Everyone—from the administrators and teachers to the secretaries at the front office-- know that a good substitute teacher is hard to find. Substitute teachers are usually viewed with disrespect, as transient workers who get paid for the day, regardless of whether or not they do their jobs, and then are never seen or heard from again. To dispel this reputation and or even to make a career out of substitute teaching, with its flexible work-when-you-want schedule, here are a few tips to make teachers ask for you by name.
The most important piece of advice, if you work for a large school district with multiple calling areas, is to do your research. Ask fellow substitute teachers which areas or schools they enjoy subbing for, and request that the substitute unit put your name on that list.
Make friends with the secretaries who work at the front desk. Let them know that you are interested in more work. The secretaries are usually the first ones notified of teacher absences, and they can get you work for the next day, week or month, if they find you reliable, easy to work with and friendly.
When teachers are absent, even the most angelic students find it hard to resist playing tricks on the substitute teacher. There’s no need to be paranoid, but be aware! Make sure that each student entering your room belongs in your class. Some substitute teachers do this by matching student ID cards or birthdates against attendance sheets or rosters. Once students are inside, secure the doors and do not allow traffic, unless it’s an emergency. Fights can break out in the blink of an eye if students get out of their seats without permission or run into an enemy in the hallway.
If you’re given lesson plans, follow them. Explain the assignment to the students and let them know that you’re available to help them. The age-old image of the substitute who props up his feet to read the paper or falls asleep at the teacher’s desk still perpetuates. Look friendly but alert and walk around the room to monitor the students till everyone is working.
Depending on your comfort level and the vibe in the room, you may encourage students to help each other with the work. This strategy creates an atmosphere of support and lessens the feeling of alienation at having to take orders from an unfamiliar authority figure.
Before you run into trouble, introduce yourself to the teachers in the rooms adjacent to you so you can call on them for help should you need it. Also, use your camera phone to take a picture of the class or the disruptive student if you are unable to identify her and want her to face consequences later.
At the end of the day, straighten up the room and leave a note for the teacher. Attach your business card with your contact information, and don’t forget to leave one at the front desk when signing out.
Author Resource:-
Authored by Mabel Gee, a UCLA grad, who is a freelance author.
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