Ideas to allow students and the substitute teacher to have a great day.

Substitute Teachers, also known as Supply Teachers have less than five minutes to gain control of their class. If a substitute is unable to gain control of the students, she will have a difficult day. Students enjoy testing anyone new in their surroundings and substitutes are ideal to challenge.

Substitute teaching is a rewarding and demanding job. Teachers are able to create their own schedule and do not have additional demands that a full time teacher may have. Substitute teachers are able to choose their class and schools in most cases. However, she also has to be in an unfamiliar place each day and start rapport with the students for a successful day.

Before Class Preparation

Write your name in bold letters on the chalkboard.

Write an agenda for the day.

Write a brain teaser or riddle on the chalkboard.

Read the lesson plans and highlight key points.

Organize the desk for your day.

First Five Minutes

Greet students at the outside or classroom door depending on the school procedures. Try and say hello to each student and ask questions as they are getting ready for class.

Walk around the class as students settle into their seats.

Stand at the front of the class when all students are at their desks and smile at the students but stand in a power position.

During the national anthem correct the student’s behavior with visual cues and talking quietly. Students will learn a great deal about the teacher in the first five minutes.

Attention Getters

Strategy 1: If you can hear me clap your hand once…

If you can hear me touch your nose…

Strategy 2: Stop, Look, and Listen

Strategy 3: Clap your hands and students must follow along.

Student Names

Create a seating plan and write the students names on it. Another option is to give students a piece of paper to make a name card and tape it to their desk. Students are more disciplined if you are able to use their name to make them accountable for their actions.

Bathroom Breaks

Discuss bathroom procedures with the class at the start of the day. As well, have students write their name on a piece of paper every time they use the bathroom and tell them it will be included with your notes to their teacher.

Pencils

Before class, look for pencils and sharpen them. Otherwise designate students to sharpen pencils as you do attendance and talk about the day.

Discipline

Outline your discipline management strategy to the class before lessons.

Strategy 1: Write recess on the board and tell students you will erase a letter if the class is not following the rules. If all letters are erased the students will not have free time at the end of the day to play a game.

Strategy 2: Divide students into groups. Each group receives points for being on task and following classroom rules. Groups must earn a minimum of 5 points to earn free time.

Strategy 3: Give students a small piece of paper to write their name on to enter a raffle. At the end of the day, one student will win a surprise.

Tattle Tellers

Some students are more than willing to tell about fellow classmates’ infractions. At the start of the day write the Tattle Test on the board and tell students to ask the questions before they talk to you about an incident.

Tattle Test Questions

Is anyone in danger?

Are you directly involved?

If the student answers no, they are not allowed to talk about this incident with you.

Fun Activities

Teach a magic trick: Borrow a few magic books from the local library and teach the class. Once you have intrigued them with one, a few students will want to share.

Tangrams: Bring a few tangrams to school and have students compete on solving a puzzle. The first puzzle is create a square with all of the pieces. Students are allowed to solve the puzzle when they have finished their assigned work.

Mental Math: Ask students math questions and the winning group recieves points for their group or are giving a prize.

Brain teasers: Write a brain teaser on the board and students have the day to solve the puzzle. (What goes up and goes down but never moves? stairs)Sometimes you will need more than one brain teaser.