Tips for Substitute Teachers

Hi everyone! I hope you find this video helpful and please be sure to share some of your tips below.

Frequently Asked Questions
What grade do you teach?
12th grade
What subject do you teach?
Government and Economics
Where are you from?
NYC, I teach in Brooklyn
How long have you been teaching?
2019-2020 school year will make 8 years

[andreyaaugst]

anyone else here 4 hrs before their first sub job with no experience scared out of their mind ?

[blessedandfavored]

I’m a HS student....this is funny but she has great tips! We can smell intimidation

[dominiquejones]

I substitute teach and I always leave a very detailed note. I will say most students are very respectful but I do think you have to gain that respect. If you don’t put your foot down THEY WILL run all over you. Some students will push and push and once you correct them everyone else calms down! Great tips 💕

[poojapandey]

Tomorrow is my very first assignment. Tips seems really helpful. Thank you

[ashleyc]

Thank you for these wonderful tips! I subbed for 3. 5 years before getting a permanent position. I would also say that building relationships with the students is imperative. Walk around the classroom while students are working. See if anyone has any questions. Many times, a substitute teacher will sit down and take out a snack or something to eat while the students are working. I've even seen a substitute teacher once take out the newspaper! Students can tell whether you care about them or not. When they see that you are truly interested in helping them, that will go a long way. Students may even ask the permit teacher for you again if they truly like you.

[lindseyhorsman]

I love to greet students at the door and do a high five or first pump and say hello welcome, then after introductions I like to do a quick few minutes of good things asking students if they have a good thing they would like to share. Usually breaks the ice and the kids know that I am a personable friendly person and I genuinely care. Thanks for these great tips!

[caseycontreras]

It’s my first day subbing at a high school tomorrow, I still LOOK like I’m in high school so I am worried that they won’t take me seriously, but I’m about to put on an Oscar winning performance cause I am not letting them know that I’m nervous!

[davidginsberg]

Amanda I am a substitute teacher in Southern Maine in a high school setting and all of these tips are spot-on. I am one of the more requested substitutes in my building, yes at times I might come across as strict because like you mention you do need to have a strong presence but given enough frequent appearances in that same location some students have come to regard me just like any other teacher. This will also be my final year as a substitute before becoming a fully licensed classroom teacher, I think it will be so helpful for me as a classroom teacher who has had substitute teaching experience, thank you so much for your video!

[hoosierlawyer]

I've watched several of these "tips to substitutes" videos. This is BY FAR the best. Full of useful tips beyond the 10 major points. VERY well done.

[ShilohTN]

In rural districts, you have to be careful lest you be too strict. Being too strict is like not being strict enough. Be careful about escalating issues. Learn to pick your battles. And some schools have slightly different expectations than others. Some principals don't like subs writing too many students up or calling the secretaries/other teachers about every little issue in the class. With upper grades in high school, I would avoid being in their face too much. Take attendance, explain the assignment...relax. Trying to be overly strict can backfire. Major problems deal with but little silly comments from students are best ignored. Dont take every little comment to serious. Don't complain too much and keep a low profile...avoid gossip and drama.

[garnette]

I substitute teach in Toronto. For the students they consider it a Free Day. It always runs differently than if their home room teacher was there. I’m fact, it tends to be more fun.

[taylortimeless]

I’m going into orientation next week. I got finger printed today. I had anxiety yesterday but now I am extremely excited. This video got to the point and told you exactly what you needed to know!

[azhotmom]

"Be confident, even if you don't really know what you're doing." Lol that would be me haha thx for these great tips

[ChrisRod]

Amanda, I’m getting ready to start substitute teaching next week. This video was amazing! I had to grab a pad of paper and start taking notes shortly after the first few minutes. Thanks for your insight, I'll definitely use your suggestions as I go forward.

[cindylu]

This put me at ease (a little). Thank you!

[DorothyOzmaLover]

Being a hist/eng/music teacher I agree about stickers cuz I'd use em as incentives to get high school students--including seniors--to work on assignments, and as rewards for staying calm in their seats if they finished early or as rewards for doing clean up in the room. Specifically, I found stickers that are Emoji, comic book characters, food/desert, or hearts are very motivating to all ages of high school students.
Regarding another tip for subs or teachers since I'm now a high school and adult school instructor, I know a tip about making a deal between teachers who have the best behaved/productive class and the best sub who keeps students on task as well as the room clean where the teacher and sub agree to work for another is useful to know. Since I was such a sub who was requested a lot by teachers, I'd make a deal that I'd be the reoccurring sub for a teacher if he/she would train the class on how to properly behave for a sub and if the teacher had all assignments including backups ready for me the day before which were emailed to me the afternoon before I had to sub so I could know exactly what I had to do before arriving at the school.
Then, when other teachers see the best sub only working for a certain teacher, some will wonder how to get that best sub and eventually agree to make the same deal w/ the sub who has made it a bit easy to manage a class that might have been challenging if the teacher had not trained it to behave for a sub. Now, as a teacher I make the same deal w/ my preferred sub.

[martit]

Thank you so much for this! I’m starting substitute teaching tomorrow and this made me feel so much better :)

[terriray]

Awesome advice. I been in Education over 25 years. I'm a certified teacher but jus enjoy subbing. Great tips before a person goes into the classroom especially for the new ones entering the workforce of education.

[Jmsanti]

I will be a new sub this year and this video is a great help. Thank you for taking the extra time to break it down into sections so that the viewer can go back and re-watch certain parts that they might want/need to write down for themselves. Great tips!

[marymartindale]

Excellent video. It was really great to hear from a regular teachers' point of view about what they need subs to do. Even I, with 25+ years of subbing experience learned a thing or two.