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Sub Teacher vs. Regular Teacher
- Thread starter monander
- Start date
Hifiman
Senior Member
By substitute teaching I'm assuming you must mean that you are in a long-term postion. I've done one in the past and I am about to start one for a 4th grade class this Monday to complete my last term of student teaching. So if that's the case the first point of order is to treat it as if it is your own classroom because it is until their teacher comes back. I know the class I will be taking over. They are an unruly bunch, not just for me, but for their regular teacher as well. I walked in on them and their sub yesterday and the room was in chaos. After I collected the materials I needed for the weekend I gave a short speech informing them that their teacher would not return until almost the very end of the school year. On Monday this will now be known as my classroom. On that day they will come to school and treat it just as if it was the first day of school. They will spend the first day learning what I want them to do and how I want it done, yada, yada, yada.
This really is the only way to get through this situation. If you don't you will spend too much time trying to learn how to do all the little things the way the regular teacher did them. It will result in too much chaos, wasted time, and frustration for you and the students.
This really is the only way to get through this situation. If you don't you will spend too much time trying to learn how to do all the little things the way the regular teacher did them. It will result in too much chaos, wasted time, and frustration for you and the students.
Real Teacher
Act and do things like a teacher. Set set of rules, enforce them. Set limitations and procedures. Like Wong said in "First Day of School" procedures are ways of doing things something like "that's how the things are done aroud here". Very important like passing out material, transitions, etc. They can't break procedures. Then you have rules like don't talk unless you have you hand up, be nice etc. If they break rules they will suffer consenquences.
Make sure you are expert in at least 2-3 areas. If Math is your strenght make it visible in you lesson planning. Make sure you have some good physical ed lesson, good games. Physical ed bring children together and makes a class a comunity. Good luck
Act and do things like a teacher. Set set of rules, enforce them. Set limitations and procedures. Like Wong said in "First Day of School" procedures are ways of doing things something like "that's how the things are done aroud here". Very important like passing out material, transitions, etc. They can't break procedures. Then you have rules like don't talk unless you have you hand up, be nice etc. If they break rules they will suffer consenquences.
Make sure you are expert in at least 2-3 areas. If Math is your strenght make it visible in you lesson planning. Make sure you have some good physical ed lesson, good games. Physical ed bring children together and makes a class a comunity. Good luck
I wish I could sub to waive my stud teaching
Wow? what kind of program let's you sub instead of student teaching? That sounds like a great deal! I know how hard it can be, but many of us do the exact same thing, just as hard for free. Some parts of being a sub is harder than being a regular teacher but some parts are much easier too. Besides the advice given above, just know that this is a great learning experience that wil help you become an effective teacher. If it is like your friends say, you are doing the hardest part and getting it over with. You may learn skills that your friends do not have doing what you are doing.
Wow? what kind of program let's you sub instead of student teaching? That sounds like a great deal! I know how hard it can be, but many of us do the exact same thing, just as hard for free. Some parts of being a sub is harder than being a regular teacher but some parts are much easier too. Besides the advice given above, just know that this is a great learning experience that wil help you become an effective teacher. If it is like your friends say, you are doing the hardest part and getting it over with. You may learn skills that your friends do not have doing what you are doing.
monander
Junior Member
SubCA,
In New York State 40 days of substitute teaching waives student teaching. However, you have to self certify to the department education. The college I was attending cannot certify for me because they did not supervise my student teaching. This was the only option for me becasue I am a career changer and a single parent, so I cannot afford to work for free.
In New York State 40 days of substitute teaching waives student teaching. However, you have to self certify to the department education. The college I was attending cannot certify for me because they did not supervise my student teaching. This was the only option for me becasue I am a career changer and a single parent, so I cannot afford to work for free.
I
It's brave
Guest
Student teaching, sub teaching and teaching are so differen5t from each other. I hope you have a good support system and a solid teaching base to do that.It's actually brave to do subing to waive students teaching.
See, here in Canada you must pass student teaching rounds ( 4 weeks and 8weeks) beside your exams to graduate. Some people in my group did not passed student teaching so they had to wait for the following school year to re-do their student teaching.
My opinion, it's a double sword situation here, student teaching with a teacher supervisor it's good because they can observe your style and give you feedback right away. On the other hand as a substitue you have to be prepared to apply a lot of classroom management techniques ( a lot more that a regular classroom). As a sub you must have a philosophy, mine is this
"A safe classroom is a learning classroom". You have to make students feel safe, accepted, and then they will work with you.
See, here in Canada you must pass student teaching rounds ( 4 weeks and 8weeks) beside your exams to graduate. Some people in my group did not passed student teaching so they had to wait for the following school year to re-do their student teaching.
My opinion, it's a double sword situation here, student teaching with a teacher supervisor it's good because they can observe your style and give you feedback right away. On the other hand as a substitue you have to be prepared to apply a lot of classroom management techniques ( a lot more that a regular classroom). As a sub you must have a philosophy, mine is this
"A safe classroom is a learning classroom". You have to make students feel safe, accepted, and then they will work with you.
monander
Junior Member
Student teachiing or 40 days of subbing is only one requirement for certification in New York State. To gain intial certification we have to take 3 state exams, 2 work shops, finger print clearence, have an undergraduate degree for intial certification. To get professional certification we have to have all of the above plus a graduate degree in education, and tenure (3 years of teaching).
Yes, its much harder because I do not have a mentor or supervisor. I told my friend today i think I am a bad teacher. She said what I am doing is much harder, because I am going on only textbook knowledge. I do have good classroom management skills. I can get the kids to sit down and get focused. I have to work on contingent plans when the regular teacher does not leave enough work.
