Advice for New Subs

Having been a sub for the past two years (is it really my third year of subbing now?!) I feel that I can offer a few pieces of advice.

1. Be prepared for early (or not so early) morning phone calls. School office staffers will call you at 7:30 am to be at school in 20 minutes. Consider nighttime showers, have outfits set out (or set in your mind), and keep your supplies by the door. Think layering when getting dressed, unless you know how the school is heated or if it is air conditioned.

2. Figure out where all the schools in the district(s) you are working in, are located. Take a day and drive around the district and note where they are, or print out maps/directions. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get ready on the fly and then realizing you have no idea where the school is. Be sure you take the school number to let them know you are on the way if you run late, too.

3. September is typically a slow month. Consider volunteering your time in schools you'd like to work in. Staffers and teachers will remember you. Leave your name and card with the office staff, in the staff lunchroom, on bulletin boards in the staff prep areas...

4. I keep a bag near my door with standard supplies I have needed. Some things I take with me every day: mechanical pencils, lead and erasers, a purple and a green ballpoint pen, chalk pens, dry erase pens in bright colors, a timer, a highlighter, and a wet erase pen. I also have a small stash of favorite books I like to share with kids (usually grade 3 and under). You will have your own favorite authors, but here is a list of titles or authors I rely on:
Leo Lionni (K-2) Great to give ideas for community and art projects.
Chris Van Allsburg (2-4) The Sweetest Fig and The Garden of Abdul Gasazi are both wonderful with unpredictable endings that can give you an opportunity for discussion.
The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau by Jon Agee has another unpredictable ending. (2-4)
Imagine a Night, a Day, and a Place by Robert Gonsalves and Sarah Thompson. 3 books with fabulous, interesting artwork that will intrigue the most reluctant of listeners. (2-4)
If by Sarah Perry (1-3) Another creative book with wonderful art to provoke interest.
For short stories, I rely on the "Weenies" series by David Lubar (3-5)
Note that most teachers have books available for read aloud, but it good to have one on hand just in case. During holidays, it is also nice to have appropriate books, like Martin's Big Words for MLK, and so on. You will find your own favorites. Consider spending some time in the children's section of your local library to figure out what you would like to share.

5. Have a list (mentally or physically) of activities to eat up time. Higher/Lower (guess the number in your mind), Heads Up, Seven Up (for classes that have been well behaved), Around the World math facts (great in older classes), or other activities you have come across.

6. Lunches: I usually make larger batches of pasta salads, casseroles, etc. that can easily be put in a plastic container and microwaved. I also have a stash of canned fruit, tuna, and chicken for quick prep in the mornings. Don't expect that you will have enough time to run out for a lunch.

7. When you get to the school, and after you have checked in with the front office, find the bathroom! This may seem like a silly piece of advice, but trust me, you will want to know where it is during the 15 minute recess.

8. Once I get in the classroom, I find the notes that have (hopefully) been left for me by the teacher. Sometimes the teacher will e-mail notes to a team teacher, sometimes you have to decipher their plan book. Find all the curriculum supplies, check to make sure you have copies, and make sure the correct schedule for the day is posted. (Kids will have NO problem telling you what the schedule is if it is wrong!) I also write my name on the board, near the date. For younger classes, I shorten it to Mrs. M. Be sure you also know the evacuation procedure and have an updated class list. Fire drills always come on days you sub - I think it must be in the bylaws or something. Don't have any plans at all? DON'T PANIC! Check with team teachers, and with older classes, you can ask them what they have been doing in each subject as it comes along during the day. (I have had to do this. Really.) Obviously, you will have students who try and tell you that they have chat time and eat candy all day, or have recess every few minutes, but use your common sense. This is where quiet reading can come in handy, and writing prompts as well. (What did you do last weekend? for younger classes, and more provoking prompts for older classes like pro/con of technology or How they would be impacted if they won a million dollars, something along those lines.)

9. Have several ideas on how to get attention. I hate hand claps personally, so I have a variety of other methods: a bell, Quietly saying if you can hear me, put your hand on your shoulder, knee, etc until the class is following you, 1-2-3, Eyes on me! (they say back to you, 1 -2 Eyes on you!), raising hand up in a V-sign, I also do a countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.... and mouths should be closed. Some kids will follow along, thank them and then repeat so that all the class follows instructions. Some classes have their own methods, and kids will be happy to share them with you. Just ask at the start of the day. Another great line (thanks to a friend of mine) for that kid not following directions is, "What would you be doing right now if you were following directions?" It gets them back on task. Don't overuse it.

10. Be prepared to be surprised. Kids want to tell you how to do everything, and depending on your confidence level, you can try and follow it, or you can tell kids that you will do it your way for the day. With younger classes particularly, it is important to let them know that you are the sub, so you might do things a little differently, but that the teacher left you instructions, and that it will all be okay. Kids will say a lot of interesting things during the day, so be sure you keep that smile on your face. You can also remind students that you will be leaving the teacher a note telling them how the class behaved for you. Younger classes especially are surprised to learn this. Schedules can change, so be prepared to get kids lined up for an assembly you did not know about. Again, evacuation drills always happen on your sub day, so know what to do. (This is a mistake I have made too many times! Nothing is worse than standing with your jaw dropped, asking a first grader where they go for a fire drill, while the alarm is blaring.)

11. Have fun! You will discover lesson plans you adore, curriculum that other districts use, classroom decor ideas, and methods of management to add to your repertoire. Be thankful for the oppotunity to work and get your name out. Districts, when hiring, will first turn to people they know and trust, and who have worked in the district. Even after a couple of years of subbing, I am learning new things.

Last year, I earned the nickname "super sub", a title reserved for the top sub at that particular school. She was already working on a long term assignment when I was called in for what ended up being a long term assignment. Did I work really hard? Yep. Was it worth it when I heard other teachers refer to me as "super sub"? Oh YES! When parents told teachers and staffers how much they liked me? Oh YES!

Yes, this job is stressful, but it has a lot of benefits as well. So hang in there, wish for the phone to ring (even at 5:30 am!), and be ready to wow your students.

Have a great year!