Preparing for a Substitute Teacher - Advice from a High School English Teacher

Substitute teaching is one of the most difficult jobs a person with a college degree could ever do. It can be stressful, frustrating, and has left many in tears. The classroom teacher can make it easier. I was a substitute teacher for a year and a half. About half way through I felt my love for teaching being sucked out. I was a glorified babysitter and not really doing meaningful work.

The best teacher I worked for treated me like a real teacher. She didn't treat me like just another substitute teacher filling in for a while and disappearing never to be seen again. She gave me actual instruction to do. She treated me like I had a brain. It was unusual. She expected the students to actually learn while I was there. And, they did. I was the greatest substitute teacher ever while I was in her room. I was empowered.

My goal with this article is to end the mistreatment of substitute teachers. Here is a list of tips every classroom teacher should follow before they are absent from school ever again.

1. Prepare Your Substitute Teacher for Battle
I've heard of great teachers creating substitute kits for when they are gone. Leave a small basket for the substitute as a way to say thank you for helping out in your room. Possible items include a mug, a bag of tea, a granola bar, pens, hand sanitizer, post-its, and a note thanking them for filling in for you. This should be the first thing your substitute teacher sees. It sets them off on the right foot.

2. Prepare Proper Lesson Plans
Your average substitute teacher will not be able to do high-level calculus. They will not know the geological formation of earth. They will know things the average, educated person knows. They can teach. They can read aloud. They can deliver information. They can guide students through worksheets. They can do more than watch a video. Your students need to be aware that the presence of a substitute teacher doesn't give them the day off. Have your students read a selection from the book, do a several worksheets, and take a quiz. Have them compete in game reviewing concepts they have learned over the past few weeks. PowerPoint Jeopardy, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and other quiz shows are great for this. Do not expect them to grade papers. If they make a mistake, it reflects on badly on you.

3. Overplan for Your Substitute Teacher
The biggest complaint I had as a substitute teacher is that the students always finished too quickly. One teacher I substituted for had the same class for two periods. He left two worksheets for the class. Twenty minutes later the majority of the class was done. Don't do this to your substitute teacher. Leave more work for the students than any of them can finish. Leave it to the discretion of your substitute whether or not this work gets handed out or not. Also, if you are relying that the substitute uses some form of technology, have a back-up plan. Technology does fail. Sometimes the substitute is completely unfamiliar with how to run the equipment. Maybe, they just don't feel comfortable using it. Give them something else they can do. Set them up for success.

4. Maps and Charts
Leave maps for your substitute. Make sure that the maps show the nearest restroom, the faculty lounge, the library, nearest helpful teacher, etc. Most substitute teachers will not be familiar with your building. Prepare for this. More importantly, include seating charts of each class that you have. If possible include pictures for each student. Discipline problems can happen and it sure helps if the substitute teacher knows the name of the student causing the problems. It also helps prevent discipline problems if the students are aware that the substitute teacher knows their names.

Even after doing all of the following, you may find that you still had a bad experience with the substitute teacher that was in your room. At least you'll know that you did everything you could to help them. Some teachers just shouldn't be teachers and they just haven't realized it yet.