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I have now been a substitute teacher for ten years, and I thought I would take a moment to give prospective substitute teachers and current ones some tidbits of wisdom I have learned over my years subbing in classrooms from kindergarten through high school.  I have spent plenty of time talking about these issues with other educators and paraprofessionals, and I truly have discovered some things that make my time in someone else’s classroom much more pleasant.

1.  Decide what your strengths/weaknesses are as a teacher/substitute.  Do you prefer elementary, middle school, high school, or a mixture of any of these?  What subjects do you feel comfortable teaching (even if you are not certified to teach them!)?  What subjects/grade levels will you not teach?  You may wish to list these somewhere to sort your thoughts, or perhaps you can just make a mental note.  I believe that this is the single most important step when becoming a substitute teacher.

2.  Examine the surrounding districts in your area.  How far are you willing to drive?  What are the requirements for becoming a substitute in these districts?  Read all manuals, and fill out all required paperwork.  Every district is different, but depending on state requirements, most will require some sort of certification.  It is to your benefit to apply to every district in which you may be interested.  I used to be willing to drive to ten different districts, and I found myself driving around all over the place. In recent times, I have chosen to cut back to my home district and only occasionally work in one or two other districts. No matter what you ultimately choose, I think it is wise to consider at least two or three districts. The more districts, the more steady your work.

3.  Invest in a good smartphone or portable computer.  I would venture to say that the majority of districts in the country deal with substitute jobs online.  It is not like the old days when they would always call the subs to come in.  Having a wireless device you can carry with you and check for jobs frequently will make it more likely for you to get the job you want.

4.  Make good quality business cards or the like.  Be sure to list your experience, areas in which you are certified and/or willing to work, phone number (home/cell/etc.), and e-mail address.  {To be honest, I no longer do this, but in the beginning, this was a vital tool for me.}

5.  Invest in a good GPS.  This is crucial if you are going to be driving to more than one district.  You may find yourself going to a school one day in a district that you know well, but you may accept a job at a school where you have not been before in that district. If you have a good GPS on your phone, you may not need a separate one.

6.  Leave a note for the teacher every time you possibly can.  Make sure that you make the note as detailed as you need to.  I am one of those subs who generally leaves two-three pages for the teacher.  I tend to tell them everything I feel is pertinent.  Leave good notes and bad notes. Be as honest as possible.

7.  Be flexible.  This is an important one.  You may find one day that you accept a job for a high school position, and at the last minute, they send you to an elementary school. Maybe you go in for a half-day, and they need you for the full day.  The more flexible you are, the easier subbing will be for you.

8.  Use paper clips and sticky notes.  Teachers always have a big supply of these, and they are very important.  Paper clip homework/classwork together that students turn into you, and place an identifying sticky note on the top of them.  I think the teacher will appreciate that you took the extra time to do this.

9.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  When I sub, I ask a lot of questions.  I am always the one going into the office and asking how to get to the room or the cafeteria, or whatever.  Don’t be afraid to ask the kids what their teacher normally does in a situation if you are unsure.  Honestly, most students will be helpful.  If you get lost in the school, don’t be afraid to ask for directions.   You will occasionally find unfriendly people, but the majority of people will go out of their way to help you.

10.  Don’t be a control freak!  This is probably the most important one.  I have heard from so many students (and staff members) that this is a  real problem.  For some reason, subs often go into a classroom and decide to keep tight reins on the students and the way in which the classroom is run.  They try to force the students to do the work left by the teacher, and they really create a great deal of work for themselves.  Do you really think that you, as a sub, are going to be able to gain the same level of respect as the normal teacher has in the classroom when you are only there for one day?  Do you really think you are going to be able to keep them on task and keep the class from becoming a social hour?  I think subs do a lot better when they go in with the mindset that enforcing every rule is not going to happen.  My philosophy is that as long as they are not harming each other verbally or physically and they are not disrespecting me, it has been a good day.  All I can do is encourage them to do the work.  If they choose not do it, that is not your responsibility.  They will have to face the consequences. Be sure to leave any pertinent details in your note to the teacher.

I have found that these ten things (and of course, I could have gone on) really make subbing an enjoyable career for me.  I often become a very popular sub amongst the students and the teachers.  And generally, I can work every day that I want to. While it is vital to maintain control within the classroom and be the adult presence in the room, I believe these things will make your life much easier as a substitute teacher.

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