New Year's Resolutions for a Substitute Teacher

Most people tend to overlook a Substitute teacher in a school system. The just want to think of us as a babysitter that watched after your child while the educated teacher is away. They believe we do not teach your child any skill or educational lesson while in class. I am here to tell you, as a substitute myself, this is the furthest thing from the truth. A substitutes job on occasion ends up being more challenging then a real teachers job just because we have to be so versatile and jump from grade to grade having more educational knowledge then some teachers receive with their degree. A good substitute will adapt to their class they are in for that day and continue with the teachers lesson plan. I can not speak for all substitutes but I do speak for myself on this matter. That is why I have purposed five New Year's resolutions for classes that I will substitute in when 2011 sets upon us. Five ways to allow me to be a better substitute and to have the children respect me more as a sub! Check these New Year's resolutions out below.

Resolution #1 - Temper
Depending on what grade I am substituting for that day, I may walk in the school in advance with my blood pressure already on the rise because I know these kids are going to test me that day. In 2011 I resolve to allow myself five minutes of a quiet prayer to ask the Lord to help me remain calm throughout the day.

Resolution #2 - Discipline
When I first started subbing, I would warn the children so many times before I actually gave in and handed out a punishment. My resolution for next year is to tell the children my rules in the room before class starts and only give them one warning to stop. The next warning will result in a silent lunch, no recess or even extra homework.

Resolution #3 - Have Fun
It is easy to get into the classroom and mark yourself a bad sub even before the kids speak because you are already belting out rules and orders. Kids also need a teacher who is going to know how to have fun with the class but just to the limit so you can pull them back in to focusing. I resolve to allow myself to laugh more with the children and not take every little whisper get on my nerves. I will resolve to pick and choose my battles.

Resolution #4 - Understanding The Lessons
As a sub it is very hard to go into a class and teach a lesson plan that you haven't seen since you were in elementary school over 20 years ago. I resolve in 2011 that if I know the day before or more that I have to be in a class where certain lessons are being taught that I do not understand, that I will research the night before on what is being taught in that grade level. Possibly call the other teachers in that grade level at the school and see what is on the agenda for the next day.

Resolution #5 - Contacts
Resolution number 4 rolls over to resolution number 5. If you walk into a school not knowing the staff, you will be lost throughout the day because you will not know who to go to or ask for help in your classroom. I resolve in 2011 to have all the teachers I work with at the school on a first name basis and know the basis of their background so I can relate to them on a better level. By relating to them on a better level, I will be able to call upon those teachers and other staff members and ask them how I need to handle the class for the next day and what will be learning so I can understand what I need to teach to the children. When you as a sub teach your classes, you are able to replace their main teacher for one day without those kids loosing the learning pace they are on!