Substitute teachers often face an uphill battle in maintaining a productive atmosphere in class. If you are a substitute teacher, you may be coming into work with some disadvantages, but through the development and practice of leadership skills, you will be able to do your job successfully for the benefit of the students you teach.
No teacher can successfully complete a lesson plan if they do not have control over the students and the environment. If there is any question about the authority of the teacher, students will act out, making it difficult to have a productive day. As a substitute teacher, it is important that you establish yourself as the leader of the classroom right from the start. Be friendly but firm. Write your objectives for the class on the board. Enlist the help of the students to manage the lesson. Assign various students to lead discussions or take notes on the board for example.
Substitute teachers struggle to overcome the stigma that they are just a replacement for the real teacher and that they will inevitably be subpar. (ref 5) As a substitute, being fully prepared for the job is a crucial trait that will determine your level of professionalism. In addition to fully understanding the material and lesson plan provided by the full-time teacher, an effective substitute also understands the culture of the school and the administration’s rules and regulations. You can accomplish that by visiting the school prior to your work day, undergoing training offered by various school districts and try to talk to the absentee teacher, advisors in the school or other faculty members prior to your assignment.
As a substitute teacher, the need for clear communication is vital. The students, no matter how respectful or studious, will not be accustomed to your teaching style, so you will have to be completely unambiguous in articulating your expectations, delivering the lesson and interacting with the class. In fact, good communication can also help to ensure good behavior because it allows you to be clear about your rules and requirements. At the same time, you must communicate effectively with the regular teacher to interpret and implement lesson plans. You’ll be expected to leave clear notes for the regular teacher detailing what you accomplished and any outstanding issues you encountered.
As a substitute teacher, your main goal is to get the attention of the students and to keep them focused and on track for the day. Even if they are not actively causing any trouble, students are unlikely to focus or to retain any of the lesson if you are simply reading facts from a sheet that the teacher left you. Regular teachers, through their personalities and presence in the classroom, establish a rapport with the students that is the basis for learning. You need to be creative to build that kind of relationship in a much shorter period. Rely on your positive character traits, interact in a friendly way with your class and develop fun or unconventional ways to impart the lesson.
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