I decided to blog out my teaching experiences (challenges, the good & the bad). I thought that this would be nice to look back at after a couple years; just to see how far I've come and what I've learned through each sub assignment before landing that permanent teaching job. :) Here's a little background:
I have been subbing for almost a year. I started subbing after I got my English credential at the end of January '12 through Cal State Fullerton's Single Subject Credential Program. The program was one year; I started my 1st semester of student teaching at a HS in the OC area, then completed my 2nd and final semester of student teaching at a junior high (the best experience ever, still miss seeing those students-- totally affirmed what I was set out to do). I noticed that English teachers may be at the bottom of the pole regarding getting hired. Obviously, math & science teachers still have quite the advantage. I've met subs that have subbed for about 3-5 years and still haven't landed a permanent job. I was pretty sad & discouraged after that discovery. I went the subbing route because that was the closest I got to teaching a classroom. I know that I could have applied for a tutoring job (KUMON, Sylvan, etc.) but I really wanted to experience the classroom environment. Or another route I could have taken was take a year off and move to the Philippines and teach there, get some overseas experience. I couldn't find myself making that decision because I love being around my family.
February 16, 2013 will mark one complete year since I started. I have done 72 assignments thus far. I will be starting my long-term subbing by the New Year at a junior high for a teacher going on maternity leave :) I will be there for at least 8 weeks. I'm pretty excited. I want to end this post on things that I believe every teacher should leave ready for any substitute, something I will definitely do when I ever have a sub of my own =] At least based on my experiences.
1. Leave a clear & detailed lesson plan.
Introduce yourself, the subject you teach, and the routine for your classes. If your school has 2 different lunches, let the sub know whether you have 1st or 2nd lunch (at the same time, no biggie, I normally called the office or asked the students). Be *specific* regarding how & what you want the sub to do so that there are no surprises. Include where the classwork or assignment to be completed is located (Is it on the desk with the computer? Is it in the corner near *fill in the blank*? etc.); or just divide the work in separate piles & place a post-it with the period/class that it's for. Indicate whether this assignment/project/classwork (whatever it is you plan for your students) is to be collected or not. I would *highly* recommend that you make the substitute collect the work. As a sub, I found that assignments/classwork collected when their teacher is out is a good way to keep students on task. Deadlines tend to keep students in shape & helps a bit with classroom management. If you don't collect anything, you can bet that students will talk ALL period & act like they're doing something productive (this doesn't happen ALL the time, but a good amount). It'd be helpful to leave names of "Helpful" or "Reliable" students for the sub. You may/ or may not leave down names of students that "disrupt the learning environment" aka those disruptive, "better keep my eye on" students. I found that information to be helpful in the junior high classrooms. Although it does make you bit more biased [sometimes] before meeting the students.
2. Provide an *updated* seating chart. Bonus points if you even provide a picture by their name!
Knowing a student's name is soooooo important. I cannot stress that enough. It gives the teacher that authority, that power. A student usually freaks out when you know (or seem to know) their name. It tells the student that you are paying attention to him/ or her. Leaving a sub an updated seating chart makes the day go a lot smoother because he/or she is able to call on students & not have to rely on photographic memory (if you even have that! I don't lol) from taking attendance using the roll sheet the beginning of class. I've encountered days when I tried really hard to remember names of students, especially not having any seating chart & especially when the system required subs to submit the attendance period by period. Trust me, it's not too fun. At the same time, I learned to always be mobile in the classroom and not stay seated at my desk. I would hover around students' desks and check for their name on their paper or even ask them for their name again.
3. Prepare more than enough work, not just the BARE minimum (unless it's a project that they've been working on).
Nothing seems to be more unnerving than having students that seem to finish the task in 15-20 minutes in a 55-minute period. I mean, it's good that they are quick and efficient, but what are they going to do for the remaining 35 minutes of class?? Yep-- these students will talk to their friends/classmates. Unless you encounter those students who manage or realize that they can work on other work/homework from another class (it tends to work for the later periods like 4th-7th); making use of their time more wisely. I was always happy when I noticed those students. So, it does NOT hurt to provide extra work/handouts for students to complete by the end of the period.
4. Classroom Management tip
One teacher that I subbed for left a disclaimer for all her classes (at a high school). She said something like this: Any name left by the sub will have a referral and an automatic parent conference.
This was a message on a handout that included the routine/classwork & expectations while the teacher was out & that negative consequence. I, the sub, just put this on display using the ELMO & screen. I thought that this was just genius, remarkable! It kept students behaved and on-task. It gave students responsibility because they were the ones that'd have to face a parent conference if they acted up. Also, provide any referral slips or nurse slips.
5.Bathroom pass(es)
I know or based on my knowledge, that as a teacher, you honestly can't deliberately deny a student from using the restroom. There were times when a student was out for a really long time. It's hard to discern because what if this student really took a deuce? The other reason is that this student met up with a friend or something. But I guess there's a way to keep students from wandering around campus, especially when the school has 2 lunches. The way one of my master teachers handled this was that if a student needed to use the restroom, the minutes they were out would be multiplied by 5 & that needed to be made up the next morning before school started. It enforced that their presence and learning was important. It also seemed to lessen the amount of students using the restroom during class because they didn't want to come early in the morning.
