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Substitute teaching in a high school can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. To ensure a successful day in the classroom, there are several best practices that can help substitute teachers manage their time effectively, engage students, and leave a positive impression. This article outlines key strategies that can make a significant difference in the classroom environment.
Key Takeaways
Be clear about expectations to set the tone for each class period.
Treat high school students like young adults to foster mutual respect.
Follow the lesson plans provided and have back-up activities ready.
Arrive early to familiarize yourself with the lesson plan and classroom setup.
Be organized and professional to build a positive reputation and increase the likelihood of being asked back.
Be Clear About Expectations
When giving directions, the best practice is to be clear and concise. High school substitutes generally see a new group of students each hour. Rules and expectations should be clearly articulated as each class arrives. Effective substitutes are familiar with building policies, but when in doubt, they tend to err on the side of caution if there is a question about what is typically allowed.
Be explicit in your instructions.
Circulate afterward to make clarifications one-on-one.
Reference classroom rules and expectations to draw students back to their familiar routine.
Treat Them Like Young Adults
The simple rule of treating them the way you would want to be treated rarely fails. Speak kindly and gently. Say “hello” and “goodbye.” Say “please” and “thank you.” In the event that you must take disciplinary action, such as sending a kid to the office, do so with respect. You might be surprised at the number of high-school subs who don’t even introduce themselves to the students.
The Golden Rule
Maintaining control is not about being a bully. An adult who comes in like a big, bad mob boss will be very ineffective with high-school students. Teens will do just about anything for an adult who has earned their trust. On the flip side, they will do nothing but cause problems for one who treats them with little or no respect. The attitude of “I am the adult and you are the kids and you WILL do what I say” will get you nowhere.
Meet and Greet
Meet students at the door with a smile and a warm greeting.
Have the students sign in. This will make taking attendance much easier.
Introduce yourself to the students, even if you have been to the class before. There is nothing ruder than a sub who doesn’t bother with this common courtesy.
Speak kindly and gently. Abrasiveness doesn’t go over well with teens.
Say “please” and “thank you” just as you would with adults.
Respecting Boundaries
Feedback should be provided privately and delivered in a calm, neutral, and respectful manner. As soon as the feedback is delivered, quickly disengage from discussion surrounding the undesirable behavior and redirect the student back to the activity at hand. As soon as the student engages in appropriate behavior, use praise statements and reinforce the desired behavior.
Follow Lesson Plans
As a substitute teacher, it's crucial to follow the lesson plans left by the regular teacher. This ensures continuity in the students' learning process and maintains the classroom's routine. Review the teacher’s lesson plans and make notations for possible changes. If the teacher doesn’t leave a lesson plan, consider designating the class period as a study hall and having students complete their homework or projects.
Review the Regular Teacher's Plan
Before the class starts, take some time to thoroughly review the lesson plan. This will help you understand the objectives and the flow of the class. Make sure to have all materials (handouts, etc.) ready for students to pick up at the beginning of the class.
Set Objectives
Clearly outline what you aim to achieve during the class. This will help you stay focused and ensure that the students understand the goals for the day.
Choose Engaging Activities
Select activities that will keep the students engaged and interested. This is especially important if you need to make any adjustments to the original plan.
Plan Assessment
Determine how you will assess the students' understanding of the material. This could be through quizzes, class participation, or other methods.
Manage the Classroom
Effective classroom management is key to a successful day. Make sure to establish rules and procedures at the beginning of the class.
Practice, Reflect, and Evaluate
After the class, take some time to reflect on what went well and what could be improved. This will help you become a more effective substitute teacher in the future.
Have Back-Up Activities
Having back-up activities is essential for any substitute teacher. Actively engaged students are less likely to look for mischief or get caught up with distractions. Some teachers will leave extra work just in case students speed through their assignments, but it’s always advised that substitutes have a few back-up activities in their arsenal.
