September, 2011
I am sitting on the edge of a new journey, anxiously awaiting that sign to set off to a brave new world (aka a call from the substitute calling system). So, I didn't attain that ever illusive, but always so enticing option of getting my own classroom for my first year of teaching. I had to take the long road--substituting. Which isn't a bad alternative considering I still get to teach, I will (hopefully) make decent pay, and I will get to glean all the best ideas from the classes I visit.
As I set off on this journey I take this quote with me as inspiration:
"In great affairs men show themselves as they wish to be seen' in small things they show themselves as they are."
~Nicholas Chamfort
Hopefully as a substitute I will be appreciated for who I am.
Advice
Having recently completed my substitute registration for two education service districts (ESD's), 15 school districts, and 46 schools all at least an hour away from my house I have some advice for future substitutes, which brings me to my first piece of advice:
Apply early! I graduated my teacher education program this June and began applying for jobs in late May, come to find out the substitute lists for all the areas close to me had be full since March for the next year! So all that schmoozing with the teachers from the school I student taught at was pointless! Now I am driving an hour to get to all my subbing positions. Sigh.
Stick to as few schools as possible and be known at these schools. Ok, so this comment is a little hypocritical at the moment, but it is a piece I gleaned from other substitute teachers. If your ultimate goal is to become a full time teacher, it is in your best interest to substitute at fewer schools, so as to be known at those schools.
Make as many friends in the teaching field as possible! While this didn't exactly work out for me, it nearly got me a lot of subbing jobs. I had an acquaintance from BMX (my leisure time activity), who was a teacher that I volunteered with during my schooling, who had five days of subbing for me before he found out PPS's sub list was full! I was still grateful. Further, networking is how you find jobs!
Do the ground work. All the schools that I registered to substitute with are at least an hour away. This means it took a lot of time to drive to each ESD, SD and school, but it will pay off in the end. Visit each school and introduce yourself to the secretary, and if possible the principal and teachers. Be friendly and professional. This is like your substitute interview.
Be patient and proactive. Part of substituting is waiting and watching, but during this time you should not be stagnant. Keep a close watch on any substitute calling systems, call schools, go in to schools to introduce yourself, HAND OUT BUSINESS CARDS, volunteer in schools where you would like to substitute to observe, etc.
Substitute Teaching Resources
Books
**Substitute Teacher Handbook K-12. This book is AMAZING for a first time substitute. It has activities for all grade levels arranged by subject and labeled by grade, advice on everything from getting jobs to behavior management.
The Substitute Teacher's Organizer by Barbara Cawthorne. This book was great. You can take it right apart to assemble your own substitute teacher binder. It has great tips, advice, and lessons.
The Substitute Teacher Resource Book by Mary Rose. While this book was not designed to disassemble, I took it right apart and added it to my substitute teacher's binder. It has great activities and advice, though redundant after reading the previous books, the lessons were all new, though.
Instant Success for Teachers by Barbara Collins. While many of the activities contained in this book are what I would consider busy work or filler activities, they have their place in substituting and are nice to have on hand.
Blogs
Websites
"Substitute Survival: Tools you can use" by Peg Arseneaux and Education World.
"How to Pack a Substitute Bag" by EHow.
"How to Pack a Substitute Bag" by EHow.
"Substitute Survival: Tools You Can Use" by Education World.
The Substitute Teaching Bag
The Substitute Teaching Bag
I've had so much fun getting together my substitute bag of tricks. I'm lucky I already have an extensive classroom library so I didn't need to purchase books to add to my bag.
- Substitute Bag, Box or Bin (I use a Dakine messenger bag that I already had, but anything with a secure top that is portable will work).
Classroom Supplies
- Sticky Notes of various sizes
- Pens (I prefer felt-tip for grading and gel for writing, both in various colors, but this is up to you)
- Permanent Markers
- Pencils
- Dry erase markers
- Overhead markers
- Markers
- Colored pencils and/or crayons
- Chalk (you never know)
- Pencils
- Pencil sharpener
- Transparent and masking tape
- White out
- Small stapler
- Paper clips/binder clips
- Rubberbands
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Ruler
- File folder
- Calculator
- Lined and blank paper
- Name tags (either pre-made name tags, address labels, or card stock to fold in half)
Rewards/Motivators
- Tickets
- Certificates
- Stickers
- Small rewards (bookmarks, erasers, pencils, etc.)*
- Mystery Box
- Stamp and Ink Pad
- Privilege cards
*Note: Many subs swear by using candy as a motivator, I refuse to use candy because I think it gives the wrong message about nutrition and it is a big no-no in many schools because of allergies and hyperactivity.
Personal/Professional
- Clipboard
- Substitute Teaching Binder: Reports and other forms
- Small first aid kit (gloves, bandaids, CPR shield, etc.)
- Safety pins
- Hair ties
- Chapstick
- Travel lotion and deodorant (just in case)
- Hand sanitizer
- District information
- Coffee/tea mug
- Water bottle
- Whistle (I also have a quacker)
- Travel tissues
- Snack
- Tea, honey packets, and sugar packets
- Small wallet
- Plastic bags
- Spiral notebook for notes
- Glasses and case
- Name tag
- Mints
- Lunch (keep it healthy and light)
Activity Materials
- 2 soft balls
- Lesson plans/materials in file folder
- Activity books (See Substituting and/or Teaching Activities/Games Amazon book list and/or Substitute Resources post)
- Tangrams
- Bookmarks
- Prop (I use a beanie baby from my childhood collection, puppets are great but not my thing)
- Books (See my Amazon booklists)**
- 6 number cubes or dice
- 6 decks of cards
- Estimation jar
- Newspaper
- Stopwatch or timer
**In my Sub Bag right now: Visual Illusions by James Kingston, Mad Libs, Super Silly Mad Libs Junior, The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, More Two-Minute Mysteries by Donald Sobol, Danny Champion of the World by Roald Dahl, The Kids' Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, and Falling Up and The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein plus the activities, games, and lessons in my sub binder.
Resources
Smith, G. Substitute Teacher Handbook. (2004). Utah: Substitute Teaching Institute, Utah State University.
Herbst, J. The Substitute Teacher's Organizer: A Comprehensive Resource to Make Every Teaching Assignment a Success; Grades K-6. (2005). Teaching Resources.
Rose, M. The Substitute Teacher Resource Book (Grades 3-5). (2002). Creative Teaching Press.
Enlightenment from Day 1
I had my first day of substitute teaching, and despite all the build up it was rather peaceful and enjoyable. The joys of being prepared. Here is the advice I gleaned for myself after day 1.
Use the teacher's behavior management system. I was totally confused by the teacher's behavior management system (there were sticky notes involved, a chart, red, white, blue, and green cards in little pockets, and a jar with marbles...). In her notes it said: "look at the behavior chart, it's pretty self-explanatory." While I was familiar with some of the elements, this system took it to a-whole-nother level. I found it cumbersome and decided, whether consciously or unconsciously I'm not sure, not to use it. While this class had relatively good behavior, they kept encouraging me to use the class system and made it clear that they would appreciate it if I would. Lesson learned.
Learn names, when possible. Classes that switch for multiple subjects makes this very difficult! This class switched for reading, and math, and many of the kids come and go for Spanish or other special classes. While I really like the seating chart idea I used (below), it was not practical in this situation. With students coming and going and new students entering and sitting in different desks, the seating chart was ineffective. In this situation I should have had the students wear name tags.
Intercept the first misbehavior, and react with consistent and sensible behavior management. When students see that others are getting away with misbehavior they will join in. Start with the first act, react quickly, firmly and sensibly.
Enjoy the small things in life.
