5 mistakes I made as a substitute teacher

I hope you learned from my mistakes that I have made as a substitute teacher. It is okay to be human and make mistakes! It is equally as important to learn from our mistakes and use them to grow. Stay tuned for more teaching tips.
You can contact me at [e-mail]
You can buy me a coffee if you want to support me: buymeacoffee.com/teachingonline
Follow me on IG: creativelyteaching_

[@Awesome_Force]

What I do is: 1. Ask the office if there are any assemblies or planned fire drills that day. 2. When class begins I explain my expectations, including my noise level rules. I use colored magnets (Red, Yellow, Green) and explain what each means. 3. I do attendance. 4. Explain rewards/consequences. I tell them that they will get to play games at the end of the day if they have good behavior and do their work. UNO, Sorry, or Prodigy on their chrome books. I start out with 30 minutes of game time for the end of the day and based on how the class is doing I add or take away minutes on the white board so everybody can see and they pay attention. 5. Establish an attention getter. I usually go with, "When I say CLASS you say YES." Then I will say it one or two times for the class to respond to. It makes it easier instead of trying to talk over the class when I need to speak.

[@juztnlast953]

With the red, green, red magnets will that work for all grades? or will high schoolers respond to it like "that's for kids" ??

[@Awesome_Force]

@@juztnlast953 IDK. I have successfully used it for 2nd through 8th grade. I've never done a high school class though.

[@arbitrarylib]

Thank you, very helpful 👍🏿

[@karencortazar]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@elliott2513]

All good points. As a sub, I think the best one is not take any behaviors personally.

[@denise2979]

Worst thing you can do as a substitute is to engage in personal talk with a student

[@annaburns2865]

What would you suggest when a student tries it, especially when they keep badgering you. Also, what are the limits? What’s personal or not personal?

[@OhCeCelia]

I had a 2nd grader ask about my foot tattoo. I said without missing a beat - it's a flower. Okay, as I was saying... I don't allow time for follow-up questions, and if they keep asking, I nicely say, "we're here to learn - not to talk about me." BUT here is a fun fact about me - I used to play basketball in high school! Then move along. Never say anything personal - which is common sense in many of the cases. Especially when certain subjects like politics and religion arise. This is my first year subbing. So far, I absolutely love it!

[@edwardrossman9448]

focus on articulating expectations at start of day is a good one- I hadnt been doing that.

[@HoloHoloAdventures]

It was great to hear! I appreciate hearing your take on the mistakes

[@sav3dgirl194]

I LOVE your channel!❤ appreciate it so much

[@Innerstrength111]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@jaycilangehennig2059]

I'm thankful you posted this. You gave me really useful tips and ideas. I have a 3 year background teaching elementary music but it was way different than a classroom teacher. Being a sub is difficult but I think in the end it'll be worth it all. Again, thank you!!! ❤️

[@lyngriffith7901]

You were spot on with your suggestions!

[@corettejones]

EXTREMELY HELPFUL!!!!🌹

[@Alwaysddubs]

I found when subbing for younger grades that starting the day off by telling them, “we may do things differently today and it’s okay! No one is going to get in trouble with the teacher if I don’t do things the same way.” Because I think that’s a big fear. Here there is a huge lack of subs and the teacher is usually so grateful to find one that you could probably do nothing all day and still be fine. Lol But we do our best.

[@coolcountry71]

Thank you for your help. I am doing my first sub job tomorrow and this helped me remember what I need to do in a classroom as it’s been a few months since being in a class since my teaching practicums.

[@melissacoburn4440]

that is good tips thank you

[@pontiacmon]

Thank you!

[@donnad9100]

Thanks.

[@emmihernandez6323]

Very good 🎉

[@surpreetkaur5194]

Hi pls help me I am moving to alberta , pls guide me how to enter into for supply teacher

[@syedasameezahra6498]

Hi ! Very informative vdo. Can you please let me know that what are the requirements to be a teacher in Fairfax being a permanent resident and having a phd from ones own country (other than usa).

