Best Practices for Substitute Teachers

  Four things students need to know to successfully meet expectations you establish: what it is they are suppose to do how they are expected to do it where the necessary tools are how much time they have to complete the task You should explain procedural expectations in a step by step process. expectations should be restated by the students and role played until you are sure the student understands what is expected of them ask students to raise their hands when they understand the expectations What should you do if a student fails your expectations? Turn your attention toward the compliant student and away from the non-compliant student. Acknowledge the correct answer and appropriate behavior

  You might be successful at motivating students during the day by providing rewards and motivators. Here are 10 ways you can motivate your students using rewards: Certificates: Print blank certificates. Fill these out for exceptional students at the end of the day. Pencils, Erasers and Pens: Keep a stash of colorful pencils and pens for rewards. Stickers: Stickers can be given throughout the day to students who have stayed on task or placed directly on outstanding work. Tickets: Throughout the day or period give students tickets for staying on task, cooperating and following directions. Tickets can be turned in at end of period of end of day for a special prize. Extra Recess Time: Allow 5 minutes extra of recess time is usually a good motivator for many students, however, you will need to check with administration to see if this feasible. Privilege Cards: Reward individual students for good work or appropriate behavior with special privileges. Examples of appropriate behavior are ...

  Two ways to help you track positive interactions with students are: Place 30 or more small items in one pocket. It can be pennies, beans, or paper clips. Each time you have a positive interaction with a student move one item to another pocket. Your goal should be 3 times per day you move items one pocket or another. Use the class roster to put tally marks next to the name of student you have a positive interaction. This method helps you gain a clear idea of which students you have praised and which ones you need to praise. Goal: Is to make sure have an equal amount of positive interactions with all students.

 Here are five conditions of giving praise to students: Praise actions we genuinely appreciate. Praise a specific action rather than saying "good job." For example, "this is a very good piece of writing." Give praise immediately. You should praise students for no other reason except your sincere gratitude. Praise students in private rather than in front of peers and other people. Some of the very best ways to interact positively with students is a verbal praise, a nod of the head, or a smile. In situations where you cannot think of a genuine praise, saying nothing at all unless you can say something with a high probability of making things better. Today, many people feel that praise is an effective way to reenforce good behavior.

A skill to increase positive interactions with students is "praising appropriate behaviors." Best practicing substitute teachers will always be on the look out for good or appropriate behaviors. Praising good behaviors is a skill that will help decrease inappropriate behaviors. Whatever behavior a teacher gives the most attention to in the classroom is the one that will set the tone for the entire class; be sure it is an appropriate behavior. If you find that most of your time is spent on reacting to inappropriate behaviors you will be reenforcing these behaviors to continue in abundance. Maintain a high level of positive interactions. Look for good behavior and accentuate on that behavior. Research shows students will be more likely to follow directions, will feel safer, will volunteer more easily and hang out in your classroom more often. The following are examples of positive interactions with students: Positive feedbacks and compliments. For example, you are wearing a new...

  Every class has students who will finish early. Often, a student who finishes early has time to produce some kind of inappropriate behavior. Your goal as a substitute teacher is to minimize this time and hopefully prevent inappropriate behaviors. Three techniques are: Start handing out worksheets or other materials while remaining students are still working. Begin to set materials aside for easier access to next activity. Write instructions and procedure expectations for the next activity on the board.

  Two techniques to get the whole class back on task: Write and Erase Whisper Write and Erase: Write and erase instructions on the board. For example: If you want them to get their reading books out. Begin by writing the word "Get" on the board and then erase it.  Then write the word "Your" on the board and erase it. Lastly, write the word "Reading Book" on the board and erase it. The goal here is to get students interested in what you are going to be writing next on the board, which gets their attention off being off task and back on something you want them to be doing. The Whisper technique: Your first thought might be to try and speak louder than the students to get them to hear you. Try moving to the front of the room and begin giving instructions very quietly. Students should become quiet to begin to hear what you are saying. When you have the attention of the entire class, begin to give complete instructions such as "Get Your Reading Books out, ...

  Keeping students on tasks reduces the chances of misbehaving. It is a way of "preventing" misbehaviors so you don't end up having to "punish" a bad behavior. Prevention of misbehaviors is always better than punishment after the fact. Six ways to help students get and stay on tasks are: Greet students at the door Start each class with a starter activity Manage behavior by walking around Quickly get the stdents or class back on task Have a plan for students who finish early (a finisher activity) Minimize transition times. Why should you greet students at the door? Greeting students at the door serves two main purposes: When a teacher stands in the doorway as students enter the classroom, body language speaks a welcoming and inviting into the classroom and gives an immediate first impression of professionalism. I actually did this at the first class I substituted for and I could tell right away it had not been done before as students said to me "why are you ...

  Starter activities serve two main purposes: A starter activity sets a professional tone for the day. A starter activity gets students actively engaged in a learning activity immediately, which helps discourage inappropriate behavior. A starter activity for second grade to eighth grade students might be the following: Activity takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Title: Writing and leaving a thank you note to their permanent teacher Write on the board: Take out a blank sheet of paper and write a thank you note to your teacher. Include three things that you like about him or her and write your reasons why. The letter should be at least three paragraphs long. Letters will be collected and left for your permanent teacher. A starter activity for a group of high school students, 9th grade to 12th grade might be the following: Activity takes 10 to 20 minutes Title: Write about your favorite song or lyrics in your favorite song or a favorite quote Write on the board: What is your favorite ...

  What should be priority or the main goal for a teacher when she is absent? It is to maintain a smooth transition to the students, sub and school in order to keep the learning experience for students to continue without interuptions, or is it to help create as much confusion as possible for sub, students and school? How can the best case scenario be accomplished? A teacher should have "solid lesson plans" in place continuing the subject in which she or he is teaching just as if she or he would be present instead of a sub. A teacher should prepare and do everything possible to help her students continue with their learning and lessons. The burden of continuing the learning experience for her students is NOT upon the sub or the school, but the burden is upon her instead. A good teacher will have lesson plans in place for the sub to implement. This is the number one way to keep students in control and out of mischief while she is gone. Now if the teacher would like for her stud...