Be a Successful Substitute Teacher the First Day

I have been a substitute teacher in all grades for eight years. When I'm not working other jobs, my substitute schedule stays pretty full. A new substitute asked for some tips. This article is for her and anyone else who may want some tried and true ideas.

First and foremost, be on time. Be early if possible. Arriving at a substitute job late shortens your time of preparation. It doesn't look good for repeat referrals either.

Read the lesson plans. Teachers will leave instructions on how the day is supposed to go. Take time and read them. They may appear confusing at first. If you arrive early or on time, you will get there before students, and you can ask teachers on the same floor for clarity of items you don't understand or can't find.

Use a seating chart to identify students. Jimmy walks in and sees there's a sub today. He decides he's going to play with his toys at his desk. Imagine his surprise when you call him by his first name and gives him instructions about his behavior. Create the seating chart before students arrive if possible. If not then while you call roll.

Introduce yourself to the students in a fun way. Let them see the funny, or unique side of yourself. Speak proper English in a voice they can hear, yet don't scream or holler. Always sound authoritative and in charge.

Follow the lesson plans. Teachers are responsible for helping their students learn a lot in a short length of time. Teachers want them to still be learning even when they are absent. Responsible substitute teachers know the importance of sticking to the lesson plan as best they can.

Use methods already in place to handle discipline problems. Screaming and hollering and calling names are negative ways to handle children who need discipline. Use the discipline policies the teacher already has in place. Enlist the help of the principals and other teachers if necessary.

Explain to students that you are in charge. As you follow the lesson plan, students make expect you to teach just like the regular teacher. Explain to them that the substitute teacher must do things a little differently today.

Stay on the teacher's schedule. Another important element of being a good substitute teacher is the ability to complete the work in the allotted amount of time. You must be able to get students to their next class, and to and from lunch on time.

Teach, don't babysit. The substitute teachers who get continual referrals are the ones who move around the room, help students who are having difficulty, and who teach the lesson. Your ability to teach depends on your own level of education and the grade you are teaching. Try to take jobs that you can handle. If you don't know a lot about calculus, leave the high school math classes for someone who does. You can't teach something you don't know.

Got to love kids. Substitute teachers who are doing it merely for the money should find another vocation. To be successful at this, you have to love children.

Have a good relationship with other teachers and school administration members. These are your greatest assets. They want you to have a successful day. They know if you don't you may not come back. In crunch time, they really need all the help they can get.

Being a substitute teacher is an important job. Today's substitute teachers have to be sharp, versatile and able to follow directions. Utilizing these tips can make even the first day of your substitute teaching job a success. This is one way to guarantee that you will be hired again.