Identify Helpers
When you have extra time at the end of class, keep a list of activities on hand. This ensures that students remain engaged and productive. You can also identify student helpers who can assist in distributing materials or explaining tasks to their peers.
Keep Students Busy
Extra time at the end of class? Keep this list of activities on hand. Download now and be prepared for any situation. Actively engaged students are less likely to look for mischief or get caught up with distractions. Some teachers will leave extra work just in case students speed through their assignments, but it’s always advised that substitutes have a few back-up activities in their arsenal.
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Be Organized and Professional
As a substitute teacher, maintaining a high level of organization and professionalism is crucial. Being organized helps you manage the classroom more effectively and ensures that you can follow the lesson plans accurately. Here are some key practices to keep in mind:
Stay on Task
Follow the lesson plans as much as humanly possible. Leave detailed notes for the teacher about what got done or didn’t get done, which students were awesome and not so awesome, and leave your number if you really enjoyed the class.
Stay Professional
Be pleasant in the faculty room if you eat there. Never say anything negative about the school, teachers, or students. This will help you build a positive reputation and make it more likely that you'll be invited back.
Keep It Clean
Keep the room at least as tidy as you found it. Especially if you plan on going to that school regularly, you don’t want to be known as the messy sub!
Document Feedback
Always bring a set of blank notecards so that even if the teacher doesn’t have a ‘feedback sheet,’ you can fill them in on how the day went. Thank them in the note for letting you have their class (no matter how the day went!).
Leave the Room Better Than When You Found It
It is courteous if you can grade papers or leave some type of feedback on student academic performance and straighten the desk up—leave everything there just make it look neat.
Arrive Early
Arriving early is crucial for a successful day as a substitute teacher. Being early allows you to familiarize yourself with the classroom, review the lesson plans, and prepare any materials you might need. This extra time can also be used to introduce yourself to neighboring teachers and ask for any advice or directions for the day.
Familiarize Yourself with the Classroom
Take a few minutes to understand the layout of the classroom, locate important materials, and review any notes left by the regular teacher. This will help you feel more confident and prepared when the students arrive.
Review Lesson Plans
Go through the lesson plans left by the regular teacher. Make sure you understand the objectives and activities planned for the day. If anything is unclear, use this time to seek clarification from neighboring teachers or the school office.
Prepare Materials
Gather any materials you will need for the day's activities. This might include textbooks, worksheets, or any special equipment. Having everything ready in advance will help the day run smoothly.
Introduce Yourself to Neighboring Teachers
Take a moment to introduce yourself to the teachers in adjacent classrooms. They can be a valuable resource throughout the day, offering support and answering any questions you might have.
Know Building Policies
Understand Behavior Protocols
Every school you will work in has specific practices for promoting appropriate behaviors and discouraging inappropriate behaviors. If you know the school’s behavior protocol, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Schools usually have a system in place that rewards students for good behavior, such as earning privileges or extra recess time, and consequences for inappropriate behavior, such as loss of privileges or detention.
Emergency Procedures
Preparing substitute teachers for last-minute absences includes understanding the school's emergency procedures. Make sure you are aware of the fire drill routes, lockdown procedures, and any other emergency protocols. This knowledge is crucial for ensuring the safety of both you and the students.
Technology Access
Most schools have specific guidelines for technology use. Familiarize yourself with the school's policies on computer and internet access. Knowing how to access instructional materials and technology can make your day run more smoothly.
Instructional Materials
Effective substitute teacher plans ensure a smooth classroom experience. Make sure you know where to find and how to use the instructional materials provided by the school. Detailed instructions and routines are important for setting subs up for success.
Engage Students
Create Opportunities to Respond
Keeping the class engaged and learning is not only academically rewarding, but it has also been demonstrated to reduce rates of challenging behaviors. We all know that there will be a few students who love to respond to questions in class and some that sit with their hoodie over their heads and pretend to be elsewhere. Finding opportunities for all students to respond will be helpful. There are several ways to encourage this:
Use think-pair-share activities.
Incorporate quick polls or quizzes.
