Substitute Teacher Tips
Posted by Debra Liverman on 01 Oct 2008 | Posted in: Classroom Management
We all need one sometimes and many of us have actually been one—a substitute teacher. I remember waking up one morning feeling a bit under the weather and realizing that I hadn’t updated my emergency substitute plans since my last absence. I frantically planned some activities and then faxed them to the school secretary so she could get them to my substitute. Although it saved me that day, it is not the best way to go! However, I did learn my lesson. From then on I always had several days worth of emergency sub plans prepared and stored in very accessible location.
I poked around our publications and pulled a few tips that you might want to add to your substitute procedures to help make sure your substitute has a positive experience and you don’t worry when you are away from your class.
- Help your substitute feel less isolated. Include with your daily plans a staff list. Highlight the names of a few teachers to whom she can turn if she has any questions or concerns.
- Purchase a hanging, five-compartment closet organizer (like those for storing sweaters or other items of clothing). Into each of the five slots, put items a substitute will need to carry out one day in your classroom, including activity plans, any out-of-the-ordinary supplies, and books.
- Surprise your substitute with a cheery and helpful welcome message. Maybe include a pack of crackers or change to get a snack or drink from the teachers’ lounge.
- Team up with another teacher in your school to become “substitute buddies.” Get to know each other’s routines. When a sub comes to your room, your “buddy” can step in and help her with materials or classroom procedures.
- Come back to an orderly classroom by leaving the substitute a deck of cleanup cards. Write a classroom job on each of several cards that students can do. Ask the substitute to pass them out at the end of the day for a quick and easy cleanup.
- Label a large, brown envelope “Substitute Emergency Work.” Place plenty of puzzle sheets and skill review sheets inside. Also include a list of time-filler activities and a package of weekly student newspapers.
- Use extra copies of students’ school pictures to create a photo seating chart for your substitute. She’ll easily be able to identify each student in your class.
- Leave a small reward or privilege incentive for each day that you will be gone. Leave a note from you for the substitute to read to students that explains what you expect from them while you are away. If the day goes well, have the substitute give out the reward.
- On large individual cards, describe your favorite classroom songs, chants, greetings, games, and time fillers. Keep the cards in a box, or hole-punch the cards and thread them on a metal ring.
Do you have any successful substitute teacher tips that you’d like to share?
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Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
I retired last May after teaching several grade levels (K-5) over 33 years. I’m now substituting, and find it’s “a whole new world”! Your suggestions are wonderful!! Wish I could leave your “suggestion list” for the teachers I’ve subbed for.
Here are some things I’ve done to make my job easier as a substitute:
1. I take bag with picture books that I’m familiar with that I can read to a class if I have extra time. I don’t rely on finding a book in the classroom to read, and by taking a favorite or two of mine, I don’t do a “cold read”.
2. I always take a colored pen for grading papers for the teacher. I’m careful about grading anything that isn’t a clear “correct or incorrect” paper if I don’t know the teacher’s expectations for grading.
3. I have a couple of games in mind that we can use to fill time, line up, or just take a break.
4. I have a folder with blank paper with my name, phone number and email address at the top. I use it to leave a note for the teacher at the end of the day. I let them know what we accomplished or didn’t get done, any problems that we encountered, names of students who were especially helpful or well-behaved OR those who created problems to the point that the teacher needs to know.
My question: What would YOU most like to have a substitute do for you?
Great ideas!
I leave a stack of seasonal skills practice papers in a manila file folder. I include both reading and math skills. The papers are mainly color, cut, and glue activities. I label the folder “Substitute Survival Sheets” with a note to choose any pack from this stack, if needed. The folder stays on my desk next to my lesson plan binder all year.
I am in the process of organizing a shelf behind my teacher desk with various Bingo games, etc. that the children enjoy playing. I will title this “Substitute Survival Shelf”!
Romaine
What great ideas you gave me.
Thanks,
Sue