After being a classroom teacher for 14 years, I have just finished my first three days of supply teaching. It is totally different from the other side!
As a classroom teacher, following these suggestions will really help out your supply and make things run a little smoother in your absence.
Entry Routines
Having some sort of bellwork or independent routine that students know to begin immediately after each break is a huge help. I began my first supply day having to wait for five or so minutes while students got settled and announcements finished before I was able to introduce myself and give them instructions. My third day, they knew to enter and immediately begin silent reading - a huge difference! In my class, my students would enter in the morning and complete a simple Language Arts bellwork. After break, they would enter and complete a math 'number of the day' activity.
Click here to buy my Language Arts Bellwork pack for the whole year.
Having some sort of bellwork or independent routine that students know to begin immediately after each break is a huge help. I began my first supply day having to wait for five or so minutes while students got settled and announcements finished before I was able to introduce myself and give them instructions. My third day, they knew to enter and immediately begin silent reading - a huge difference! In my class, my students would enter in the morning and complete a simple Language Arts bellwork. After break, they would enter and complete a math 'number of the day' activity.
Click here to buy my Language Arts Bellwork pack for the whole year.
Seating Plan
My first day students entered and began sitting in what was very clearly their choice of seats. I made it clear that I didn't mind where they sat as long as they were working and listening, and if not I would move them. However, knowing whether or not they have assigned seating is very helpful to know if the class is 'pulling one over on you'. And the students know that you can't be tricked that easily! This way you can make the choice to maintain the seating plan or let them move. In my second class, there was a binder with seating plans and the students were surprised (and dismayed) to discover I knew where they were supposed to sit.
Student Information
This is important for a variety of reasons. The classroom teacher should be providing any special needs or accommodation information for safety reasons. In addition, a note about students who would be great helpers, those that need redirection, any with challenging behaviour etc... is useful information. When the supply is unsure of something, they want to get an answer they can trust. When a child challenges them, it is helpful to know if it is a common issue or out of character. If the sub knows a particular student struggles with self-regulation, they will hopefully react accordingly.
My first day students entered and began sitting in what was very clearly their choice of seats. I made it clear that I didn't mind where they sat as long as they were working and listening, and if not I would move them. However, knowing whether or not they have assigned seating is very helpful to know if the class is 'pulling one over on you'. And the students know that you can't be tricked that easily! This way you can make the choice to maintain the seating plan or let them move. In my second class, there was a binder with seating plans and the students were surprised (and dismayed) to discover I knew where they were supposed to sit.
Student Information
This is important for a variety of reasons. The classroom teacher should be providing any special needs or accommodation information for safety reasons. In addition, a note about students who would be great helpers, those that need redirection, any with challenging behaviour etc... is useful information. When the supply is unsure of something, they want to get an answer they can trust. When a child challenges them, it is helpful to know if it is a common issue or out of character. If the sub knows a particular student struggles with self-regulation, they will hopefully react accordingly.
Finishing Work
Most teachers are great about ensuring there is something to do when classwork is done. However, something that could be missing is what individual students should do while waiting for the others to catch up. My supply notes included information on what the class should move onto if we completed all the assigned tasks. What was missing was that the tasks included worksheets and textbook questions which students, of course, completed at different rates. We of course had to wait for all to finish before we could take up answers or move onto a group component. Knowing that they had books to read, or a test to study for, even an ongoing art project would be really helpful!
School Information
Emergency procedures should absolutely be included in your dayplans with careful instructions as to the protocol and where your class should go. These change from school to school and class to class, as well as throughout the day. Consider how these procedures will change if something occurs at lunch time or during gym or library classes.
Beyond that, as a supply teacher in a new school, my dayplan included information such as where to find the washrooms, when would be a good time to order cafeteria lunch and where exactly to go on lunch duty and who could help me. I may not have thought to include a lot of that information in my own dayplans before but it really was helpful and I most definitely appreciated the thoughtfulness.
Add Some Fun!
I have most definitely been guilty of this time and again! You know you are going to be away, you don't know who will be your substitute, it's too difficult to try to explain complicated activities, you think you are being kind... Your dayplan is filled with quick and easy review activities, worksheets, independent book work. I discovered very quickly my first day of supply teaching that such dayplans make the day very looong, and boring. It also doesn't really help classroom management when the students don't want to do anything you are asking them to do! I'm not saying plan elaborate, movement-filled activities - all the above reasons for not doing so still hold true - but perhaps schedule in a lighter task or even some time for a game. I'm sure your students will enjoy their substitute teacher much more if they see them doing something other than handing out another worksheet.
Most teachers are great about ensuring there is something to do when classwork is done. However, something that could be missing is what individual students should do while waiting for the others to catch up. My supply notes included information on what the class should move onto if we completed all the assigned tasks. What was missing was that the tasks included worksheets and textbook questions which students, of course, completed at different rates. We of course had to wait for all to finish before we could take up answers or move onto a group component. Knowing that they had books to read, or a test to study for, even an ongoing art project would be really helpful!
School Information
Emergency procedures should absolutely be included in your dayplans with careful instructions as to the protocol and where your class should go. These change from school to school and class to class, as well as throughout the day. Consider how these procedures will change if something occurs at lunch time or during gym or library classes.
Beyond that, as a supply teacher in a new school, my dayplan included information such as where to find the washrooms, when would be a good time to order cafeteria lunch and where exactly to go on lunch duty and who could help me. I may not have thought to include a lot of that information in my own dayplans before but it really was helpful and I most definitely appreciated the thoughtfulness.
Add Some Fun!
I have most definitely been guilty of this time and again! You know you are going to be away, you don't know who will be your substitute, it's too difficult to try to explain complicated activities, you think you are being kind... Your dayplan is filled with quick and easy review activities, worksheets, independent book work. I discovered very quickly my first day of supply teaching that such dayplans make the day very looong, and boring. It also doesn't really help classroom management when the students don't want to do anything you are asking them to do! I'm not saying plan elaborate, movement-filled activities - all the above reasons for not doing so still hold true - but perhaps schedule in a lighter task or even some time for a game. I'm sure your students will enjoy their substitute teacher much more if they see them doing something other than handing out another worksheet.
FREEBIE!
Here is an editable version of my supply binder. This file will give you an outline to include all the items talked about in this post. You will need to make a copy of the file into your own folder and then edit away to make it match your school and class information! Print it and put in a binder to keep available for any last minute absences.
What do you to as a classroom teacher to help your sub have a successful day? What do you supply teachers out there find really helpful or wish was provided?
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