| Do you have the desire to be a substitute teacher? | | | | enough time to report to a particular school when |
| Do you think substitute teaching is easy? | | | | you suddenly receive a call in the morning, let the |
| I was a substitute teacher for five years and | | | | caller know you cannot accept the request. It is |
| worked for two school districts in St. Louis, Missouri. | | | | better to lose a day of pay than your job. |
| Substitute teaching can be rewarding; however, it is | | | | If students prepare to engage in a physical fight, |
| very challenging. | | | | take them to the hall and close the door. Students |
| If you mess up, the school administrators might write | | | | are much less likely to fight away from an audience. |
| a bad report to the school district's personnel office | | | | Never step between people who are throwing |
| without saying anything to you. I will do my best to | | | | punches or kicks. Call the office or school security. |
| guide you to success. | | | | Let a student get help. |
| On the days you teach, you should leave your home | | | | It helps to know the names of students who |
| wearing your badge. Go to the office after you | | | | misbehave. Look at the seating chart and student |
| arrive. | | | | identification list on your desk. |
| The first thing you should do after you report is to | | | | Do not eat in the classroom if the school has a |
| read the instructions given to you by the secretary | | | | teacher's lounge and you have a scheduled lunch |
| and classroom teacher. At the end of the day, turn in | | | | break. If you must take a nap, do it on your free |
| your keys and ask if you can come back the next | | | | time in the classroom or restroom. |
| day. | | | | Sleeping in the lounge will make you look bad and |
| Dress professionally to gain respect from the | | | | upset the school officials. If you do not have a class |
| teachers, administrators and students. Wear a | | | | during a particular hour and you are unsure about |
| collared shirt, slacks and dress shoes. The only day | | | | what to do, call the office. |
| you should wear jeans, shorts or gym shoes is when | | | | Your biggest challenge is to maintain an atmosphere |
| you know you will teach gym. | | | | conducive to learning while not being draconian. Do |
| Follow the school district policies and the policies of | | | | not give disruptive students more than one warning. |
| the school where you teach. Use your free time to | | | | If the class is out of hand and a student asks to get |
| read the safety procedures and other information | | | | help, you must deny permission to leave and |
| posted in your classroom. | | | | immediately get tough with the class. I once let a girl |
| It helps to know where every school in your district | | | | who wanted to get help leave. |
| is located. If the district does not give you a district | | | | She came back with the principal. The principal |
| map, download one from the district's web site. Make | | | | criticized me for not being able to handle students. |
| a trip to the schools you have not visited to avoid | | | | Your room must be kept clean. If an administrator |
| being late if you are asked to work there. | | | | comes and sees clothes on the floor, your life is |
| School officials do not like tardiness. Keep in mind | | | | over. |
| how long it takes to reach each school. You could | | | | You can follow these steps and still be darned. You |
| get out of bed by 5:30 in the morning to give | | | | must have support from the administration. I loved |
| yourself more time if you are called between 6:30 | | | | working with the students but I reached the point |
| and 7:00 and asked to report to a school by 7:30. | | | | where I had to move on. Good luck! |
| If you ride the bus and know you do not have | | | | |