Being a substitute teacher has its pros and cons, and it can be challenging. A lot can go wrong when you’re taking over a class you’re not familiar with. Students can be hard to reach if they’re not comfortable or familiar with you regardless of their age group. Since they are not used to seeing you in the classroom, they can have difficulty adapting to your presence.
If things don’t go well, it can create a mess for you and your substitute. They’ll have trouble attending to the children’s needs and making them productive. Plus, when you come back, there will be a whole lot of mess to clean up! However, you can prevent this! Take appropriate measures to make it easier for them and yourself by leaving behind a prepared class.
Tips To Prepare The Substitute Teacher For Your Class
If you’re planning to take a leave and the idea of handing over your class to a substitute teacher is intimidating you, don’t panic. Here are a few tips that will help you, your class, and your substitute feel more comfortable while you’re gone.
1. Start With The Class Culture
Most teachers aren’t worried about the kids in their absence; they’re concerned about the substitute! Some kids can have a hard time adapting to a new teacher, and some can give the teacher a hard time too! Therefore, make sure your class is welcoming and isn’t intimidated by the new teacher. Foster positive attitude in the classroom. Begin by ensuring that your students respect you. Also, ensure that this respect is genuine and not based on fear.
2. Give Your Students A Heads-up About The Substitute Teacher
Before you ask your substitute teacher to make a surprise appearance, prepare your students and give them a heads up. Tell them about your upcoming leave and revise all the procedures and policies of your classroom. Revise everything you’ve studied in the past week, the class norms, the permission procedures, and everything else that’s relevant. Not only is this a practice of good behavior, but it also eliminates the chances of the students “suddenly forgetting” them when the new teacher appears.
3. Prepare Them For Your Absence
Give your students a preview of everything they will do when you are gone. This preview will include the assignments, quizzes, and other activities. Discuss the rules, regulations, syllabus, and time table beforehand. Again, doing this will reduce the kids’ chances of playing any games with the substitute or being confused later.
4. Create A Feedback Form
Tell the students you have a feedback form for them. Tell them you will review the records once you are back and check how everyone did in your absence. Doing this will help ensure that the students know they’ll be held accountable and, as a result, they’ll behave.
5. Bribe The Kids!
No, don’t offer them money. Tell the kids there will be good rewards for those who will behave well and have good feedback. These rewards could be their favorite treats, extra scores, toys, extra playtime, or anything else they would be interested in.
6. Give The Substitute A Preview
Once you have successfully prepared your class, it’s time to prepare the substitute teacher. Give them a revision of everything the students have studied so far. Plus, give them a preview of everything that they are supposed to learn while you are gone. Also, give them a detailed round of your classroom so that they know where everything is. There is nothing more frustrating than a teacher who goes into a substitute class and can’t figure out where things are.
7. Ask Someone To Check In On The Substitute Teacher
If there is another teacher that the kids are familiar with, ask them to check in every once in a while. This way, the substitute teacher will be satisfied and comforted. Plus, the students will know someone is keeping an eye on them. Thus, they are more likely to behave much better.
8. Leave Easy And Familiar Work For The Substitute Teacher
Make sure you don’t leave any difficult or complex tasks behind for the substitute and your students to complete during your leave. It’s already hard enough for them to adapt to each other. Don’t make it harder by abandoning them with additional challenges. If you have some time before your leave starts, try to complete the more difficult tasks in your presence and leave the easy ones for when you’re gone. Practicing and revising everything that they are familiar with is the best way to go.
9. Be Patient, Empathetic, And Helpful
Your substitute teacher is as intimidated by the idea of covering in your absence as you are. Be patient and empathetic with them. If they need frequent reviews and reminders, be patient, and guide them multiple times. It will only gain you their confidence and make them more certain of themselves.
10. Use Technological Aids And Tools
Ask your substitute teacher to incorporate fun tools and aids. A good example is the KeyboardOnline software. Not only will it help engage the kids while you are gone, but it will also help them improve their typing skills and speed in the meantime.