Substitute Teachers - how bad is it?

[mom2boys]

I just completed the paperwork to be a substitute for my district. It's a huge district & from what I am told, I could probably work almost every day. My degree is in Accounting & Business Administration and I am a Certified Public Accountant. I did instruct "accounting" at a technical college for one semester.
Any survival tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[snoopy]

I have 2 DIS friends who are substituting, I'll let them know you are asking. Both seem to enjoy it a lot!

 

[mom2boys]

Thanks Snoopy. I appreciate it.

 

[Cindy B]

I just started subbing for my large NJ district. I have been working every day since Sept 21st. In fact, I have had to turn jobs down!

I registered at three districts in my county, my large district a neighboring district, and one more district on the other side of my town.

Its honestly not bad at all. I've been mostly at the high school doing special education classes and I LOVE IT! I love the high schoolers. I used to work in a middle school and honestly, middle schoolers are aliens or something, but that was horrible!

Elementary is tough work. You have to know it all, all subjects, all grade levels plus there are many classified students that haven't gotten IEP's yet, so there are many things you are dealing with. My hardest sub assignment was a multi grade/multi age emotionally disturbed multiple handicaps classroom. That was tough! (I even had two paraprofessionals and it was tricky)

I do mostly ICS, or in class support. I am basically a coteacher for the special education students. I walk around the room and sort of tutor them one on one while the teacher is doing the lesson.

I like the high school better than elementary. Middle school is ok, but not my first choice.

 

[DisTeach1]

Well, I substituted last year before getting hired this year. It's a mix of boring, frustrating. It's easier to sub for younger grades like Kindergarten because you don't have the attitude and the disrespect, but it's boring at the same time because your really just a glorified babysitter. Sometimes, the other teachers don't acknowledge you much because your just a sub. If your not on a teacher/job track and are just doing it for some pay, there are other jobs. But, right now, the prep for my own class is killing me, so going back to subbing looks pretty good right now.

 

[Jamesbyr]

For long term coverages, a week or more, you should get lesson plans and some guidance from the person you are covering.

For short term things, a day or so, you should develop a "specialty act" by which I mean an engaging lesson that stands on its own within the subject area. For CA, SS, SCI, say, a discussion/short essay on a current event or TV program. For Math I don't quite know, but there are lots of things out there.

My background was 37 years in NYC Middle Schools. MS is scary, but it was where I was.

 

[Cindy B]

For long term coverages, a week or more, you should get lesson plans and some guidance from the person you are covering.

.

My background was 37 years in NYC Middle Schools. MS is scary, but it was where I was.

I salute you! 37 years in middle school is hard work. I left after only 3!

I've had an assignment for three/four days from the same teacher. I get the whole weeks worth of lessons in one day.

As far as developing a speciality lesson, I can either do a current event or word game depending on the grade level. I also will discuss literature as well.

 

[chager]

I subbed for 8 years. For the most part I loved it. (I had certain schools that I absolutely hated though!) The first thing I learned was to let the class know I was in charge and how it was accomplished depended on the grade level I was working. K-4 I had to remind that although I would try my best to do things in the order their teacher normally did, I would not neccessarily do them the same way and I did not want 30 hands going up and telling me this. (I learned this after about 2 weeks) Middle schoolers I simply remained fairly strict throughout the day and told them up front I would leave names of those that caused problems and of those that were helpfull. I didn't do too many HS classes. Older kids respond well to candy too I also kept a few misc. seeknfinds or other activity/coloring sheets with me. (Yes, even the MS kids like to color)
Never leave your purse/bag unattended in an unlocked room, never have an open container of any drink or leave a bottled drink out of your sight, be careful about turning your back on some classes, don't get discouraged when you have a really bad class.
I was one of those teachers that they either loved or hated. I did not put up with crap. I always told them that if i knew their name by the end of the day that usually wasn't a good sign
I am sure ther is more but I am having trouble thinking and eating Feel free to pm me if you want!
Good Luck!!!

 

[Talking Hands]

I sub mostly sub high school but do also sub elementary on occasion. I really like it although and am working to get my state qualification for interpreting so I can go full time. It can be challenging at times. I do ESE quite often and love it. My favorite classes are Deaf Ed.
In 15 years I have only had one scary incident and that was Wednesday. I had a boy pull a pistol (fake TG) on me as a joke. Scared the **** out of me before I realized it was fake. I survived and he and his cohort who brought the pistol have been punished. THis was a severely emotionally handicapped class.

 

[eeyore kelly]

Ihave subbed off and on for 12 years. Sometimes for pay, sometimes as a volunteer. My advice to you is to go in strict. You can always lighten up later-if the class is a good class. I am the sub everyone hated in school, but I never have a behavior problem.

 

[disykat]

I subbed for four years, but am taking a break right now. I'm missing working, so I may start up again soon. I only sub at my kid's school and according to my schedule - the perfect gig because I don't have to worry about childcare. I got a bit burnt out, so I'm waiting until I can overlook some of the downsides before I start up again. It's not as fun as teaching your own class because of the behavior issues, but I did have mostly good days.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Well, I substituted last year before getting hired this year. It's a mix of boring, frustrating. It's easier to sub for younger grades like Kindergarten because you don't have the attitude and the disrespect, but it's boring at the same time because your really just a glorified babysitter. Sometimes, the other teachers don't acknowledge you much because your just a sub. If your not on a teacher/job track and are just doing it for some pay, there are other jobs. But, right now, the prep for my own class is killing me, so going back to subbing looks pretty good right now.

I just wanted to clarify, are you saying that Kindergarten teachers are just glorified babysitters??

