Substitute Teaching - What?!

 Substitute Teaching - Always Learning

 

    In the past year or two nearly every teacher has had to cover a class or sub for someone in their building.  Why? Could be another post but for many reasons, they're not paid very much, and let's just say it's a tricky thing.   This is not ideal but...  if you are a teacher subbing in your own building you mostly know the students, the building is familiar, and you are still a person of known authority. 

    However, it is very different subbing in a new state, district, and place where you are a complete outsider.  I moved from Washington State to South Carolina.  I was teaching in an affluent area in Washington and am now subbing in Title one schools in Columbia, SC.  From the 11th state in education to the 47th.  People here say thank goodness for Alabama and Mississippi, yikes!

 Differences

    Let me start by setting the stage... What happens when students arrive at school?  Right from the start there are differences.  Do the students file in and stand around or walk around talking with each other and staff?  Is everyone calm? In Washington the students came into the school and entered the common area.  They hung out, talked, and met with friends, it was pretty loud but not out of control.  In South Carolina students come in and are led to their hallway - then they are instructed to sit down.  You know why?  There will be a fight if they don't, that simple.  Order is created by having everyone sit down.  This is true even in elementary school; the students come in and sit down by class, not because there will be a fight but because it's more orderly.

    I started subbing in the middle schools since that is what I was familiar with.  If you are in a public school there's almost always a population of students who don't love school (or hate it) and these students can and will make or break your class. They are the 5-20% that constantly get written up and are in trouble. The hardest classes are the ones when most of the students in the class fall into this category.  These classes can become out of control quickly.  Below is what I've learned in the hopes that it might help others or provide some entertainment. 

Classroom Management

    Classroom management is big as a teacher but it's a huge job for a sub.  Why?  As a teacher - you are with the students day in and day out.  You realize which students should and shouldn't sit next to one another.  You realize which classes will get out of control quicker.  As a teacher you can adjust your style based on the group.  Do you need to be super strict or can you give a little leeway? 

    As a substitute you do not know what you are walking into.  I am given a roster without pictures of the students, often no seating chart, and sometimes a plan and sometimes not.  In the district I am subbing, they do not loan you a computer.  I had a couple of out of control classes subbing and this quickly prompted me to go home and google classroom management strategies from substitute teachers.  Here's what I do now...

    Start out firm.  Introduce yourself - write your name on the board. State that you spoke with the teacher (whether you did or not) and that school rules and teacher's rules still apply.  You will leave the teacher a summary of events.  I also give very strict instructions regarding using the restroom.   I make middle school students sign out with the time, they have 3 minutes.  If the teacher did not leave a seating chart - do not allow students to sit just anywhere they want.  Don't let students sit on the floor (sounds obvious, trust me it's not always to students).  I would also be careful about groups of students around a table.  Limit the number of students per area.  Larger groups together will be loud and cause trouble.  (Trust me)

    Next, let them know what you are going to do to get their attention and that it means quiet.  Test it.  If they get it - verbal reward.

What teachers can do for subs!   

    Do yourself a favor and your sub a favor, have a plan!  Knowing what I know now I would have some sub plans prepared in advance of the school year.  I would even recommend that districts give their teachers PLC's (Professional Learning Community) time to do this.  Every teacher should have a 3 ring binder with the following.  

• Roster
• Seating Chart with pictures of students if possible (students will try to trick a sub often saying "here" for a friend)
• Plans
• Piece of notebook paper for feedback

    I'll be honest, prior to being a sub I either gave too much to the sub or not enough.  Finding a balance can be tricky.  Resources - TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers) has tons of resources that are free!  I would look there first, this makes everyone's life easier.  Also, be realistic.  Probably better to have more than not enough but nothing too difficult.

How to be prepared for subbing

    What works: Bring activities for the grade level you are subbing for.  Elementary - I always check out a couple of books from the library.  Go Noodle is great for brain breaks, even played from my phone.  I would also bring a printable of some sort.  (coloring sheet, word search, etc.) I have stickers for rewards.   

    Middle School - deck of cards, would you rather question prompts, I often sketch the kids because the students find that fun to watch and they can participate by doing their own sketch.  Some favorite subs tell the students entertaining stories from their lives, I say do what you need to keep students quiet and focused as possible.

    Positive Reinforcement

     Positive reinforcement is wonderful but it does take practice and especially when you don't know the students.  Giving a star for a whole class on behavior is good.  I would chunk this down into time periods for younger grades.  Older grades positive reinforcement is giving them time to do what they want if they focus for x period of time.  Set a timer!  There are many, many techniques to find what works for you.

Attention Getters

    How to get their attention - quietly say, if you hear me touch your head, if you hear me touch your nose, continue ...  this goes on until the whole group is quiet and you can repeat your quiet signal and start again.

    One, two, three, eyes on me...

    Countdown...   

    Write Noise on the board... keep erasing letters until you get to NO then they need to remain silent for a period of time.

http://tips.atozteacherstuff.com/143/attention-getters/

    Emotions 

Whether the class is in control or not - take a deep breath and remain calm (at least on the outside).  You are there to keep calm and carry on.  Some students will do things to get a rise out of you, don't let them.  You are showing your power by not letting them make you crazy.   (See inner city classroom management below) 

 The joyous moments

     My favorite moments so far - first grade class - all of the students start singing, not loud or out of control but sweet genuine singing and a little boy says, "it's just perfect." He was right, it was perfect.  They're voices were so beautiful and lovely.  It was truly a goose bump raising few minutes of ease.  

*Lesson, don't underestimate the power of music.  I now have a downloaded playlist, maybe it is just background music but it can help everyone. 

    When the sad ones don't leave sad.  I've had two classes where little students have been sad at the beginning but aren't sad at the end of class or the day.  Those are great moments.  One little girl was sad at the beginning and I said that I hoped her day improved and by the end of the class all smiles.  Another student told me that she is normally a sad and quiet and I told her I hope she's not sad today and by the end of class she wasn't, she was happy.

    In middle school and high school - it's a win if some of the students actually try the assignment the teacher left.  Often, when a sub is present students will take this as a signal to do whatever they want or can get away with.  Students need to stay seated and doing something quietly, sometimes that's the win.  If you can engage with them, and play a round or two of would you rather - that's a win, especially over these ticktock, snap chat obsessed youth.

    Schools are tricky places!  I opted to leave out the horror stories, crying yes, hitting yes, one fight:(.  There have been some real out of control moments and classes.  Those moments can happen at any age level.  (Kindergarten, wow) If you have the right or wrong mix of students, things can go sideways quickly.  Schools are stretched and tired but this does not mean they should leave a substitute alone with a group of students they know gets out of control easily without backup.  Don't hesitate to call the office for help.  Every place and district is a little different.  

    I might have to do another post about my hopes for education.  ;)  and if you made it to the end, cheers!

 Videos that helped:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucFN0s5u6vg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8kUwpO3ucw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38GppZVfsUo