Does anyone substitute teach?

Re: Does anyone substitute teach?

• JessMil10

  August 2009

  I subbed while I was pregnant and enjoyed it.  It is great because you just follow the teacher's lesson plans and at the end of the day you don't need to take work home! I have not had a teaching job but I do have my teaching license so I felt right at home. I did Elementary school only and felt challenged by the students sometimes because they knew I was a sub, so I cannot imagine how the MS or HS students would have treated me. I would say go for it if you have the option! I would start subbing again if I had someone to watch DD during the day.
  

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• katlizabeth member

  August 2009

  I'm a teacher, but friends with several subs.  I've heard classes like PE are very challenging and typically high school is the easiest, b/c the kids are often "on their own" working on projects, watching a movie, getting work time, etc when a sub is there.  I'm sure it's not like that in every situation, but that's what I've heard.  Like pp said, elementary kids are often more kind to subs, but the lesson plans for kindergarten would drive me crazy (new activity that I don't understand every 10-15 min!).  I think it would really give you a taste for it you wanted to do it full time or not!
  

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• Judah'sMommy

  August 2009

  I have a question about subbing.  Can you choose how often you sub?  How likely is it that you'll be asked to work every day?

  My DH is thinking about subbing.

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• JessMil10

  August 2009

  Judah'sMommy:

  I have a question about subbing.  Can you choose how often you sub?  How likely is it that you'll be asked to work every day?

  My DH is thinking about subbing.

  Yes, you can pick your own days! First... when you apply they will ask you which days you can work and what levels you want to sub in.  Then they will call you and ask you to sub when they need you. If you can't do it they just find someone else, no big deal. But he could put down that he only wants to sub on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or whatever, if he really wants to.
  

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• Doug'sFiance

  August 2009

  When I got my teaching degree I garduated in December so I subbed December to June waiting to get hired for the next school year. Subbing is really a mixed bag.  I found elementary the most challenging (I am a high school teacher) because you have them allllllll day.  Middle School is CRAZY and high school is my favorite.  It definitely would give you a small taste for teaching (minus the planning, grading, conferences etc.) 

  My first day of subbing I got a late call, (school started at 8:00, they called me at 8:00 so I didn't get there until 8:30.) they left NO ONE in the room with the 7th graders for the 1/2 hour after school started.  When I walked in the door it was chaos!  One kid had another in his arms pushing him out the window (1st floor classroom!) and another kids was hiding in the teacher's workroom photocopying his naked behind.  Most days however were low key and pleasant.

  "I have a question about subbing.  Can you choose how often you sub?  How likely is it that you'll be asked to work every day?

  My DH is thinking about subbing."

  I'm sure it depends on the district but in the Mid-Michigan area, all the schools use one company to get all their subs.  Its automated, (computer or phone) and you can look for the job you want to take online as soon as a teacher posts it or you can get a call at 6:00 a.m. if someone calls in sick that day.  You don't take a job unless you want it so there is no "rule" about how frequently you sub.

   

   

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• 1MusicMaker

  August 2009

  I taught elementary for a few years, and then decided to just sub when I got pregnant (I just did elementary).  It was a pretty good fit for awhile--you have a lot of flexibility in that you can choose what days you want to work (and can even just accept jobs for certain teachers or schools, if you want).  Like pp said, you have no work at the end of the day, either.

  Since I am used to elementary, I didn't want to do middle/high school, but I would think they would be so much easier.  It is such a huge difference b/w subbing for K and 5th grade!  K/1 is hard--the kids are used to a routine and even if it varies slightly, they tend to freak a little.  Also, it sucked not knowing if i was going to get a call the next morning.  The best jobs were the long-term sub positions.  Then you can get used to the kids/classroom/rules.

  I really did not like subbing because  I am very big on discipline, and you really can't do much when you're a sub, especially if the classroom teacher isn't big on it.  Also, there were several occasions when the teacher left crappy plans (you have 2 hours to fill but their plans only last 10 minutes)--but I just played games when that happened lol.
  

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• lizobss

  August 2009

  I substituted while receiving my degree in elementary.  I enjoyed subbing 2nd-4th grades, the children are more respectful than the older ones and more independent than the younger ones.  Like op said, sometimes the plans suck, so you need to have a backup plan ready to go, an easy craft, some games (sparkle, seven up), allow independent work, ssr, etc. 

  As for choosing your days, you can.  However at my school, the more reliable subs get the first calls.  If they call you a few times, and you can't work, they will drop you to the bottom of the call list.
  

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• Liz342 member

  August 2009

  I would only want to sub at the elementary level! I am not big on the high schoolers and I have heard that the middle school is a nightmare!

  I hope they let me do it 2 days a week or so and I actually get called on those days!

  

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