 

[ilovedale3]

After I graduated frm college last December, I worked as a long-term sub at a few different schools in our county, filling in for teachers who were out for surgeries, maternity leave, etc. I HATED IT!!! I got absolutely NO help from the teachers that I was taking the place of (no lesson plans, NOTHING!) and NO help from the administration.

I filled in for one teacher who took a leave of absence b/c of family problems. Two weeks into my subbing the prinicpal informed me that I would have to do the report cards and parent conferences. Ummm, what? I had known these kids two weeks, the teacher had taken NO GRADES since the beginning of the semester, and I was supposed to do report cards and conferences? It was terrible!

Also in my county the pay for a long-term sub is really poor, even if you have a college degree. So you are doing all the work of a regular teacher and working the same hours for less than half the pay and no benefits for no pay... NO THANKS!

Day sub positions are MUCH easier and MUCH less stressful in the long run.

 

[Kitty 34]

This is my 23rd year subbing. I have a teaching degree but decided to sub so it would free me up more when raising my family. Now as my boys get older I am doing more long term jobs. Right now I'm teaching in 7th grade Language Arts. I do all the lessons plans and grading papers.

I love subbing. My comfort level is with Middle School especially 6, 7th and 8th grades. I enjoy teaching that age group. High school I feel like I'm just babysitting and little kids.....well they're just a bit too young for me. Give me the preteens and early teens any day with their energy and attitude.

 

[Kermit]

I just wanted to clarify, are you saying that Kindergarten teachers are just glorified babysitters??

I can't speak for Disteach1, but in my experience, when you substitute with children that young, you're doing more babysitting than teaching. It takes a lot more work for someone who isn't with those children every day to maintain peace and order, and if you don't do everything just like the teacher does it, the children look at you like you're from another planet and they can't possibly be expected to understand what you mean. Other posters recommended having a plan for when you don't have lesson plans from the teachers, but that just doesn't work with the younger students as well because anything that deviates from what they normally do confuses them.

 

[golfgal]

I can't speak for Disteach1, but in my experience, when you substitute with children that young, you're doing more babysitting than teaching. It takes a lot more work for someone who isn't with those children every day to maintain peace and order, and if you don't do everything just like the teacher does it, the children look at you like you're from another planet and they can't possibly be expected to understand what you mean. Other posters recommended having a plan for when you don't have lesson plans from the teachers, but that just doesn't work with the younger students as well because anything that deviates from what they normally do confuses them.

I would disagree with this. When you sub in the younger grades you do a lot more teaching then you do if you sub for high school. In the upper grades you are a glorified babysitter. Chances are the teacher will leave a movie to watch or have the kids taking a test while you are there, it does get a little boring. In the elementary grades the teacher will most likely leave the lessons for you and you will have to teach the kids those lessons. I found the 'best' grade to sub in were 5th and 6th grades. They were old enough that they didn't need constant direction but young enough that the attitude wasn't quite there for subs yet.

 

[CRB#33]

I am an elementary/special education teacher. I've never subbed above 6th grade. Most of my experience in the last few years has been with Sp. Ed with the majority being with Autistic children.

As far as the typical classrom:

The best advice I got before I started subbing was, "Be firm, but fair."

They will take advantage if you aren't firm, and will rebel if you are not fair.

Stick to the class rules. In elementary, they are always posted on the wall somewhere. Use them to back you up.

Stick to the lesson plans. Let the students know that you have the teachers plans and will be in contact with the teacher. Pray you get good ones. Most teachers I have worked for leave more than enough stuff, so you won't have to struggle through the day.

If it looks like you will have extra time, use it as a motivater to get their work done. They can play a game, color, etc... when they're done.

Arrive as early as possible to be prepared as possible. Downtime is trouble with a sub.

Make friends with the kids during recess or free time...they will be the first ones to listen when you go to speak.

Leave good notes for the teacher. If you want to get asked back, they like to see that you followed the lesson plans as closely as possible and the work got done. A good description of your day goes a long way to comforting the teacher that you are capable.

Good luck!

 

[Martha7]

I'm considering trying subbing in our area too, but a friend of mine told me that after tax, you only make $45 for the day! Does that sound right?

 

[Cindy B]

I'm considering trying subbing in our area too, but a friend of mine told me that after tax, you only make $45 for the day! Does that sound right?

I don't really know what your rate is. I know my rate is higher than that even after taxes.

I would ask the district what the going rate is, and do a usual tax calculation from that.

As for elementary vs. higher grades, I work harder for an elementary sub than a high school sub. I don't see myself with busy work either for high school. I taught a business class yesterday and it was fine. Most of my classes have been do these problems,do this work (I sub mostly math classes) and lets finish a packet of problems.

Elementary was TOUGH! It was very tricky, and the kids were well, not as attentive. I had first graders which were hard because somer of them weren't reading yet, and some didn't write well either, so that caused frustration with the lesson plans.

 

[gina2000]

I also sub. I enjoy the middle school years the most though I have subbed in both grammar school and high school. With the older ones, I find that you must be firm and in charge when you walk into a classroom. Also, if you have to teach a lesson, you should be interesting and interested in what you are teaching. It helps greatly to be enthusiastic and involved in the process. It also helps if you get the same kids in a school over and over. They get to know you and they don't have to test you every time you walk into the door. What they see is what they get. If you can't control the classroom, you're lost. They don't fear you at these ages....they must respect you in order for them to work with you.

I find the lower grades (K-2) to be a greater mental challenge and more difficult. You do alot more for them because they aren't yet self sufficient. I also think teaching is an art in those grades because you have to be able to think as they do and teach them in a way that they can understand. If you are no longer used to young ones in your life, they are a challenge. There's alot of tattling and minor interruptions in a younger classroom. It's a totally different, totally dedicated mindset to teach the little ones. I can't do it on a regular basis but I do applaud anyone who can.