Substitute teaching, the one-dreaded, fallback start to a teaching career is now a “foot in the door” in many districts and even a longtime choice for some educators. For teacher education students, substitute teaching offers pay-in-the-pocket learning experiences! It’s all in how you look at it.
If you decide to view substituting as additional preparation for your teaching career, then strive to be as professional in this temporary position as you would in a permanent placement. You can be the ultimate sub who administrators hire permanently.
Professional Practices
Inspire confidence and assure students and administrators with your professional attitude and practices. Show that you can be a role model.
Arrive on time or early.
Dress professionally – like a teacher, not a college student.
Bring supplies that may not be readily available – tape, scissors, and extra pencils, as well as backup lessons.
Follow the teacher’s plans exactly. Teachers may complain to administrators when their plans are ignored.
Conversely, they also let the principal know when substitutes do an excellent job.
Familiarize yourself with educational jargon such as IEP, ELL, and intervention specialist, to communicate professionally with colleagues.
Teach with a keen awareness of students. Implement lesson plans intelligently and perceptively. Watch each student, anticipate responses, and motivate students to do their work.
Act like a pro. Stand up straight with your hands behind your back or at your side, not crossed in front of you. Make eye contact, and model each behavior you expect of students.
Leave a note for the teacher summarizing the day and include your contact information.
Personal Conduct
On and off the job, conduct counts! It reflects your maturity and professionalism.
Converse in a friendly, professional – but not too personal- manner with students, particularly older ones.
Acknowledge politely, but change the subject with students comment on you personally – about your hair, clothes, or car.
Socialize sparingly at football games, the store, or the pizza parlor. Students can lose respect for you as a teacher if you act too casually; then discipline suffers.
Groundwork
Substitute teaching can build classroom skills and help establish your professionalism with students and school staff members.
Prepare for activity in the classroom rather than supervision. Maintain a flow of activity for students from the moment they arrive. Follow routines to take attendance, group students, and distribute materials, for a smooth-running classroom. Avoid time fillers such as copying items from the board or completing worksheets. They are raw opportunities for student misconduct.
Be the guest teacher. By your actions, signal to students that you are more than a “real” teacher fill-in. Move about the room, keep on task, complete projects, and direct avid discussions.
Ask questions about the school. A substitute demonstrating detailed knowledge about school workings or a willingness to be a team player will be remembered.
Network. A successful day should include a good conversation with a key player in the department you seek to enter.
Expect success and be ready to start. One day you’ll get a call to teach – and it won’t be for just one day.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education.
