I pray God impart the spirit of discernment, knowledge, words of wisdom, the spirit of healing rest upon you. Let kindness and mercy rule in your heart and be even-tempered and love overflow in all you do.
(1 Corinthians 12: 8-10; Colossians 3:12-12). Have a blessed day!
Substitute teaching is a valuable asset for every school district. Though it is a tough job, it provides a service that enables the school to function when Teacher or other personnel is absent. And you’ve heard it all before …
“You’re not a real Teacher”
“You’re just a Sub”
Well, despite this myth, I am here to inform you that you most definitely, unequivocally are a “Real” Teacher. And you are not the babysitter, either. With your remarkable ability, you become an asset to the school district like no one else. You wear many hats and You are making a difference. You shape their mind, you teach them valuable lessons and show them how to cultivate healthy relationships with others.
As a former Preferred Substitute Teacher, I found it to be both challenging and joyful. In fact, one important aspect of being qualified as a Substitute Teacher is that you must love children and enjoy working with them. And it should be the goal of every Teacher and Substitute Teacher to see their students succeeded in and outside the classroom. Thus, I have compiled this list of 14 skills I consider of being a distinguish and qualified Substitute Teacher. I hope it inspires you.
1.Preparation – For any successful Substitute Teacher, you must be prepared by knowing what is expected of you and how to handle the vast complexities of the classroom. So, fostered lessons conducive to meeting the needs of diverse groups of children. Be adaptable, patient and flexible to different situations enabling the class to have clarity and complete assignments. Prepare to apply hands-on experience tailored to meet the needs of every student.
Though I never had need of such, prepare your own Sub Kit. Some may refer to this as a Survival Kit. It can contain supplies that may not be accessible such as, first aid kit, pencils, pens, crayons and markers, paper, multi -colored construction paper, glue – both solid and stick glue, stapler, paper clips, tape, story books to read to elementary classes, and sticky notes. Be professional, courteous, and display a pleasant demeanor in every situation. Also, I used this time to prepare myself spiritually, mentally, and emotionally for the day. Take time out for a cup of coffee and use it as a time to relax or fellowship with co-workers. Take a moment to refresh and relax before picking up the class.
2. Arrive Early – Every school starts at a different time. So, make sure to check with each school district you sign up with and know what time they expect you to arrive. Then go the extra mile by arriving early. I found arriving at least 15 - 30 minutes ahead of schedule to help me better prepare myself for the day. What’s more, arrive at school with an enthusiastic attitude. Introduce yourself to the Secretary and if the opportunity arrives, to the Principal. Inform them who you are and ask any pertinent questions which enables you to do the best job ever. Before picking up students, spend some time in the classroom and familiar yourself with its surroundings. Also, be polite and courteous and give a friendly greeting to staff. Keep a smile on your face.
3. Be Flexible – Flexibility is a great skill for any Substitute Teacher to possess. Though you do not need a Teacher’s degree to perform your job, you will have to adapt to the various changes you will encounter. You may have accepted an assignment to cover for the fifth grade but be reassigned to the Gym class. On occasions, I was pulled out of my assigned class to cover for various other classes, even doing cafeteria duty and standing in for the Secretary.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t choose what grades you will or won’t teach. When I first began as a Substitute Teacher my heart went out to the teenagers. But I quickly learned that this was not my niche. My area of expertise Pre-Kindergarten – 2nd grade and Special Education. This is where I excelled. During each school I made sure to inform the Sub service what grades I was comfortable with so with the exception of one particular high school, they knew not to call me for Middle and High School. Furthermore, there were more than enough assignments in those grades I felt more at ease teaching to choose from. However, I was versatile and able to make the adjustment when my schedule changed. At a school I frequently taught at, the Secretary complimented me regarding this. So, be ready, flexible and adaptable to change.
4. Dress Professionally – It is your responsibility to know the district’s dress code and adhere accordingly. It’s not about being flamboyant nor dressing as if you are going to the park, either. You must not become lax even in your dress attire. Conduct yourself as a professional even in your appearance and attitude.
5. Be Organized – Though it is the job of each Teacher to leave you a sub-plan, you must be organized and prepared for the unexpected. Read through the plans thoroughly and make sure you familiarize yourself with the class schedule, fire drill procedures, lock down, and emergency protocol. Make sure the student’s handbook is in the sub plans as well. If not, check with the Secretary. Utilize it as a guide throughout your day and don’t be afraid to ask about anything you are unsure of. Also, most Teachers leave a list for Class Helpers. This is a very resourceful tool to make use of. These are students you can depend on to help you with class schedule, where materials are located, even where other classes are located.
Make sure to take your class to all their special classes/lunch, (Music, Art, Dance, Gym, Science Lab)- and on time. And be on time to pick them up. If by chance there is a class trip or special event you should know the proper procedures ahead of schedule.