6. *Optional* Your contact number
I know that this may seem too personal, but it helps the sub a whole lot especially when the people at the office or even teachers from the department can't help you. I think leaving your number with a sub can help alleviate any uncertainty or confusion. It would let the main teacher gone know that the sub can clarify anything before the day starts. And if there's anything that you, the main teacher, forgot to add on your lesson plan, you can definitely let your sub know right then and there :)
Okay, so that's what I've gathered overall..... so far. Hope this tidbit helps out subs and teachers <3
I have been subbing for almost a year. I started subbing after I got my English credential at the end of January '12 through Cal State Fullerton's Single Subject Credential Program. The program was one year; I started my 1st semester of student teaching at a HS in the OC area, then completed my 2nd and final semester of student teaching at a junior high (the best experience ever, still miss seeing those students-- totally affirmed what I was set out to do). I noticed that English teachers may be at the bottom of the pole regarding getting hired. Obviously, math & science teachers still have quite the advantage. I've met subs that have subbed for about 3-5 years and still haven't landed a permanent job. I was pretty sad & discouraged after that discovery. I went the subbing route because that was the closest I got to teaching a classroom. I know that I could have applied for a tutoring job (KUMON, Sylvan, etc.) but I really wanted to experience the classroom environment. Or another route I could have taken was take a year off and move to the Philippines and teach there, get some overseas experience. I couldn't find myself making that decision because I love being around my family.
February 16, 2013 will mark one complete year since I started. I have done 72 assignments thus far. I will be starting my long-term subbing by the New Year at a junior high for a teacher going on maternity leave :) I will be there for at least 8 weeks. I'm pretty excited. I want to end this post on things that I believe every teacher should leave ready for any substitute, something I will definitely do when I ever have a sub of my own =] At least based on my experiences.
1. Leave a clear & detailed lesson plan.
Introduce yourself, the subject you teach, and the routine for your classes. If your school has 2 different lunches, let the sub know whether you have 1st or 2nd lunch (at the same time, no biggie, I normally called the office or asked the students). Be *specific* regarding how & what you want the sub to do so that there are no surprises. Include where the classwork or assignment to be completed is located (Is it on the desk with the computer? Is it in the corner near *fill in the blank*? etc.); or just divide the work in separate piles & place a post-it with the period/class that it's for. Indicate whether this assignment/project/classwork (whatever it is you plan for your students) is to be collected or not. I would *highly* recommend that you make the substitute collect the work. As a sub, I found that assignments/classwork collected when their teacher is out is a good way to keep students on task. Deadlines tend to keep students in shape & helps a bit with classroom management. If you don't collect anything, you can bet that students will talk ALL period & act like they're doing something productive (this doesn't happen ALL the time, but a good amount). It'd be helpful to leave names of "Helpful" or "Reliable" students for the sub. You may/ or may not leave down names of students that "disrupt the learning environment" aka those disruptive, "better keep my eye on" students. I found that information to be helpful in the junior high classrooms. Although it does make you bit more biased [sometimes] before meeting the students.
2. Provide an *updated* seating chart. Bonus points if you even provide a picture by their name!
Knowing a student's name is soooooo important. I cannot stress that enough. It gives the teacher that authority, that power. A student usually freaks out when you know (or seem to know) their name. It tells the student that you are paying attention to him/ or her. Leaving a sub an updated seating chart makes the day go a lot smoother because he/or she is able to call on students & not have to rely on photographic memory (if you even have that! I don't lol) from taking attendance using the roll sheet the beginning of class. I've encountered days when I tried really hard to remember names of students, especially not having any seating chart & especially when the system required subs to submit the attendance period by period. Trust me, it's not too fun. At the same time, I learned to always be mobile in the classroom and not stay seated at my desk. I would hover around students' desks and check for their name on their paper or even ask them for their name again.
3. Prepare more than enough work, not just the BARE minimum (unless it's a project that they've been working on).
Nothing seems to be more unnerving than having students that seem to finish the task in 15-20 minutes in a 55-minute period. I mean, it's good that they are quick and efficient, but what are they going to do for the remaining 35 minutes of class?? Yep-- these students will talk to their friends/classmates. Unless you encounter those students who manage or realize that they can work on other work/homework from another class (it tends to work for the later periods like 4th-7th); making use of their time more wisely. I was always happy when I noticed those students. So, it does NOT hurt to provide extra work/handouts for students to complete by the end of the period.
4. Classroom Management tip
One teacher that I subbed for left a disclaimer for all her classes (at a high school). She said something like this: Any name left by the sub will have a referral and an automatic parent conference.
This was a message on a handout that included the routine/classwork & expectations while the teacher was out & that negative consequence. I, the sub, just put this on display using the ELMO & screen. I thought that this was just genius, remarkable! It kept students behaved and on-task. It gave students responsibility because they were the ones that'd have to face a parent conference if they acted up. Also, provide any referral slips or nurse slips.
5.Bathroom pass(es)
I know or based on my knowledge, that as a teacher, you honestly can't deliberately deny a student from using the restroom. There were times when a student was out for a really long time. It's hard to discern because what if this student really took a deuce? The other reason is that this student met up with a friend or something. But I guess there's a way to keep students from wandering around campus, especially when the school has 2 lunches. The way one of my master teachers handled this was that if a student needed to use the restroom, the minutes they were out would be multiplied by 5 & that needed to be made up the next morning before school started. It enforced that their presence and learning was important. It also seemed to lessen the amount of students using the restroom during class because they didn't want to come early in the morning.
6. *Optional* Your contact number
I know that this may seem too personal, but it helps the sub a whole lot especially when the people at the office or even teachers from the department can't help you. I think leaving your number with a sub can help alleviate any uncertainty or confusion. It would let the main teacher gone know that the sub can clarify anything before the day starts. And if there's anything that you, the main teacher, forgot to add on your lesson plan, you can definitely let your sub know right then and there :)
Okay, so that's what I've gathered overall..... so far. Hope this tidbit helps out subs and teachers <3
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