Who remembers the feeling of being a student, walking into class and realizing your teacher had taken a day off? What thoughts rushed through your mind? Possibly, YES my homework isn’t going to be checked today! What a relief that must have been if you had neglected to complete said homework… Well, following that realization, the next thought would likely be “I wonder who’s going to be the supply?” Over my educational career as a student, I remember the times when a supply teacher walked through the door and the class would size them up in a few seconds before deciding to see what they could get away with. Some supply teachers fared well while others, not so much.
Over my practicums, I watched how my assigned class would interact with various supply teachers and their classroom management styles. With some, the class was polite and well behaved, others never seemed to gain control of the class. During these times, I would talk and discuss teaching strategies and classroom management techniques with the various supply teachers, hoping to gain some insight and learn a thing or two. I realized there was a trend with the successful supply teachers, in terms of their classroom management strategies. With the helpful guidance of veteran teachers and my professors, here are some strategies that I learned to be a successful supply teacher.
Be Professional & Friendly, Not a Friend
In one of the first lessons I attended, a professor offered the class a piece of advice. He informed us that the job of a teacher is comprehensive, it involved acting as a psychologist, counsellor, dietitian and more, we are supposed to be friendly to our students in order for them to put their trust is us but at the same time we must remember that we are professionals. We must take a holistic approach with our students, fulfilling multiple roles, but must remember that we are not their friends. It is difficult to be both a professional and a friend to a person; you likely aren’t friends with your doctor or lawyer and there are numerous ethical and legal reasons for this. As such, the piece of advice my professor offered was as follows: You’re not there to be a friend, you’re there to be an educator.
Though this piece of information is important in all aspects of teaching it is especially important as a substitute teacher. Your role as a substitute teacher is to take the place of the regular classroom teacher, therefore you must be professional and follow the various lesson plans left for you. Some substitute teachers believe that a means of gaining control of a class and earning the student’s respect is by being their friend. By focusing on being friends with the students, your professional responsibilities are negatively impacted as you try to avoid upsetting them. Rather than trying to have students like you as a person, attempt to be a likeable teacher. By being a likeable teacher, you are able to be friendly and polite while being able to focus on your professional responsibilities and maintaining authority in the classroom.
Set Both Expectations & Consequences
As I had said earlier, during my practicums I had the privilege of watching a number of substitute teachers interact with my class. There were a variety of classroom management techniques used by them but the one with the most success, in my opinion, involved the substitute setting both expectations and consequences from the beginning of the day when the students entered the class. The teacher set the tone for the entire day by being up front with the class and letting them know what was expected of the students. They used their “teachers voice” to capture and keep student attention while explaining the expectations; these were nothing too foreign or odd for the students. Working as a class students created a success criteria of the various expectations they believed should be in place and to be expected from both their peers and the teacher.
Strive to Be a Mentor
Although you may just be a supply teacher who sees these students infrequently, a way of earning their respect is be being a mentor to them. As the saying goes, one must give respect to get respect. As such, by taking a moment or two out of your day to talk to the students, you show them that you are interested in getting to know them; they respect you more for it. Think back to when you were a child, I’m sure you thought that adults knew everything and never seemed to be very interested in what you had going on. Wouldn’t have been nice to have an adult who asked and guided your younger self? You, as a supply teacher (and regular classroom teacher) can make that difference in a students life. Be the change you wish you had seen. Mentors can provide invaluable advice and feedback, making a crucial impression on a student’s life. Take the time out of your day to enquire into your student’s lives and see how they respect you more for it!
Get There Early
The teacher’s written plans, school policies, location of staff washrooms and more, are all key pieces of information a supply teacher needs to know before the beginning of the school day. As such, by arriving early to the school (20-30 minutes) you will be able to find all information necessary for a productive and successful day. Additionally, though the plans may be left for you, as a supply teacher there are times when you will have to make copies of worksheets and handouts before the beginning of a lesson. By arriving early, you are able to make copies and plan ahead for the day.
Dress in Layers
This tip is extremely crucial especially during the winter time. Some classrooms have overactive heaters and other have non-existent ones. You never know what’s in store for you in a new classroom. As such, remember to wear layers in order to be able to teach comfortably. Additionally, you may or may not have to cover a recess duty, so dress for the weather!
Don't Engage in a Power Struggle
Power struggles are never pretty, nor are they professional. Getting involved in a power struggle with a student is inadvisable whether you are a supply teacher or have your own class. Instead, let your students know what is to be expected of them and pick your battles! Also, ensure that you keep accurate notes of student behaviour to forward to the homeroom teacher; students tend to behave themselves when they see a teacher writing notes, especially around report card time.
Confidence is Key
A professor of mine often joked that students could smell fear from a mile away, and there is some truth to this. Students are always watching and observing, as such they are able to sense if you are unsure of yourself. Relax, you’re a trained and qualified teacher, you have successfully completed your educational program and as such you are ready to teach! Believe in yourself and you should have no serious issues.
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