[@CreativelyTeaching_]

Honestly, each state has their own requirements so you will have to check with your state

[@syedasameezahra6498]

@@CreativelyTeaching_ Thank you

[@cristinao.4817]

Thank you! A couple questions :) When you work half days, do you get a half days pay? Also, what are your expectations that you announce prior to class starting?

[@CreativelyTeaching_]

Thank you Cristina! Yes I get half pay, so $45 before taxes. This includes any shift under 4 hours 30 minutes. If the job is for 4 hours and 30 minutes or more (i.e. 12-4:30, or 8-4) I get a full day of pay ($90 before taxes). I announce like this for K-8 grade: "Hi everyone, my name is Miss P. (the letter P like pizza) and I am your sub for today. My two main rules are NO touching each other and NO running. I'm taking notes for your teacher so she knows who the good and bad students are. Here is the plan for today." And then I read the teacher's lesson plan so we are on the same page. For high schoolers, I just introduce myself as Miss P or Miss Petokas and read the lesson plan and just leave them alone or help as needed.

[@CreativelyTeaching_]

one more thing, for elementary school, I write the word "NOISE" on the board and I usually have stickers with me. so I say, "I will erase a letter for each time I have to ask you to be quiet while I am talking. When we get to the word "NO" it means “no reward” so no stickers, (I used to say “no recess” but realized this isn’t what I believe in and I’d never take that away and shouldn’t threaten to do that. ) If you are doing a good job, I will come around and give you a sticker *shows fun stickers*"

[@cmm2145]

⁠​⁠@@CreativelyTeaching_I was a substitute teacher for 2 years in elementary (Pre-K - 5) and a full time teacher for 6 years (K - 2). I had to retire for health reasons. I used a technique like your NOISE. I did take away recess though. But I’ve changed my mind on that. I’ll never be able to teach again for health reasons but if somehow I was able to, I’d find some other consequence. They need recess so they can burn off energy, develop social skills, have time for child-led play, etc. That erasing letters is a good strategy. A word of well meant advice. We don’t make negative rules. So we don’t use “don’t” or “no” in the rules. I would rephrase your rules as “Please keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.” and “Please walk.”

[@omikatiwari6287]

Do substitute teacher have to go to different schools as per requirement like one day at school A and other day at school B

[@Me-cat720]

I took different schools every day, because same teacher is not gonna absent all days. The good thing with relocation, you will always learning about new schools and managements. I don't suggest if you don't want to be a teacher, but if teaching is in your blood and you wanna be a teacher I suggest you do that.

[@afafm.143]

I like your vedio I didn't sub teacher yet but I subbing for TA... and because I don't speak English very well and I am quite, they don't respect me and mistreating me... Any advice for that??

[@afafm.143]

I meant by ""they"" the teachers and the assistants

[@vanessab3391]

I am a substitute teacher. However, I have been given the opportunity to substitute T.A. with certified pay and I know exactly what you mean. Now even when they offer for me to substitute T.A. with my regular pay, I am just like no thanks, because I dont get the same respect.

[@OhCeCelia]

I'm sorry this happened to you. I think it's just people being mean. I hope you find something you love to do and get paid for what you're worth!

[@arbitrarylib]

Me too, i don't like yelling .

[@gusmarquez1715]

We talkin bout practice?...

[@marcmeinzer8859]

The biggest mistake was to even be a substitute teacher.

[@annaburns2865]

Why?

[@marcmeinzer8859]

@@annaburns2865 Because all it is is baby-sitting. Then also it gets you absolutely nowhere. If someone has been reduced to substitute teaching then plainly you’ve got no prospects and might as well just go join the navy or whatever. Or possibly apply to Job Corps as a GED tutor. But even if you get a regular contract teaching school is pretty much the shittiest job in the world. School kids today are assholes.

[@priscillam8664]

It’s not for all.

[@marcmeinzer8859]

@@priscillam8664 The school district I live in now only requires a GED to be a substitute teacher. It’s not for anyone anymore.

[@priscillam8664]

@@marcmeinzer8859 By that response, it’s actually for anyone with a GED then. I stand corrected.