What makes a good substitute teacher?

Any thoughts?

Re: What makes a good substitute teacher?

this answer can vary SOOO much depending on the teacher
(personalities vary so greatly )

and then there's the perspective of the children...

Just be yourself.
Follow the plans.
Leave great (detailed) notes for the teacher. (again im sure some teachers dont care for the details, some do).
etc etc.

Re: What makes a good substitute teacher?

-follow my plans the best to your ability
-have control and respect of my classes
-LEAVE ME A NOTE (absences, who completed what work, discipline problems, who was helpful so I can reward them). It drives me crazy when subs don't do this!

Re: What makes a good substitute teacher?

follow my plans - I don't mind so much if you don't finish everything that I left bc I always leave more work than would normally get finished in a day....I would rather the kids "get it" as opposed to rushing to get everything done.

Leave everything neat and in its proper place. THis is a BIG pet peeve of mine.

Have fun with my class but make your expectations clear.

Leave me a detailed note - I take the time to leave you a detailed note, please do the same for me.

Re: What makes a good substitute teacher?

In response to some of the teacher comments above, and I mean this in a good way.

but in defense of subs here

MANY teachers leave the most vague plans (yes, even if planned ahead).
Ive had things like "folder on the shelf" uhm, what folder on what shelf ??

*Ive had many times, the wrong time to bring a class somewhere, and had to have eyes rolled (towards me) by special area teachers because kids were too early or too late.
Once we didnt even have computers that day, and there we were in the hall. same happened with music.
AFter the first time that it happened, I have my plans with me, and happily show them their colleagues plans, and they brush it off and chuckle...

The way I see it is, mistakes happen, we're human... (unfortunately subs are sometimes viewed as 2nd class citizens if they make the slightest mistakes)...

That being said, of course your responses here are totally fine and im not saying youre asking too much or unfair.. I totally agree with you.

and Im a stickler for leaving VERY detailed plans, with good and bad kids, little notes even random notes of my own, contact info to reach me.etc.

But Ive also had teachers that were like "Ahh I dont wanna hear all the details, was it taken care of ? good, thanks! thats all I need to know!" and this is after I write a 2 paragraph note on something.

Im usually VERY big on not invading the teacher's privacy. Actually, I rarely even sit at the teacher's desk. I usually sit at the side table/reading table or whatever else is there.

I have a template/form type thing with my info on it, and I fill it in at each class. so teachers know exactly who was there (sometimes signatures are hard to read)...

YOu also have to keep in mind that we are in so many different schools, dealing with completely and I mean COMPLETELY different teachers. I go from one end of the spectrum to the other from one day to the next.
From organized classrooms to warzones where my waterbottle cant find a spot with less than an inch of dust
and then from great plans to scribbled notes with first names of other teachers on it "Lisa will help you with the math lesson, call her" and WHO is Lisa ??? no last name no room #.
There are teachers who (when I sub as a TA) and the teacher is there, there ar teachers who are friendly and sweet as can be! and there are teachers who barely acknowledge that another adult is in the room...

oh and forgot to mention, when we have ten minutes of work and 2 hours to do it! or vice versa... (but Im usually great with being creative last minute) Ive taught many random students some ITalian,(they were completely fascinated and stopped me in the halls for months with their new phrases)
I had music classes do their own AMerican Idol (VCR wasnt working and they were supposed to sit and watch movies that they saw many times alreadY)... they LOOOOVED singing and dancing for their classmates..

Im sure many of you have subbed before and know all this.. but just a few things to keep in mind...

Im so done with subbing...


I hope no offense was taken.. just wanted to give a little perspective on where we are coming from some days...

Message edited 7/12/2008 11:01:41 PM.

Re: What makes a good substitute teacher?

Thanks ladies, very insightful!

So, as a sub, what are your classroom management strategies??


PS- sorry if this sounds like a job interview

Message edited 7/13/2008 12:34:01 PM.

Re: What makes a good substitute teacher?

i don't want a long detailed note at all. please don't leave me one! just let me know if there were any problems, or any students who did a fabulous job with their behavior or work.

leave my room as clean as when you came in.

don't be their friend--come in expecting respect and you will get it. they can smell fear in an unconfident sub.

that's it for me--i know how hard subbing is as i did it.

Re: What makes a good substitute teacher?

The only thing that has really bothered me is that I left an assignment.

The sub said to the students, "You don't really need to do this, free period"

Re: What makes a good substitute teacher?

-Make sure the classroom is clean when the day is over
-Dont let the kids draw all over th boards
-Leave a detailed note of the day and any issues/problems/absences
-Follow the plans that were left

Re: What makes a good substitute teacher?

I started out a sub, but now I've been in the same building for 12 years. Some teachers leave awful plans. I try to cover all bases and make it clear what is to be finished for HW, collected, etc. As far as a sub goes,

-follow the plans
-don't decide to let the kids work with partners because you are bored or because they whine you into it. I hate this.
-Leave a note if there are any issues and leave notes on my plans about what was covered or just check it off. But don't leave nothing for me to come back to. I need to have some idea as to what was done.
-stop trying to be the kids' friend. They will smell blood and you will be open game.

I really hate being out for scoring, conferences, meetings, etc. Good subs are hard to find.

Re: What makes a good substitute teacher?

I leave VERY detailed plans b/c I'm an EC teacher and not many subs want to come into a sped ed class.
I even go so far to talk about each student in a little blurb in hopes that it might give the sub a little insight before the students come in.
I just expect the plans to be followed and assignments or crafts that are planned to be completed....so many times they aren't and it can be frustrating....there are only 4 kids in the class! and most of the time when I come back, they tell me they played all day