Become acquainted with the Teachers around you.They can be of great assistance in giving you information regarding your students, the school’s and other relevant information. By building a relationship with these Teachers you are making yourself a potential candidate for them to request you to cover their class.
From the moment you pick up your students to the moment you dismiss your class, it is all-important that you show that you are organized and capable of handling your class. Otherwise, the students will quickly try to take charge.
6. Follow Through with Teacher’s Sub Plan – One main thing that brings a Teacher satisfaction is returning to class and discovering her plans were executed. The Teacher has left specific instructions and expects them to be carried out. Make sure the students complete each assignment, collect them and attack a note. If you deviate from said plans it’s seen as being disrespectful and you can count on the primary teacher to report such and ergo your chances of returning to that classroom have diminished. Therefore, be sure to follow through with the sub plan and complete each assignment but have a backup plan for those rare occasions that there is none. Be sure it’s flexible to fit any class you may be assigned to. Above all, remember to take attendance and leave a note with names of any student who was absent or tardy.
7. Look for those students who need extra assistance – Each student learns in a different manner. What Jonathan may find easy to comprehend may not be the same for Brenda. So, you must stay alert and have a keen insight to spot those students who need extra help.
After I introduced and explained each lesson, students were allowed to take their set and complete their assignments. I choose this time as an opportunity to sit in a group with any students I observed to have some difficulty in understanding the lesson. I used a different teaching method to awaken their potential. Also, any student who was able to complete their lesson ahead of schedule I either paired them with another student to help or gave them some extra work to keep them from becoming bored.
8. Maintain Good Classroom Management Skills – One of the greatest complaints I have heard from Substitute Teachers is that they are disrespected. This is true. So, you must walk in that classroom with confidence and command it with the respect that you deserve. Each Teacher has their own unique style of managing a class. As a long-term Substitute Teacher, I observed that every class consist of a variety type of students. Overall, there are those who are well-behaved and quiet, some enjoy clowning around, while others are eager to help, and there may be the class bully. There has been a significant increase in such students in the classrooms over the years. Then there are those who are defiant and will test the waters. They will try to get away with anything. And they will test you just to show you who’s in charge.
But here’s the thing, you’re the Teacher and they are the student under your authority. Therefore, in addition to the Teacher’s rules state what your rules and your expectations are. Be firm and do not permit them to disrupt the classroom. Hold them accountable and responsible for their actions and apply appropriate consequences which adheres to that particular school policies.
What’s more, the rules that apply to Kindergarten isn’t the same as the ones for high school or a special education class. Remember, the Principal expects you to be able to control your class in an appropriate manner that adheres to school’s procedures. If you are consistently sending students to the office, the Principal perceives this as you being unable to manage the class. Thus, it’s absolutely necessary, refer them to the Administrator as a last result. You are being surveillance and when you earn a reputation as a no-nonsense Substitute Teacher, your name will be moved to the top of the list. In a word, you’ll become a Preferred Substitute Teacher.
You may not receive a yearly evaluation as Teachers does but in their own way they do observe you. The Principal may stop by the class without any warning. In my humble opinion, this is what a true evaluation should be. When a Principal or Vice Principal gives the Teacher a heads-up then how can you be sure it’s a true evaluation? What teacher wouldn’t make sure to be prepared? A Teacher should always be prepared. And so, should you.
In fact, during my first long-term assignment, I was teaching a Social Studies lesson. And who walks in unexpectedly? The Principal! … Well, I kept teaching. Though she never made any comments to me I became a Preferred Substitute Teacher within that school district. By the way, that was a tough class.
Additionally, give out rewards and recognition. Such incentives include, stickers, pencils, small note pads, certificates, coloring books, word search pads, etc. I always kept such honorary cards and items with me. Sometimes, I wrote a brief note on a decorative note pad to the students’ parents for them to take home with an explanation of how proud I was to have been their child’s teacher for a day.
9. Be Prepared for the Unexpected - You may have various scenarios throughout the day. So, be ready. Sometimes treat each situation individually and others times as a collective group. Judge each situation carefully and with caution. Whether it’s being observed, a student having a meltdown, a fight within the classroom, a student becoming ill, a lock down, etc.… Be prepared. When a situation arises beyond your control, know what the proper procedure is ahead of time. This information should be in the Teacher’s Sub plan. Keep the students and you safe as it is reasonable possible. In the case of a fight that you are unable to control contact the office and have them send the Security Guard immediately.
10. Treat students and staff with the utmost respect – Everybody wants to be respected. Everybody wants to be treated like a human being. So, no matter how challenging your job is respect the students and staff at all times. Now, be firm in regards to administering discipline policies but proceed in a respectful manner. However, don’t be too lenient with any student.
I have worked with Teachers or Aides who did not respect me. I have worked in a class where I worked one-on-one with a student and there was one set of rules for me and another for the Lead Teacher and her staff. In her attempt to discredit me, she accused me of being insubordinate, which the Principal knew was untrue. Her aim was to get me transferred from her classroom but she was unsuccessful.
