5 tips to be the best high school substitute teacher you can be

Alright, substitutes...let's do this.

We have an interesting job. By interesting, I mean it's a bit of an awkward job. We roll up to some random facility not knowing a thing about school policy, any classroom routines, names of anyone, where to park, where to go when we finally get our schedule for the day, and finally, how to not be the weird stranger in front of the class.

I gotcha covered, folks. Here are my five can't miss tips for being the best sub in the system. Implement these tips to their fullest potential, and you'll have schools fighting to have you as a full-time teacher...if that's something you're into.

1. Be Prepared

Preparation breeds success. I'm sure someone famous once said that, because It has stuck with me for a while. This is key. I'm not just talking about making sure you made your lunch and have planned where you are going to eat it, I mean PREPARED. Prepare as if you're walking into your classroom and someone stole all the things you were going to teach today...as if there was nothing left. Nothing in the classroom at all, except desks, students, and a board to write on.

This starts the moment you wake up. If I know classes start at 8:30 am, I'm aiming to be at the school by at least 7:45 am. Be early! It shows a tonne on ambition! This also gives you time to properly review the day plan the teacher has left you, and to study up on any concepts/topics that are being presented during your stay. Forty-five minutes should be more than enough time to become familiar and confident with the material...or at least get you through until lunch. Being early is also a nice safety net if the day plan is minimal or non-existent.

Invest in a portable hard-drive to store the lessons and materials you've accrued over your years of teaching. Bring this shiny new hard-drive with you every single day you sub, juuuuust in case the teacher has left you high and dry in their class. You'd be surprised how many times I've walked into a class with literally zero direction for the day. You must to own it and step up to the challenge. Look back in the day plan, ask a student, anything to figure out what the class was doing, so you can find what you have and pick right back up where they should be...or at least something similar to fill an hour. If you've got that hard-drive with you, you've got a nice little ace-in-the-hole for when that "nightmare" situation arises...because it WILL happen. The WD one I've got is fantastic, What I've posted is pretty well identical to mine.

The other major thing I do to stay prepared, geared directly to the students (as if the others weren't already), I bring with me an arsenal of basic school supplies. Pens, Pencils, erasers loose-leaf, and (something for me) white-board markers. Students are terrible at being prepared for a day of learning/work...terrible. Lack of writing utensils will NEVER be an issue anytime I work. They cost a couple bucks and will save you a lot of headaches trying to find a student to lend a pencil to their classmate...the ultimate awkward experience for all.

As for the white-board markers, those things, without fail, are always the most impossible thing to find when you need them for a lesson. Invest in a five pack of dry-erase markers to keep with you...multi-coloured...they make learning fun (in my opinion).

The last thing I bring is my gym clothes. If I happen to be teaching a Phys. Ed. class, you better believe I'm getting involved. Nothing is more entertaining than hurling dodge-balls at high school students. Or, if you're a kind-hearted person, bring gym clothes in case the school has a fitness centre and you've got an unused prep period...FREE FITNESS!

2. Establish Expectations

Here is where you lay down the law and establish the ground work for an amazing day. Before you even THINK about going through the day plan with the students, have a little chat with them... a serious chat.

I'll open each class with a brief description of who I am (because I hate being some random face in the corner), and what I expect. I'll take my time with this, because, chances are, the day isn't very time sensitive. I don't move on until I feel satisfied that I've been heard. From there, I'll move onto the plan for the day.

This is the first test to see if they have truly comprehended what you expect from them. How do they react in the transition period between the time you finish saying, "okay, but before we do anything, we need to do some attendance", and the moment you get to the class list to start calling names.

Are they sitting waiting patiently and quietly while you call out their names?

Are they chatting and rustling and you're having issues hearing who is actually present?

If you find yourself answering "yes" to the latter, you need to stop what you're doing and take it from the top.

This may seem like a monotonous task, but believe me, it's worth it. This shows that you're not just another "push-over" sub, and that you actually mean business. This catches a lot of students off guard...and it's kinda funny to see. Do this as many times as necessary to make it through that attendance without a hitch. It will make the rest of you class a cake-walk.

Past that point, just make sure you keep reminding them...kids forget pretty quick. If they are acting up, give them a quick recap of what you expect from them. At very least, they will find it super duper annoying, and just the thought of hearing your boring expectations again should be enough to keep them in line.

3. Talk to People...Important People

I think we all know who I mean when I say, "Important People". The head honcho, the boss, the don...The Principal. I know, it's a little intimidating, but it's a crucial step if you ever want to get yourself off that sub-list, and onto the full-time roster.

