Public Schools & Substitute Teaching
Public schools are popular places for substitute teachers to practice their craft. Within this context, a substitute teacher can develop important classroom management skills.
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Requirements
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In most school districts, incoming substitute teachers are required to possess a bachelor's degree, to consent to a criminal background check and to have schedule flexibility. Certain districts may also stipulate that prospective substitutes must work a set number of days in order to retain their position. For example, substitute teachers who secure employment with the San Fransisco Unified School District are required to "work at least one day per week or a minimum of 36 days per school year."
Responsibilities
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The fundamental responsibility of a substitute teacher is to provide stability within a classroom, which in turn facilitates the learning process in light of a teacher's absence. Consequently, when engaging in work as a substitute teaching, an individual must acquire and demonstrate effective classroom management skills. These skills include being able to follow written instructions, cover assigned material, redirect distracted students and settle a variety of disputes that arise within the context of a classroom.
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Accountability
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Despite the fact that substitute teachers typically lead a classroom of students in the absence of direct supervision, individuals who exhibit unprofessional conduct rarely succeed as substitutes. One reason this is so is that students usually report misconduct of their substitutes to school staff. Additionally, since safety is a top priority in public schools, school principals and neighboring teachers typically strive to remain alert to any red flags that indicate poor quality work on behalf of a substitute. Some of these red flags include a noisy classroom, failure to report to a member of the school's staff before leaving the building or writing a note to the teacher that is either overgeneralized or too wordy and vindictive.
Opportunities
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Three reasons why substituting opportunities abound in most school districts include the need for staff to attend training seminars, the need for educators to catch up on paperwork or conduct diagnostic assessments and the fact that public school teachers may contact common illnesses.
Considerations
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Substitute teaching may be one of the simplest and effective ways for a prospective teacher to secure a full-time teaching position. Substituting permits an individual to gain direct classroom experience and to develop classroom management skills. Additionally, substituting permits prospective teachers to network with professionals in their field of interest.
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References
- Photo Credit school sign image by sonya etchison from Fotolia.com
