How to Be An Effective Substitute Teacher

Being a substitute teacher is a very challenging task even for veteran educators. As a substitute teacher, you need to be able to build instant rapport and make a convincingly good first impression to your new class. Being effective is highly important because a substitute teacher needs to keep the momentum started by the teacher-on-leave. The task is daunting, but keeping your cool and sticking to these steps could help you become an effective substitute teacher.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A teaching degree

1. Smile and don’t be too stiff. Most substitute teachers dread having to deal with troubled students so they make the mistake of putting up a strict facade when first entering the classroom. Children are more likely to respond to a happy and open face.
2. Keep the introduction light and friendly but be firm about your classroom management style. Most teachers have different ways in dealing with students so establishing expectations before starting the class is a very important step in being effective. Clearly set your rules but be sure not to sound too threatening -- remember that first impressions are very important especially when dealing with children.
3. Familiarize yourself with the classroom. This is closely related to step number 4 but this has more to do with logistics. It is important that the substitute teacher knows exactly where all the supplies and materials are placed in the new classroom. This is very useful because knowing where things are in the classroom means you can save a lot of time by not having to look for them – saving time is very important in being an effective substitute teacher because it allows you more time to focus on the lessons.
4. Come prepared. Most teachers leave substitutes a clearly detailed set of instructions as to what to teach and how to proceed with the lesson. Be sure you read this beforehand and come to class prepared. Most teachers can be strict about their schedule so be sure you stick to them and avoid confusing the students from jumping from one lesson to another without cohesion. To be effective, the substitute teacher must be able to make the transition between the two teachers as smooth as possible.
5. Leave a clearly detailed report on your time as a substitute for the returning teacher. This will include what transpired during your time in the classroom and most importantly this will detail what lessons you have covered and what you have missed. That way you can help with the returning teacher’s transition back into the classroom. Some schools require this but even if they don’t, this kind of report will be truly appreciated by the returning teacher.