[Elena99]

Are you one, or have been one? How was the experience? And most importantly, how was the first day?

I'm going into this probably starting next week, depending on when some papers get back to me and how long it takes the school board to process my application. I'm only doing elementary schools at first, english and french.

 

[Amy SF]

This is the only substitute teacher I know.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...lr%3D%26sa%3DG

(sorry, hope you're not offended, just wanted to keep the mood light).

 

[Elena99]

Not offended.

 

[Elena99]

I figured it would be hard. I'm already trying to think up things to do for when there isn't a teacher's plan, or when it's incomplete, when I get a class of kids who are very restless, etc.

I sent all the paperwork in on Friday, anyway, though I noted that I'll be away from the 30th to Dec 5th, so I probably won't start until after that. Unless they're really fast at processing.

 

[IamJen]

I did it for a year, and it wasn't too bad. I didn't like having different kids all the time. It was easy to schedule a day off.

 

[synergy]

The people that I know that have subbed honestly didn't like it very much (sorry). I think it was the randomness that got to them, because they are very structured people.

'sfunny, but their biggest pet peeve was the automated phone system that would call them starting at 7:30 am to offer them jobs. They said the best part was being able to take a day off whenever they wanted to- although that was harder on the pocket book.

Good luck!

 

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

I loved it. I had a HUGE "bag of tricks" that usually worked and when it did't we came up with other options...

I loved having the option to go in and sub on a particualr day or not. I loved having different classes every day, it kept me from burning out and helped me better understand what grades/ages I worked with the best.

It's been a while, and I'm more set in my ways now - I'm not sure if I could go back to subbing now, but it was a lot of fun and provided insight into a LOT of different teaching methods and styles.

 

[Elena99]

Automated phone calls? I wonder if they do that here, too - PEI is a tiny province, and I'm only working with one school board in one little city.

I can handle the lack of structure, I think. At least it will mostly be at the same times; my last job at the call center had me sometimes working 9-5, sometimes 10-6, sometimes 1-9, etc. I hate having to adjust my times all over like that. School has to be between certain hours, and I'm an early riser.

Tofu, can you give me an example of some of your tricks?

And thanks for all the responses.

 

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

I originally did regular-ed as a sub. For grades K - 6.

We had the automated calling thing too and we aren't a HUGE district. It was nice because I didn't have to turn down a position to a real person (harder to do somehow) I just pushed a button to say yes or no. I DIDN'T like it because it called you at whatever time the teacher called in with the absence request (like if they were up at 3:AM and decided to call in sick, the automated system called ME at 3:AM).

As for a tricks? I had a huge tote bag of stuff I collected like a pack rat but the kids looked forward to it and loved it...(literally a "bag of tricks"!).

I always brought art supplies/activities. (So many schools have cut their art programs, it's usually a treat for the kids). It can be something that requires few supplies (like origami - paper folding) or water color painting with the cheapie sets from the dollar store. There are TONS of activities you can download from the Internet too.

I did a lot of reading aloud to kids - I don't think kids get enough of that - teachers are too busy any more - some days we read an entire (short) book (like Magic Tree House, etc). Sometimes I'd bring ingredients to make cookies if I knew what facilities were available. Or clay or play-dough (even 5th and 6th graders loved this!).

It's been a while (or I'm getting old! HA!) - each year kids seem to become harder to "entertain" - teachers can't compete with Playstation or Ipods. There's a lot of just "winging it" as a sub, but I loved the challenge.

 

[shrt4strmtrpr]

As a former sub and having been a teacher for 5 years it can be the best worst job/ Sometimes it rules sometimes it sucks. Make sure you have an idea of what you want the kids to do, lack of a schedule can create misbehavior. Review what you're going to teach them, you may think you know it but a refresher is always good. Last flexable is the key if the teacher leaves crappy lesson plans that's their bad not yours. I have had lesson plans that say " Science The reasons for the seasons, discuss". Now try talking about that for 40 minutes with no activity planned and 20 7 year olds trying to pay attention.

 

[Mskedi]

Definitely have a backup plan for when there's no lesson.

We have emergency lesson plans at our school, but when emergencies happen, the subs are never given the emergency file. It's highly frustrating.

In any case, I don't have any advice for elementary, but be aware that regardless of the age, you need to be in charge from the first moment and walking around the room while you teach will keep students from throwing carrots around the classroom.

Good luck.