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  • Do Less: How to Throw a ’90s-style Birthday Party With Less Stress
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Substitute Teaching

Okay, I prefer the title part-time teacher nomad. Here I document my adventures, misfortunes and tips on substitute teaching while balancing motherhood and various other life undertakings. Take a look!

  • November 17, 2023

Is Substitute Teaching a Good Job for Introverts?

A photo of a pink and red Dahlia growing in a field.

Quiet. Thoughtful. Sensitive. Reticent. Introverted. If you're like me, these terms color the shades of who you are. But that doesn't come close to covering all of who you are. You have...

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  • November 14, 2023

What to Do When You Return to a Negative Sub Report

An array of four different people (we'll assume they're teachers) mad or anxious, ready to wield some consequences.

Psst! If you're a substitute looking for ideas for handling negative classroom behavior, this article may help! You've returned to your classroom after a time away, pushing past slightly misplaced chairs and...

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  • November 9, 2023

What to Pack: Essentials in My Sub Bag

A sub bag, or blue backpack full of school supplies.

Sure, you could walk into a new classroom with just your wonderful sub self and maybe your district-issued badge and teach and be okay. (Okay, but probably not great!) There are tools...

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  • November 7, 2023

What to Pack: My Favorite Substitute Teacher Lunch Ideas

A close-up of food like crackers, rolled-up salami, cheese, and jam.

Substitute teaching can bring its fair share of fun and excitement, but it can also come with disappointments. Don't let a sad lunch be one of those disappointments. As uncontrollable as some...

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  • October 31, 2023

How to Become a Substitute Teacher in 2023

A piece of chocolate laying on top of a substitute teacher folder.

Maybe you've decided it's time to join the ranks of us humble nomadic teacher ninjas: A substitute teacher is to be born! Substitute teachers have long been hallowed and celebrated in the...

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  • October 26, 2023

A Free Behavior Management Printable for Substitute Teachers

A fourth grade teacher (me) posing in a classroom, ready to take on student behavior.

Managing a new class' behavior can be the toughest part of substitute teaching. (And then doing it over and over again in brand new classrooms.) After a few years of subbing, I...

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  • October 24, 2023

The Best Behavior Management Tips for Substitute Teachers

The substitute teacher smiling confidently as she wears a homemade crown with a wand made by Pre Kindergarteners.

I've witnessed those hopeful bright eyes in new substitutes-- for but a fleeting moment. Freshly trained, fingerprinted and badged up, the school district releases you to start your good work. You're going...

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  • October 20, 2023

Should Substitute Teachers Bring Candy as a Reward?

A bowl of colorful candy

My husband recently recounted a story of his beloved Sunday School teacher. Apparently she had used a simple bowl of candy to motivate the class in finding Scripture references quickly. He recalled...

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  • October 18, 2023

7 Effective Consequences for Students When Subbing

A consequence of pushing: a line of dominos starting to fall

Psst! If you're a teacher looking for advice on how to handle your class after a negative substitute report, this article may be helpful to you. Student behavior is arguably one of...

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  • October 13, 2023

8 Things I Learned After Subbing for High School

The author and substitute teacher standing in a high school classroom next to filing cabinets and posters.

(and why I won't likely return to high school) Most of time, I substitute teach in the elementary grades. It's the age range I used to teach full-time. It's my comfort zone,...

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  • October 10, 2023

No Sub Plans Left? No Problem!

A substitute teacher bearing an uncertain and frightful expression.

I've been substitute teaching for a while now, and I always knew there was a chance I'd be hit with one of the job's greatest challenges: no lesson plans left. In my...

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  • October 6, 2023

The #1 Thing I Always Do When Substitute Teaching

A common view for substitute teachers: a classroom with empty desks.

Aside from the basic nonnegotiables of substitute teaching like keeping the class orderly and safe and generally adhering to the prepared lesson plans, there's something I never skip out on. Every time...

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Charmaine
Charmaine

Former Teacher ☼ Substitute ☼ Writer ☼ Mom

Recent Posts

  • A person holding a pencil filling out test answers for the STEDI substitute teacher exam

    How to Pass the STEDI Substitute Teacher Exam

    October 4, 2025
  • An old-fashioned birthday party: A vintage image of a child blowing out candles on a birthday cake

    Do Less: How to Throw a ’90s-style Birthday Party With Less Stress

    August 24, 2025
  • The substitute teacher and blogger smiling as she looks over her fourth grade classroom.

    Steal My Introduction From Every Time I Substitute Teach

    August 20, 2025
  • Habits for happy motherhood: A smiling mother holding her daughter.

    Only the Best: Kids and Baby Products We Actually Value

    June 20, 2025
  • A photo of someone completing a colorful puzzle. Brain teaseres, bell ringers, and other puzzles can be engaging time-fillers for substitute teachers!

    Classroom Survival Kit: Engaging Brain Teasers

    May 31, 2025
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