Help me be a great Primary School substitute teacher!
November 4, 2014 6:10 AM Subscribe
How do I become a great Primary School sub? I am looking for great lesson ideas that don't take a lot of prep and can be ready on short notice, lessons that work in various age groups, ideas for activities and games, and classroom management ideas... and any other great mefite advice!
I am a trained secondary english teacher who has spent some time as an assistant in a classroom of 1st graders.... I may shortly have the opportunity to do some substitute teaching in a primary school, but its been a while since I was last in the classroom. All help will be much appreciated.
I am a trained secondary english teacher who has spent some time as an assistant in a classroom of 1st graders.... I may shortly have the opportunity to do some substitute teaching in a primary school, but its been a while since I was last in the classroom. All help will be much appreciated.
I think what's key is understanding what kind of kids you are working with. My experience is in teaching in an inner city setting and the most successful substitutes are usually retired teachers from that very same school working to make extra money. The reason is that they know who to call when things get out of hand and where the appropriate authority figures are.
One trick to getting the kids on your side is to ask them what they think about the teacher. If they like her, the question won't mean much to them. However, if they dislike the teacher, they will enjoy offering up opinions of him/her and might even build some intimacy with the students. People generally like others to whom they can express their personal opinions.
Additionally, understand that for most schools, a substitute teacher is good if he can keep the class under control. Classroom management often means simply crowd control (sorry, but it's true) and helping the kids to stay on task. Much of the time, it's about establishing a certain demeanor with the kids. Remember you might be there for a couple of days or a week. This is your chance to adopt a certain role that is most effective for your students.
posted by RapcityinBlue at 8:49 AM on November 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
One trick to getting the kids on your side is to ask them what they think about the teacher. If they like her, the question won't mean much to them. However, if they dislike the teacher, they will enjoy offering up opinions of him/her and might even build some intimacy with the students. People generally like others to whom they can express their personal opinions.
Additionally, understand that for most schools, a substitute teacher is good if he can keep the class under control. Classroom management often means simply crowd control (sorry, but it's true) and helping the kids to stay on task. Much of the time, it's about establishing a certain demeanor with the kids. Remember you might be there for a couple of days or a week. This is your chance to adopt a certain role that is most effective for your students.
posted by RapcityinBlue at 8:49 AM on November 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
I remember a great substitute from grade six. She ran the class pretty much like a normal day, i.e we still had to follow the lesson plan and do the regular work, but if we were well behaved and finished out work we got to play a game at the end of class. I think it was heads up 7 up but you could use any game that your class is interested in. She use a points system by drawing 5 lines in one corner of the chalk board. If we weren't listening, were misbehaving etc we'd lose a line/point but if we worked hard we could win it back.
Substitutes who made the day all about movies and busy work didn't do so well because we got bored and got antsy and uncontrollable. Keep the day as regular as possible, but with the small incentive to look forward to.
posted by Lay Off The Books at 10:18 AM on November 4, 2014
Substitutes who made the day all about movies and busy work didn't do so well because we got bored and got antsy and uncontrollable. Keep the day as regular as possible, but with the small incentive to look forward to.
posted by Lay Off The Books at 10:18 AM on November 4, 2014
I've substituted for years. I tend to avoid elementary (I'm a high school guy), but I've done my share. All of the above is great advice.
Perhaps to get to what you're really asking: ask what math texts they're using. This can be huge and I wish I'd done it. Every time I have subbed and come to the math lessons at any level beyond 3rd grade, I've been shocked at how strange and unnecessarily complicated today's math curriculum can be. I think Seattle and the neighboring district just keep getting sold on ridiculous textbooks, but even so, schools all over the nation are trying to "fix" what's "wrong" with math curriculum, and that can lead to some jarringly different lessons from what you grew up with. However, if you can swing the math lessons easily enough, the students will have much more faith in you.
I don't have a lot of ideas for lesson plans, but I would recommend you lean more on work/exercises and less on games and fun stuff. The days where teachers have left behind a mostly fun schedule have turned out to be nightmares for me, because the kids quickly get the message that it's just play time and I'm not to be listened to. At that point, even getting them to lunch is a giant pain.
By and large, elementary school teachers leave MUCH better plans and prep materials than middle/high teachers. Stick to them as close as is practical. If the teacher says s/he is altering normal patterns to make things "easier" for you, though, consider whether or not the kids can handle doing things the normal way on their own. That teacher may think s/he is doing you a favor, but may actually be setting you up for stress you don't need.
As far as making a good impression on the teachers and staff goes: leaving a detailed note with a subject-by-subject rundown of how things went makes a big difference. Go ahead and write down if Suzy was uncooperative or if Charlie seemed really intimidated by the math lesson or whatever. It never hurts to document these things, but moreover, it shows the regular teacher that you were actually paying attention and carrying out instructions rather than just showing up to punch the clock.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:18 AM on November 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Perhaps to get to what you're really asking: ask what math texts they're using. This can be huge and I wish I'd done it. Every time I have subbed and come to the math lessons at any level beyond 3rd grade, I've been shocked at how strange and unnecessarily complicated today's math curriculum can be. I think Seattle and the neighboring district just keep getting sold on ridiculous textbooks, but even so, schools all over the nation are trying to "fix" what's "wrong" with math curriculum, and that can lead to some jarringly different lessons from what you grew up with. However, if you can swing the math lessons easily enough, the students will have much more faith in you.
I don't have a lot of ideas for lesson plans, but I would recommend you lean more on work/exercises and less on games and fun stuff. The days where teachers have left behind a mostly fun schedule have turned out to be nightmares for me, because the kids quickly get the message that it's just play time and I'm not to be listened to. At that point, even getting them to lunch is a giant pain.
