The Ultimate Guide for Substitute Teachers

When you first sign up to be a substitute teacher, it can be a scary thing depending on your past experiences with the school system and children. Most likely your school district will put you through a training course that is a couple of hours long, but this is mostly to cover school procedures. They do not tell you the little things that could really make a difference in your life as a substitute teacher. These are things that you have to learn the hard way as you gain experience in the public school system. Instead of learning the hard way, read these tips. These are things I have learned after my own experience as a substitute teacher.

Be Ready: On the days when you are available to work, get up early in the morning, and be ready. They do not always call in advance. Sometimes teachers have emergencies and call in the morning they are going to be absent. Other times they have emergencies that require them to leave school in the middle of the day. In those cases, the school will need a teacher in the classroom as soon as possible. Have clothes ready to wear and something easy to grab for you lunch in the fridge. If they call you can be ready in a couple of minutes and get out the door. Once secretaries see that you are willing to take last minute work, they will call you more for these types of situations.

Your Comfort Zone: When signing up as a substitute teacher, you can decide what age groups you would like to teach. If you are not comfortable working with high school students, don't sign up for high school students. When you sign up the school may try to pressure you into signing up for the age group you are not comfortable with, simply because that is the area they need the most substitute teachers. If you are certain that you do not want to work with a certain age group, do not let them pressure you into signing up for it. The result will be 6 a.m. phone calls for jobs that you know you will not take. It ends up being annoying for you.

If you aren't certain what age groups you work best with, sign up for everything. Try each age group at least once and decide from there. If you change your mind and decide that elementary age students are not for you, call the school and have them take your name off that call list.

Saying No: There will be times when you cannot work even on the days that you said you were available. Understand that it is okay to turn down a job for substituting. If you have another job that day or a prior engagement, make sure that you let the secretary know. If they know you cannot substitute because you are substituting in another school that day, they will be likely to call you again.

Be Honest: When you sign up to work, you will be asked what days of the week you are available. If you can only work one day each week, put that down. Even if you are not available every day, that does not mean you will not be called to substitute. If you put down days that you are not available, once again you will get 6 a.m. phone calls for jobs that you cannot do.

Volunteer: Sometimes working your way into a school system can be difficult. Especially, if there is already a large number of substitute teachers working in your district. One way to make a name for yourself in a school is to volunteer on days that you do not work. There is always a need for volunteers and the school will appreciate the help. The more they see you in the school, the more they will get to know you. Schools love to have regular substitute teachers who have created a relationship with the staff and students. When they see your name on the list, they will be more likely to call you first.

Make Friends with the Secretary: As a substitute teacher the school secretary is your ticket to getting more jobs in a school. When you are in a school, you want to make sure that the secretary knows you are there to work and that you can be counted on. One way to make an impression is to also volunteer to help him or her. The secretary is the busiest person in the school and they are often bogged down with small projects. When your class goes to a special activity such as music or gym, you will have an hour or so of free time. Unless you brought something to do, this is an hour you will spend staring at the walls in your classroom or walking the halls. Stop by the office and ask the secretary if she needs help with anything. They might not always have a project for you, but your efforts will pay off.

Ask Questions: If one school district has three elementary schools that does not mean that all schools will have the same rules and procedures for their students. While one school may allow students to help out by making copies for the teacher, another school may have rules against this. If you are not sure what the procedure is in situations like this, ask someone to help you. Neighboring teachers are a great resource and they are usually more than willing to lend a helping hand. Also, if you stick your head out in the hall you may find another teacher passing by. Don't be afraid to ask questions. It can save a lot of time and energy.

The Copy Machine: Above I mentioned that copy machine procedures may be different for each school. Make a point to learn where the copy machine is in the building where you are working. There are many times when you may have to use it. These days most schools require that each teacher uses a private code to log into the copy machine and make copies. If the teacher you are working for did not leave a code, request one from the secretary. There are many times when you end up one copy short on a worksheet, or students run out of work and you need something to fill in time. Having access to the school copy machine is a must.

Shoes and Clothes: Substitute teaching is not a good day to break in a new pair of shoes. Make sure that you wear a pair of shoes that are comfortable for standing all day. Yes, teachers do have a desk, but that does not mean you will spend a lot of time there. Teachers spend a lot of time on their feet during the day. Wearing the wrong shoes will make your day long and tiring.

Clothes need to be comfortable and casual dressy. Most schools have casual Friday where teachers are allowed to wear blue jeans, but on other days they dress in slacks, skirts, or dresses. Being comfortable is important, but it is also important to look professional.

No matter what the weather is like outside, I suggest that you bring a coat or jacket. If the day starts out warm, but then turns cold you will be prepared for recess duty. If the air conditioner in your room works a little too well, you will be prepared for that. Once you get into the classroom, you are there for the whole day. You have no way of going back home to get your jacket. Bringing one along ensures that you will be comfortable.

Playground duty: You need to invest in three items to prepare you for playground duty. These are a whistle, umbrella, and watch. Above I already mentioned the importance of having a coat or jacket. There are many times when it will start misting outside, but teachers still allow children to play. Other times you may be on the playground and a rain storm starts without warning. While the misty rain might not bother them, you probably won't be happy with your hair getting wet. Invest in a small umbrella that can be tucked into a bag. A large one will bog you down. If you forget your umbrella and find that it is raining, check the closet in your classrooms. Teachers often keep a spare umbrella in their room for these situations.

Teachers who work in the school every day will easily learn the names of students, even if they are not in their classroom. The easiest names to remember are those students who frequently misbehave. As a substitute teacher, you will not know the names of all students and will be unable to call their name if they are misbehaving on the playground. A whistle is a great way to get their attention. Make sure to carry this out to the playground.

Keeping track of time on the playground is also important. You need to know what time recess is over. At times school bell systems fail, or at times they do not have a bell to announce the end of your recess. Having a watch will help you keep track of time. Your whistle also becomes important. You can use it to let students know it is time to line up and go inside.

Detailed Notes: At the end of the day you will need to leave a note for the teacher you were substituting for. Make sure that this note is very detailed. Who was good? Who was bad? Did anything bad happen in music class that day? Where did you put the extra worksheets that weren't used? Did you run out of work? Did you finish all of the work that the teacher left for the day? These are just examples of things that you might consider including in your note. Make sure that you do not put all of the focus on the students who misbehaved. While this can be easy, the teacher can be discouraged to come back to a note like that. If a student was very helpful that day, make sure to include that as well.

Clean Room: Yes, schools have janitors who come by at the end of the day. They are responsible for taking out the trash and sweeping the floors. Everything else in the room is your responsibility. At the end of the day allow five minutes for the students to clean up. They should pick up trash around their desk, straighten book shelves, and clear their desks. This is mostly only for younger students when they are in the same room all day long. You should straighten the teacher's desk and found it in the same condition that you found it. After the students have left the classroom, go around and pick up any trash that was missed.

Substitute teaching can be an easy and rewarding experience if you are prepared for it and understand the procedures of the school you are teaching in. I hope the things that I have shared with you today have better prepared you for this job. Good luck as you begin your journey into the classroom!