Encourage group discussions.
Move Around the Classroom
It is vital that you move around the classroom continuously (get your steps in!) and remain within close proximity to students, to avoid any potential disruptions. This not only helps in managing the classroom but also keeps students engaged as they know you are actively involved.
Keep Students Busy
Actively engaged students are less likely to look for mischief or get caught up with distractions. Some teachers will leave extra work just in case students speed through their assignments, but it’s always advised that substitutes have a few backup activities in their arsenal.
Build a Positive Reputation
Building a positive reputation as a substitute teacher is crucial for long-term success. Word will spread about how you treat students, and your reputation will precede you in every classroom in which you sub. Here are some tips for building rapport with students as a substitute teacher: respect boundaries, be clear and consistent, use positive reinforcement, and be adaptable. Create a positive learning environment by introducing yourself, showing interest, and being friendly.
Leverage the Power of Praise
Catch the students doing well! Recognize positive behavior and don’t merely attend to negative behaviors. Research indicates that the best and most respectful relationships are formed when praise ratios are 5:1, or five positive statements to every one corrective statement. As you are milling about the classroom engaged in active supervision, provide some praise-specific statements like, “Javier, I like that you are so focused on your worksheet,” and “Shantell, thank you for helping your classmate.”
Build Relationships
Build relationships with the students. You most likely will see them again at some point and will be happy when you remember their names and something they told you. This simple act can go a long way in establishing trust and respect.
Stay Confident
It’s all about your attitude. You can’t let them sense fear, nervousness, or uncertainty. They feed on it! Stay positive, be patient, and adapt teaching styles to manage different grade levels effectively.
Be Prepared
Review Lesson Plans
Before stepping into the classroom, make sure to review the lesson plans left by the regular teacher. This will help you understand the day's objectives and any specific instructions. If no lesson plans are available, consider designating the class period as a study hall and having students complete their homework or projects.
Arrive Early
Arriving early gives you time to get organized and look prepared when the students come into the classroom. In a best-case scenario, the teacher will have left a sub folder, complete with a schedule, roster, and a list of students who can be depended on to help you. Worst-case scenario, you walk into nothing and have to ask the teacher across the hall for help.
Have All Materials Ready
Have all materials (handouts, etc.) ready for students to pick up at the beginning of the class. This shows the students that their teacher left a plan and that you will be following it. Write your name and the assignment on the board to establish your authority and set the tone for the class.
Be Ready for Emergencies
Sometimes, life happens, and you will walk into a classroom with no notes, no plans—nada. Most schools require teachers to keep an emergency set of lesson plans for just such an occasion. However, always have a few back-up activities in your arsenal to keep the class engaged.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I can't find the lesson plans?
If you can't find the lesson plans, it's important to have a few back-up activities ready. These activities should ideally be subject-specific and appropriate for high school students. Engaging and meaningful activities can help keep students focused and productive.
How early should I arrive at the school?
It's recommended to arrive as early as possible. This gives you ample time to review the lesson plans, understand the school's policies, and prepare for the day ahead. Being early also allows you to make a positive first impression.
How can I effectively manage a high school classroom as a substitute teacher?
Effective classroom management involves being clear about expectations, treating students like adults, and following the lesson plans. Additionally, being organized, professional, and engaging with the students can significantly help in managing the classroom effectively.
What are some good back-up activities for high school students?
Good back-up activities for high school students should be engaging, meaningful, and appropriate for their developmental stage. These can include subject-specific tasks, educational games, or discussion topics that are interesting to teenagers.
How can I build a positive reputation as a substitute teacher?
Building a positive reputation involves being organized, professional, and well-prepared. Arrive early, follow the lesson plans, and ensure you engage with the students. A positive first impression can lead to more substitute teaching assignments and even permanent positions.
Why is it important to know the building policies?
Knowing the building policies helps you navigate the school environment more effectively and ensures you adhere to the school's rules and regulations. This can prevent any misunderstandings and help you manage the classroom more efficiently.