By and large, elementary school teachers leave MUCH better plans and prep materials than middle/high teachers. Stick to them as close as is practical. If the teacher says s/he is altering normal patterns to make things "easier" for you, though, consider whether or not the kids can handle doing things the normal way on their own. That teacher may think s/he is doing you a favor, but may actually be setting you up for stress you don't need.
As far as making a good impression on the teachers and staff goes: leaving a detailed note with a subject-by-subject rundown of how things went makes a big difference. Go ahead and write down if Suzy was uncooperative or if Charlie seemed really intimidated by the math lesson or whatever. It never hurts to document these things, but moreover, it shows the regular teacher that you were actually paying attention and carrying out instructions rather than just showing up to punch the clock.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:18 AM on November 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
I worked in admin in a primary school for many years, was responsible for booking and briefing subs.
The best subs from my point of view were those who were most flexible in adapting to the school as a whole and specifically to the style of the teachers they were replacing and did not bring in their own activities, but were able to pick up the cues left by the teacher if specific daily notes were not available and do a normal day with the children, or as normal as possible. It is enough upheaval for primary age children to miss their regular teacher so they need the routine activities even more when she is gone.
I should add that at that school all teachers were required to leave general notes/suggested activites for subs and details on class routines with the office, so that the sub would not be required to create her own activities. Perhaps this is also the case there?
Familiarise yourself with their curriculum and annual themes cycle (eg G3 always does Romans in fall) and with the daily routines and rules, policies (eg on physical contact) if it is not offered. Make sure you know the school's policy on religious / faith issues / celebrations of holidays. Winter / the holiday season is prime time for sick leave, but bringing in traditional seasonal activities may not be wanted.
I used to give our subs a copy of the teachers handbook, and any other regulations etc. While this may be boring reading (most of those are) it will help you to fit in and also in areas of discipline: primary age children love to try whether the sub knows what is permitted and what not!
If at all possible, volunteer your time at the school(s) you want to sub - this will help you so much in understanding how the place works and how you can best fit in, and the staff and children will get to know you.
Don't talk bad or gossip about the teacher you are replacing to the children or parents (or admin staff). Keep your observations to yourself. To be honest, I would not advise asking the children their opinion of their regular teacher - you never know how they repeat this innocent question to their parents or their regular teacher.
Several above mentioned that good sub work is about classroom managment / control - I think they are right on. If the sub is unable to keep order in the room, children's safety is at stake (from an admin perspective) and your added value as a sub to the school will be low.
Last but not least, be sure if you come from secondary teaching to primary that you can handle the physical aspects: especially in K-G2 tears, snot, pee and even poop are very much part of classroom life!
posted by 15L06 at 2:07 PM on November 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
The best subs from my point of view were those who were most flexible in adapting to the school as a whole and specifically to the style of the teachers they were replacing and did not bring in their own activities, but were able to pick up the cues left by the teacher if specific daily notes were not available and do a normal day with the children, or as normal as possible. It is enough upheaval for primary age children to miss their regular teacher so they need the routine activities even more when she is gone.
I should add that at that school all teachers were required to leave general notes/suggested activites for subs and details on class routines with the office, so that the sub would not be required to create her own activities. Perhaps this is also the case there?
Familiarise yourself with their curriculum and annual themes cycle (eg G3 always does Romans in fall) and with the daily routines and rules, policies (eg on physical contact) if it is not offered. Make sure you know the school's policy on religious / faith issues / celebrations of holidays. Winter / the holiday season is prime time for sick leave, but bringing in traditional seasonal activities may not be wanted.
I used to give our subs a copy of the teachers handbook, and any other regulations etc. While this may be boring reading (most of those are) it will help you to fit in and also in areas of discipline: primary age children love to try whether the sub knows what is permitted and what not!
If at all possible, volunteer your time at the school(s) you want to sub - this will help you so much in understanding how the place works and how you can best fit in, and the staff and children will get to know you.
Don't talk bad or gossip about the teacher you are replacing to the children or parents (or admin staff). Keep your observations to yourself. To be honest, I would not advise asking the children their opinion of their regular teacher - you never know how they repeat this innocent question to their parents or their regular teacher.
Several above mentioned that good sub work is about classroom managment / control - I think they are right on. If the sub is unable to keep order in the room, children's safety is at stake (from an admin perspective) and your added value as a sub to the school will be low.
Last but not least, be sure if you come from secondary teaching to primary that you can handle the physical aspects: especially in K-G2 tears, snot, pee and even poop are very much part of classroom life!
posted by 15L06 at 2:07 PM on November 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I've subbed K-12 for many years, and using my own plans has never been an option--barely enough time to get through the plans left for me. If I've got significant time left over it's "extra recess"--which they LOVE and NEED or storytime with a book, which they also love.
If I have 5-10 minutes or so to fill, then I use thekidshouldseethis.com, which is an excellent treat in a pinch. Otherwise, brush up on your classrooms games like coseeki and whatnot.
posted by RedEmma at 7:07 AM on November 5, 2014
If I have 5-10 minutes or so to fill, then I use thekidshouldseethis.com, which is an excellent treat in a pinch. Otherwise, brush up on your classrooms games like coseeki and whatnot.
posted by RedEmma at 7:07 AM on November 5, 2014
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For classroom management, remind them from the beginning that the rules are the same as with their teacher. Call out good behavior when you see it. I also like to say things like "I'm just waiting for x more people to show me they're ready, then we'll get started." Get familiar with the school/grade level behavior management plan and follow that.
In my experience, the closer the day is to a normal day, the better it will go.
posted by that's how you get ants at 6:58 AM on November 4, 2014