Hints to survive substitute teaching

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Hints to survive substitute teaching

by Ze Povinho

Sep 20, 2015

Good afternoon.

After so many years of having subbed in all grades and at all levels, I might as well post some tips regarding how to survive subbing for so long. Hint: If you can survive a brutal dictatorship, you have it pretty much made.

1. The second you enter a site, never forget who you are as well as your place

When you enter a site, never forget that you are a substitute teacher. You are there for the duration of the assignment and that's it. The school is in no way obligated to you in any way shape and form, and you are not part of the staff, and never will be. In fact, there are some full time teachers who will probably regard your mere presence as a major inconvenience or worse to the social order of the school-and that's the ones you are not even covering for. Be respectful and in your best behavior. Accept that you will probably never be referred to Mr/Ms. Insertyournamehere, but as "the sub" from the custodian to the Generalissimo aka ...See More

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Ze Povinho The solution for this problem is simple: I try to avoid these assignments like the plague. RSP pullout settings involve very frequently working with just one student in a room, often with no aide.

At times, you do get an aide but you must always, always, always, always, always remember that s/he serves the regime aka the school site and t...See More

Sep 24, 2015

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Great advice You have gotten great advice here. In addition to what Ze said, and yes the admin will toss you under the proverbial bus in a heartbeat, if the door has a window in it, make sure you are visible and that the child in your room is in plain sight. If the doors have to be closed, I would let a teacher next to my classroom/lab be aware of the situation...See More

Sep 24, 2015

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Eric7100 Ze,

Thank you (and others) for your continued responses and insight.

The only thing I want to add is that, at least around here, there has been an extreme increase in security against outside intruders in recent years, and as such, there are strict policies in the school districts that I work for that all classroom doors (when the...See More

Sep 24, 2015

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Lee If you feel uncomfortable being in the room with him, go to the library. I often see teachers working one on one with students there. There will be other people around yet should be quiet enough for you to get the work done.

Lee

On 9/23/15, Eric7100 wrote: > Ze, > > Thanks for your previous response to my question. You (a...See More

Oct 2, 2015

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BJ It depends where it is and what grade. Urban schools and middle schools I would avoid. I've had the most issues with middle school girls - who can be some of the sweetest or meanest creatures on the planet. A couple of occasions I was alone with a student I was either doing special ed or reading specialist assignments. It is awkward, and I've often...See MoreIt depends where it is and what grade. Urban schools and middle schools I would avoid. I've had the most issues with middle school girls - who can be some of the sweetest or meanest creatures on the planet. A couple of occasions I was alone with a student I was either doing special ed or reading specialist assignments. It is awkward, and I've often thought to myself this is crazy. I would have no defense here if a young man said something. The minor is always believed in society, and the burden is on you to defend yourself. I've experienced that with regular classes. They can twist what you say, and what they say is "the truth" and you can't do anything about it.

On 10/02/15, Lee wrote: > If you feel uncomfortable being in the room with him, go to > the library. I often see teachers working one on one with > students there. There will be other people around yet should > be quiet enough for you to get the work done. > > Lee > > On 9/23/15, Eric7100 wrote: >> Ze, >> >> Thanks for your previous response to my question. You (and >> Pixie) continue to make some very good >> points/ideas/suggestions that I will definitely keep in > mind. >> >> Today, I had the unfortunate experience of having to be > alone >> with a single student - a 5th grade boy. I was subbing for >> the learning support teacher in a "pull-out" resource room. >> This student is the only one who comes to her for math > support >> (individualized lessons) between 9:00 AM and 10:20 AM. > There >> are no other students or adults in the room during that > time. >> (There is an aide who shares the room, but she has other >> duties during that time.) >> >> Of course, I had the door wide open and conducted the > lesson >> at a large table near the door, in full view of the > hallway. >> But I had no other choice but to be in the room alone with >> this student, as this is what the learning support teacher >> (who I was filling in for) does every day. >> >> Hypothetically, it could've been even worse. I know for >> certain that if there had been noise in the hallway that >> interrupted our lesson (especially if the student was > taking a >> test), then the school would've insisted that we close the >> door so that any noise distractions would not interrupt the >> learning process. >> >> What are your thoughts regarding a situation like this? >> Sometimes, it is impossible not to be alone with a student > in >> a room.

Oct 2, 2015

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