Honestly, I wanted to leave her class but my top priority was my student who absolutely loved me. And I enjoyed working with him as well. So, I made the ultimate sacrifice. Also, I spoke to two of my colleagues who had known me for years because this was a school district I had taught at for a while. They gave me good advice. And one even told me how to approach the Teacher in regards to her disrespecting me and cruel and inhuman means she treated me. I applied it and though it did not stop her from being mean and nasty, it did reveal I was not going to tolerate her disrespect. Treat people better than you feel they deserve to be treated. Have patience with your students while exercising wisdom in distributing discipline.
11. Be Creative – I love teaching. And one great asset about teaching is the ability for me to be creative. I’m not just speaking of when the Teacher has not left a sub-plan. Be creative in your style of teaching. Your goal is to create an atmosphere that motivates the students to learn and participate. And that your time with them is engaging and inspiring.
I often used acting/singing techniques to teach my class. In all honesty, the students loved it. And when it came to story time, I would act out the characters and bring them to life. I went a step further and choose students to play some parts. And when “Little Vernita” showed up, she captivated the children and changed the atmosphere. Such methods keep their attention, help them focus and enhanced the environment and improved student’s ability to retain and comprehend lessons.
12. Effective Communication – When a Teacher is absent it can be confusing for some students. Hence, you must know how to lead with grace and dignity. You have to know how to listen and talk to the students. Some are expecting you to lose your cool. To get the class to cooperate you must know how to effectively communicate. So, season your tone with love and kindness, stay calm and inform them what you expect from them so you and the class can have a great day. Conduct yourself as a professional. Apply appropriate language and refrain from taking what they do as personal offense against you.
Also, leave a written report explaining how your day went. Give specific details of any students who you had problems with and those students who followed the rules. Explain your method of resolution. Address any other concerns. Last, thank the Teacher for the opportunity to sub for their class and to feel free to contact you should they need further questions. This can lead to further opportunities to sub.
13. Always Keep accurate records - If your assignment changes for any reason, record the new assignment with the Teacher’s name and classroom number. Even if you are pulled out for a half an hour or a few hours to cover for another class, record it. If you are given a long-term job record the day you started and when it ended. Maintaining accurate records helps when you receive your pay check. Be sure to know exactly when that is. If you aren’t paid for any day within your time period, speak to the payroll clerk as soon as possible. Be polite, courteous, and professional.
This was a major problem I had with the main school I worked as a long-term Substitute Teacher. Too often, two or three days would be missing from my pay check. And they would not pay me for these days until the next pay period. Though I kept accurate records, tried to resolve it with the pay roll clerk each time it occurred, and even meet with the Administrator who compliment on how accurate my records were this continued for years. Therefore, I was left with no other recourse than to contact the Commission of Education along with this and other problems. Eventually, my actions caused me to become an enemy of the Head of Human Resources and the then acting Superintendent of School. Subsequently, I lost my job to abuse of power in September 2012.
Record anything out the norm. In particular when you have an assignment for a long time. Such an assignment makes you an easy prey to be taken advantage of. Therefore, if a Teacher, staff member even the Principal attempts to disrespect you, abuse and take advantage of you, keep a record of each incident. You don't have a union representative nor tenure. So, protect yourself. In my humble opinion, I feel it would be of good benefit for each school district to have advocates for Substitute Teachers.
If those in charge are willing to hire representatives for Teachers to act on their behalf should the need arise, then they should do so for Substitute Teachers as well. Also, build a rapport with Teachers and Principals. When I performed as a 1-1 in some of those Special Education assignments, this is what helped me to effectively approach those incidents.
By the way, don’t use lunch time to gossip and complain. Use it as a time to refresh. You only have 30 minutes.
14. Leave the classroom in top notch condition – So, before it’s time to depart tidy up the room. Have the students leave their desk and work area clean and neat. The Teacher will be very pleased to return and found the room in order. This also adds to other opportunities of being called to Sub at that school again.
Being a Substitute Teacher is a great asset to any school district. You are taking part in making sure the students are being thoroughly educated. Take pride in your position and be a source of encouragement and inspiration. Help each class you teach thrive. Be the Substitute Teacher whose reputation proceeds you making you known by making a profound difference in the lives of others. Be Impactable! You have just read an excerpt from the book that's soon to be published. I hope you have been inspired. Please leave your book review, like, and share as such is encouraging.
Enjoy the song- We Need God In America Again by Carman
Available Soon - Substitute Teacher GUIDEBOOK
Vernita Simmons, Author/Publisher & Speaker devotionals reveal Jesus by sharing love, hope, and faith spans across the globe on LinkedIn, Faith Filled Family Magazine, FaithWrters, and other social media platform. For Speaking Engagements or a Power Point Presentation of this: CONTACT
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