Summer is here and I’m enjoying my free time. But I feel as if I should be doing something! Do you have any ideas for me? I want to be sure that I can be prepared and successful for my very first call to sub in the 2010-2011 school year.
Doug Cooper City, CA
Dear Doug,
Summer is a great time to relax and refresh. By being proactive, you can accomplish a great deal of preparation that will help you get off to a great start this fall.
Please remember that subbing assignments start up slowly. Don’t expect to be working a lot during August and September. Most teachers want to be there for those critical first few weeks of school.
Here are some practical things you should do right now: 1. Look for items to fill your Bag of Tricks. Search dollar stores and discount outlets for cheap rewards, stickers, and school supplies, such as pencils, pens, erasers, paper, and art supplies. 2. Ask friends and relatives for hand me down children’s books. Be fussy. Find books that are “tried and true”. Make up some expansion lessons to use with these books, in case you need to fill time. 3. Buy an anthology, like Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. Read the short stories and find one that is interesting and appropriate for both boys and girls at the middle and high school level. Make up comprehension and discussion questions. 4. Collect word finds, brainteasers, and Sudoku puzzles. Make copies for early finishers. These will be great additions to your Bag of Tricks. 5. Search to web for free printables and lesson ideas. Teachers.Net is a great place to start!
Is it asking too much to be considered in a nice manner (let alone hired) as a substitute when I lack a certificate but have instead experience subbing in other states and other Catholic schools within my state of Washington?I even have completed all the ed courses except student teaching.I guess I thought I could do an "end-around" certification by getting sub experience in other cities.I was successful directing classrooms by myself. I am just not accepting the odds of being from a city with only one Catholic high school and having them enforce their "standards" to the letter, when the more cosmopolitan Seattle area will consider anyone with a bachelors and outstanding moral character.Anyone have any stories to share with me?No one seems to be enlightened here as to other ways to assess one's qualifications for substitute teaching (actually having done it for starters and having loads of life experience and commitment to the religion of the school). I believe my experience is the equivalent of student teaching in intensity, classroom management, and rapport with kids.What more do they need?Oh, that darn piece of paper that costs thousands of dollars, makes you attend courses that are repetitive and universally acclaimed as content poor...that's all. ~Anonymous
My name is Brian Asselin, I am a musician and recent graduate from the education program at the University of Ottawa. When I think about my education growing up, I am reminded how fortunate I was to have teachers that continually inspired me to be anything I desired. Teachers have such am profound impact on not only a child's learning but their development as an individual. During my studies I was so inspired by my teachers I co-wrote a song entitled "You Have Made A Difference". Here is the link if you are interested.
I’m a new sub and have been working mostly at the elementary and middle school level. I really enjoy grades 4- 6 the most. I would like to work every day, and I know that if I sign up to work at the high school, I’ll have more subbing days. Other subs have told me that it’s not that hard.
I am worried about subbing in an advanced class. What if I really don’t know the material? If students ask me a question about Geometry or Chemistry, I’m afraid I’ll make a fool of myself if I don’t know the answer. Yet I feel that I might be good at working in the high school. Plus… I need the money? Any advice? I really appreciate you help.
If you have a personal account on the Internet, keep the information and pictures professional. If a student or staff member finds an account of yours on the Internet, it should have a professional look to it. This means no pictures of yourself wearing inappropriate clothing, in inappropriate situations, or any other pictures that would create potentially negative conversations at the school where you are working.
