Advertising Yourself

Large school districts have automated systems that randomly call substitutes.  However, teachers can also request a specific substitute teacher.  You will get more jobs and more jobs in the areas you want if you advertise.

I recommend creating a flyer about yourself and putting it in the teacher's lounge or main office of all of the schools where you want to substitute.  Try to find a place where teachers will see it, but student's won't see it (especially if your cell phone number is on the flyer).  A good place for flyers is near the copy machine, because teachers spend a lot of time standing in front of the copier.  Always ask permission before putting up your flyer.

The flyer should contain your name, phone number, email address, and the substitute number assigned to you by the district office.  Other things you may also want to include are the subjects or grade levels you are interested in teaching.  Here is a sample flyer that I created.  Feel free to personalize it to you!

Click Here to Download the Sample Flyer

You will notice that at the bottom of the flyer, I have a table with all of the contact information listed multiple times.  When you make your own flyer, then you can put in your contact information.  Then, after printing it, cut along the lines of  the table.  That way teachers can easily tear off your contact information and take it with them.  For instructions on how to make a flyer in Microsoft Word with tear off tabs at the bottom, click here.

Don't forget to introduce yourself to the front office staff  when you drop off your flyer.  They are some of the most important and potentially helpful people in a school--so be nice!!!  Also return to the school every so often to replace your flyer.  On my flyer, I advertized the fact that I substitute teacher AND do tutoring.  If you give a copy of your flyer to the school's guidance counselor, then he or she can contact you if there is a student that requested after school tutoring.  I usually charge $15-$20 per hour of tutoring, but my price is negotiable so I don't put it on the flyer.

I hope you all have a great start to the school year!  Please let me know if any of the links don't work (I'm still kinda new at blogging)!

Time Fillers

As a new school year is beginning I have been approved to substitute in one school district and I am applying to two more districts.  For the most part, I only substitute for elementary and middle school classes.  I try to substitute in the areas in which I am certified (ESL, special education, math, and Spanish), but I will substitute in any area.

No matter what class you are subbing for, it is important to have extra activities ready for when things don't go as planned.  I always do my best to follow the teacher's instructions, but sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances.

You can use time fillers

• If everyone finishes early
• If there is unplanned activity (assembly, fire alarm) that takes up most of the class and there is not enough time to do the regular lesson
• If the class has had good behavior and you want to give them a short brain break
• If the teacher did not leave any plans due to an emergency

 Some of my favorite time fillers are:

1.  Origami

Most children of all ages love origami (especially some of the difficult students)!  It doesn't take many supplies--just paper and the instructions!  When teaching kids how to do origami, I would start by having everyone make the same thing following your directions.  Then, you can have the students make another piece or color the one they have just folded.  Most school libraries probably have books about origami that you can check out or you can print directions from the Internet.  One of my favorite websites for origami is  http://www.origami-fun.com/index.html.  This website has origami instructions that you can view online or directions that are formatted for printing.  It also has a rating system for how hard it is to make each item.  One warning about origami:  try to prevent students from making paper airplanes...there are much more interesting things they can learn how to make!  Plus you don't want paper airplanes flying around the room (the occasional hopping frog never bothered me thought...lol)  Also, have the students write their initials on the origami or personalize it in some other way so that their are no arguments later!

2.  Mastermind

I grew up playing this game with my Dad.  Don't worry if you don't own this game, because you can play it just as well on paper.  This game is especially appropriate for math classes, but can be used as a critical thinking exercise for any class.  When I play this game with my students, I usually do it as a reward at the end of class...it is an incentive for finishing their regular classwork.  And I don't call it Mastermind...I make up a new name just for fun!  Also, instead of playing it with 2 players, I start out by playing it with the whole class.  I make up the first code and play using the dry erase board or document camera.  I let the students raise their hands if they want to guess the code.  It is important to play with the whole class first because some of the students will catch on faster than others.  After a few rounds, you can let a student create the code and lead the game.  If the students get really good at it, then you can pair them up to play in small groups to play.  Another tip:  start out using only 3 digit numbers and do not let the students use the same number twice.  For example, you cannot use code 334 or 565.  As the students get better at playing the game, you can increase the number of digits in the code number to 4.  The students may look confused at first, but they will really get into once they figure out the best strategies for the game.

3.  Heads Up 7 Up

Personally, I don't use this game unless I'm really desperate.  This game is fun and we all played it as students ourselves, but it has no educational value.  However, it is good way to get a class to calm down because they all have to put their heads down and close their eyes.  Sometimes this game can accidentally single out the unpopular students because they never get picked so I would NOT recommend playing it too often or for very long periods of time.  Here are directions to 2 different variations on Heads Up 7 Up.  This game is most often played in elementary school, but some middle schoolers might like to play it as a way to reminisce....they will do anything if it means not doing school work..lol!

There are lots of other time fillers you can use (sudoku, crossword puzzles, word searches), but most of them require specific supplies that you would have to make copies of ahead of time.  I usually make a class set (about 30 copies) of a filler activity and take it with me to every job just in case.  If I don't use it that day, I save it for later.

Now, you should have at least 3 good things to use in a pinch when you are substituting.  As I come across more ideas for time fillers, I will pass them along.  If you decide to try these activities, let me know how it goes.

Background and Purpose

After teaching 6th grade math for 2 years, I decided to go to graduate school to get my masters in secondary education and ESL. While in school, I am substituting teaching. As I enter my second year of substituting, I realized that there are a lot of strategies, techniques, and activities that I'm learning by substituting. Subbing gives me the opportunity to be in a variety of classrooms, get experience in multiple subjects, and work with a myriad of age groups. I don't want to forget everything I have learned from substituting when I get a permanent teaching position. This summer I went to see Harry Wong. (Strange name I know, but if you are in education and don't know who Harry Wong is, you need to look him up!) He says that good teachers STEAL or SHARE information, ideas, activities, etc. So feel free to steal anything from this blog that you want and adapt it for your classroom.