I finally got all my paperwork cleared up with the Santa Clara county office of education. I have been fingerprinted, filled out countless forms, and did pretty much everything that was required to get my certificate to substitute teach. Now I am waiting for it to get processed (hopefully by the end of this week) and start applying for districts. My work schedule at my other job has been adjusted so that I can do both jobs on the weekdays.
Anything particular I should know? Right now I work as a tutor at a tutoring center, though with only 3 kids for an hour at a time. going from 3 kids to 30 kids is going to be a pretty big jump, and I want to be mentally ready. Some of my coworkers at the tutoring job work full-time as credentialed teachers, and they told me subbing is pretty easy, just follow the teacher’s lesson plan.
What’s a typical substitute teacher’s day like? I don’t mind getting called in the wee hours of the morning- when I worked as a crossing guard I’d get called to work by some school I never heard of all the time. Mapquest and some strong coffee make things fairly straightforward.
One of the reasons I am going to substitute teach is because I am curious about teaching full-time, but not dead-set on it yet. I know subbing isn’t exactly like actual teaching, but it would be nice to get a feel for the classroom environment. Right now I am fortunate to have a resource (kids who come to the tutoring center) to get feedback about what they like/dislike about substitutes.
Take your vitamins and eat healthily. When I substitute taught I caught every childhood illness known to man, including chicken pox (which isn’t fun at 23). I had fun, though, and got to do a really wide range of classes - everything from high school band (I pretty much just let them “jam”) to 1st graders to developmentally & physically disabled 10-year olds (my favorite class, even though we had to change diapers).
The best gig is for you to get on as a long-term substitute for a teacher going on maternity leave. Ideally, she’ll be due in late September/early October – long enough into the year that you get a really good lesson plan to work from, but not so long that the students have permanently bonded with her and you come in as mommy’s new boyfriend.
Carry hand sanitizer with you and use it frequently. Children are walking petri dishes.
I feel your pain, I’m just starting substituting in Sumner County, TN. I had my first set of 2nd graders the other day. They were a lot of little bastards, they were.
Me: “Alright, everyone work quietly on the worksheets Mrs. Smith left for you, no working together. Whatever you don’t finish is homework. And if you want more, just let me know.”
A Half-Dozen Sarcastic 2nd Graders: “Yeah, we want more!”
Me: “Sweet. Samantha, hand these out.”
They didn’t think I’d do it, the little bastards. We got along pretty well after that.
Oh, and Incubus, kids don’t smell fear as much as indecisiveness. Be firm and do what you say you’ll do. Don’t wishy-wash on the consequences.
Today I felt really good because when I told my tutoring students I would be substitute teaching during school hours they begged me to substitute at their school because they like working with me so much They really feel that I do know what I am talking about, as opposed to a slavedriver of an instructor hiding behind an answer key. I take this as a good sign for times to come
Tell the kids they can sit where they want, as long as they work properly. Chances are they’ll do it anyway but they’ll like you more if you give them permission
I subbed for about 6 months–and once with NO lesson plan left for me!
I taught those 3rd graders all about the equinox and solstice and stuff. And we did some review math and grammar stuff.
What else could I do? I had no plan!
And remember to smile at the kids. Noone likes a bitch. Firm yet kind was my motto.
From a retired teacher: dominate your space. If a kid is obstreperous (sp?)–loom over his desk, just a bit. Walk behind kids (up the aisles so that their backs are to you)–it’s subtle intimidation and it works.
Let 'em rip the last 5 minutes of school–they’re going to anyway. I used to end a long day with “now we make as much noise as we can for 5 seconds. but then we must make silence.”
They loved it. (elementary school).
For middle school–take drugs, body armor and pray. You’ll need it…