The Principal, whether you think so or not, is getting final approval of who gets a job in their school. So, go make an impression! Not many substitutes have the...nerve... to make small talk with a person in a position of such power, but c'mon man...it's just another human. Likely a big softy, anyway. Since you've shown such bravery, that your inferior counterparts have failed to do, you've done something to stand out to that human. You're now on the radar.

I mean...I guess you could chat with some other people too. Make yourself known around the school. If you've got a prep, go wandering. See if you can sneak in somewhere and observe or interact. Lots of times teachers will genuinely appreciate having another body in their class for the mere presence!

Talk with teachers, especially the ones in your subject areas. Seems strange, right? Wait...it's not...it's extremely smart on your end. These are the people that have the power to give you a work day! If these teachers know your name, see your personality, and know that you're not just some dud sub who's going to sit at their desk and read a newspaper...they are going to ask for you when they can't be there. Fact.

So, go be a Chatty Cathy! Throw on that charm, use those good looks, but more importantly, show them who you are and what you can bring to the table...because you mean business... or education. Both are good.

4. Have Fun

This one is going to be very...personality dependant. Some people just seem like they genuinely hate fun, joy, laughter, etc...you know...the good things in life. So, if you are one of those people, skip to 5.

If you made it here, excellent, you are a perfect human and I adore you.

Make your day fun! Bring your vibrant personality into that class, and let it shine!

My favourite thing to do is to try to pull a "Key and Peele: Substitute Teacher", and purposely mispronounce names (A-a-ron, anybody?). That usually breaks the ice pretty well. From there, use your imagination! The nice part about being a sub is that no matter what you do (within reason), it's not going to affect the kids, because you'll probably never see them again!

I love little pranks. Kneeling down, looking like you're going to offer some help on an assignment, but secretly reaching to pull a shoelace loose. Of course, I actually do check to make sure they are doing okay with their work....I'm not the Devil.

Or when someone nicely asks you if they can use the washroom, stonewalling that student with your most serious face and tell them, "No." This one catches them off guard. They are so used to hearing, '"yes", they will instinctively start walking to the door...then a pause. You can see them processing. "Is this guy serious? I don't really know him, I guess he really could be a jerk." Give them a second to soak it in, then finally release them from the uncomfortable situation you placed them in and tell them something like, "Just kidding...go", or "You actually believed me?"

I don't know, folks. I think it's funny. Some kids laugh... sometimes.

Okay, maybe I'm having a little bit too much fun. No. Scrap that, there is no such thing as "too much fun." What was I thinking?

Long story, short...Go out and make your day enjoyable. It makes life...well...more enjoyable. (Wow, Ben...ever heard of a thesaurus?)

5. Have Confidence

Honestly, this one is the most important and most valuable of the five tips...in my opinion. Confidence in king.

This is even maybe more of a life-coachy type tip, as it can be applied to any situation, but students can smell weakness. They can sense fear. You may think, "Damn, this dude is a drama queen...kids aren't that bad!"

I respectfully, disagree. They can be this bad.

If you saunter into a class, head down, no eye-contact, just straight to your teacher desk with no real presence...you're gonna have a bad time. The students are assessing you as you walk in, and who they see is someone they can take advantage of.

If you walk into class with a strong stride, head held high, not afraid to look at your students, stopping at the front of the class to take a moment to soak things in...you've already established that you ARE a presence. You've taken a stand before you've even said a word to them, and from here on out, you better believe you're going to be heard.

Be strong and decisive with every action you take. Every. Single. One. Even mistakes or what could be perceived as an embarrassing moment (like if you happen to drop your keys or something). Own it. You meant to do that. Grab them as if nothing happened. They are looking for a reaction from you so they can pounce.

Give them and inch, they will take a mile.

Walk the isles, ask the kids how they are doing, offer help, or if you see something incorrect, jump right in and give the assistance. They will notice things like this, and they will respect you for it. They see someone who is comfortable and confident in their position, and therefore, someone who is competent enough to offer legitimate insights regarding their learning.

If you just aren't that type of person, you need to fake it till you make it. Don't roll your eyes. I know lots of you just did. Undo it. Please. I used to be that person (completely...and in certain situations, I still am that person. I made a legit attempt and faking confidence, and in most aspects of my life, that confidence is now here to stay. Please, have faith in the system. It does work, you just need to stick with it

Don't be afraid to pump your own tires. Get the masses on your side.

Time to put it to work

These are the strategies I found to be the most beneficial for becoming an all-star substitute teacher. Some may work for you, some may not. Hopefully, I've given you some ideas to at least contemplate and/or implement in your day-to-day life as a substitute teacher. Rock on. #subsforlife (not really though...that would be bad)

You got dis. I believe in you. You're all Rock-stars and Legends and I love you.

#education #teaching #teacher