes it a lot easier. you will always get a couple of bad eggs , but you need to discipline them, for example  time out, no recess, points taken off, or  a trip to the principals office.

Answer 2

i duno, my subs have always sucked we picked on them and made half em cry

Answer 3

well be a cool sub. like as long as they do their work they can talk and be in groups. and if they arent working miove them. be loose wirth rules but dont let the kids control you

Answer 4

I do understand your question and your apprehensions! I subbed full time for 1 year. It is very hard.Kids can be horrible. Especially when they don't have enough work to keep them busy. If u do know any of the other teachers, they can give u some fun hand outs to create busy work.... puzzles and etc. IF not, the office should retrieve you some. hangman can be fun as a group to play on the board and pictionary can keep them entertained too, ( I just make up random things on paper and they pick out of a stack of folded paper to draw)

As for discipline, leaving names to the teacher should be enough. Our teachers are pretty hard on kids that give subs h**l. You can always send them to the office to visit the principal too.

NEVER, NEVER leave students alone in the room.

As far as trying to be like their reg teacher... that just won't happen. You are basically just baby sitting. Make them stay seated and no talking till they finish that 2 minutes of work that their teacher left. Then they can whisper, read or write notes, or play hangman or pictionary.. If you allow them to be rowdy and destroy the room, you won't be called again to sub.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I definitely think universities should offer courses on substitute teaching.  It is a very difficult job and not at all like having your own classroom.

My best advice to you is to be prepared for everything!  Have ideas ready for activities to do in case there are inadequate lesson plans.  Have your own discipline plan and introduce it to the class first thing in the day.  You don't have to follow the regular teachers discipline plan while you are there.  The important thing is to keep the class on task using whatever methods work best for you.

Look for a positive "leader type" student and have them help you figure out the usual flow of things.  Most importantly, don't be afraid to ask for help!  Other teachers and the school's administration are there to help if you need it.

This article on substitute teaching has a lot of great ideas to help you start out right: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article... .

Answer 6

Being a sub definitely makes you earn your stripes and toughen up.  I know it did for me.  I have seen great subs that are extremely dynamic- great at relating to the kids, take over the room without seeming intrusive, and relating their own information on topics that the teacher left, usually something that they talk about from personal experience.  I think its something you acquire through experience, not just something you can do.  Subbing can be very hard and at times its just a paycheck.  There are days that I have left and thought to myself- well, no one died, got sick, or started bleeding so that counts as a good day.  I realize that having a course may be beneficial, but once you have spent significant time in the classroom, you will realize that aside from your practicums, university classes didnt exactly prepare you the way you expected them to anyway.  There is no easy solution, its just experience and how you learn.  That said, you will probably be a better teacher for it, and you will learn to leave decent sub plans for your sub when you have your own classroom.  Good luck, you will be great!!!!