Yes, its much harder because I do not have a mentor or supervisor. I told my friend today i think I am a bad teacher. She said what I am doing is much harder, because I am going on only textbook knowledge. I do have good classroom management skills. I can get the kids to sit down and get focused. I have to work on contingent plans when the regular teacher does not leave enough work.
Rimbaud810
Junior Member
I've never heard of this!
I'm from PA and I had to do a supervised semester of student teaching to get my certification. It was difficult doing it with a cooperating teacher, I can't imagine subbing in place of this. Isn't that setting you up for disaster??? I find myself still (after teaching fulltime for a while) still relying on the advice of my coop and supervisor at times.
You say you can't afford to student teach? It is expensive and seems ridiculous to pay to work so hard. I had to take out student loans but I think almost everyone can get them. I really think it would be worth it to do the student teaching. Plus, I got three great letters of recommendations from my two placements and supervisor. Expensive and difficult, but a crucial experience for me.
If you can sub without it, I would say, read the following:
The First Days of School- Harry Wong
Teaching with Love and Logic-Jim Fay and ?
And maybe a couple of other hands-on classroom management books with reproducibles in them. Best of luck!!!!
I'm from PA and I had to do a supervised semester of student teaching to get my certification. It was difficult doing it with a cooperating teacher, I can't imagine subbing in place of this. Isn't that setting you up for disaster??? I find myself still (after teaching fulltime for a while) still relying on the advice of my coop and supervisor at times.
You say you can't afford to student teach? It is expensive and seems ridiculous to pay to work so hard. I had to take out student loans but I think almost everyone can get them. I really think it would be worth it to do the student teaching. Plus, I got three great letters of recommendations from my two placements and supervisor. Expensive and difficult, but a crucial experience for me.
If you can sub without it, I would say, read the following:
The First Days of School- Harry Wong
Teaching with Love and Logic-Jim Fay and ?
And maybe a couple of other hands-on classroom management books with reproducibles in them. Best of luck!!!!
Hifiman
Senior Member
Early on I worried about the lack of income when it came time to do my student teaching. Of course there was the option of trying to get a district to pick me up as an intern and take my own classroom. Even though financially that would really help me I also really wanted the experience of having a master teacher to show me the ropes. After all was said and done I did not pursue an internship.
I know lots of teachers. Many of them are in my family and something they all told me was that I shouldn't fear taking an internship because I was only delaying the inevitable - the day I'm certified and truly on my own in a classroom. No matter how well prepared you think you are it's still starting at square one in your own classroom and there is still a steep learning curve.
I've been in a classroom with a master teacher for six weeks. It's been a great experience and I have learned a lot, but honestly I learned a lot as a substitute teacher as I experienced a broad range of classrooms and schools. I ended my 1st term of student teaching last Friday, two weeks early because the long-term assignment I had lined up to qualify for my second term of student teaching became available earlier than expected and I will at least get paid for that assignment. It will be interesting to see if my attitude changes in the coming weeks, but I wish I would have tried for an internship from the beginning. I have several classmates who have done that and all seem to have had a positive experience - and money!
I know lots of teachers. Many of them are in my family and something they all told me was that I shouldn't fear taking an internship because I was only delaying the inevitable - the day I'm certified and truly on my own in a classroom. No matter how well prepared you think you are it's still starting at square one in your own classroom and there is still a steep learning curve.
I've been in a classroom with a master teacher for six weeks. It's been a great experience and I have learned a lot, but honestly I learned a lot as a substitute teacher as I experienced a broad range of classrooms and schools. I ended my 1st term of student teaching last Friday, two weeks early because the long-term assignment I had lined up to qualify for my second term of student teaching became available earlier than expected and I will at least get paid for that assignment. It will be interesting to see if my attitude changes in the coming weeks, but I wish I would have tried for an internship from the beginning. I have several classmates who have done that and all seem to have had a positive experience - and money!
E
Elaine
Guest
Let us know how it goes!
I for one will be very interested in seeing how things go for you, Hifiman! Congratulations on once more making $$$$
I for one will be very interested in seeing how things go for you, Hifiman! Congratulations on once more making $$$$
monander
Junior Member
Hello,
I am a single parent to 2 children and I could not do student teaching. Things are not that bad for me working as a substitute teacher. I have already completed my graduate degree in childhood education so I have all of the textbook knowledge. I am a career changer. I spent 10 years working for large companies like IBM and Goldman Sachs, and I find my corporate background helps me a lot in the classroom. In NYC we have a lot of career changers that skip student teaching. Most of us go directly in the classroom after a semester or two of graduate work. It really is not that scary.
I think its harder to take on a classroom in the middle of the year when a teacher has already left her imprint on the class than to take it on from the first day.
To my surprise, I have excellent classroom management skills--they almost come effortlessly. A lot of the students I work with wants me to be their regular teacher and they all run and wave to me in the hallway.
Its not as bad as I thought.
I am a single parent to 2 children and I could not do student teaching. Things are not that bad for me working as a substitute teacher. I have already completed my graduate degree in childhood education so I have all of the textbook knowledge. I am a career changer. I spent 10 years working for large companies like IBM and Goldman Sachs, and I find my corporate background helps me a lot in the classroom. In NYC we have a lot of career changers that skip student teaching. Most of us go directly in the classroom after a semester or two of graduate work. It really is not that scary.
I think its harder to take on a classroom in the middle of the year when a teacher has already left her imprint on the class than to take it on from the first day.
To my surprise, I have excellent classroom management skills--they almost come effortlessly. A lot of the students I work with wants me to be their regular teacher and they all run and wave to me in the hallway.
Its not as bad as I thought.