No Sub Plans Left? No Problem!
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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The #1 Thing I Always Do When Substitute Teaching
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...
Why I Use Both Whole Class and Individual Rewards
Teachers and substitutes strike a delicate balance each day keeping the classroom running smoothly. Part of this entails managing, supporting and redirecting student behavior. A way to do this may be through...
How Substitutes Can Use a Token Economy System in the Classroom
When Dwight Schrute, a character in the hit TV series "The Office," began his new role as regional manager of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch, he had some ideas for how to...
3 Effective Ways to Quiet an Elementary Class
If you're overwhelmed by the din of a large group of children, chances are some of your students are feeling that way as well. I was able to use some quieting techniques...
How to Rein in a Class That’s Had Multiple Substitutes
Substitute teaching is pretty much the ultimate gamble of a job. Unless you continuously sub at the same school, chances are, when you accept a job, you have no idea what you're...
A Fun Trick for Substitutes to Boost Positive Student Behavior
Some days, it may feel like you've tried everything up your sleeve to calm a class of little ones. You scan the room in desperation, feeling mere seconds away from completely losing...
How a Substitute Can Manage Behavior by Spelling a Word
Behavior management in the classroom becomes an important foundation for accomplishing everything else during the school day. I can't expect the students to think deeply and parse complicated literature and hold sophisticated...
Free Student Rewards for Substitute Teachers
In a perfect world, one could waltz into a new classroom to substitute teach and the students would be sitting primly at their desks, eager to follow each and every direction from...
Top Low-Prep Games for Elementary Teachers and Substitutes
Games have the power to provide much needed relief during the school day. They can bring a class together with fierce determination to achieve the goal. They can serve as outlets of...
My Favorite No-Prep Elementary Classroom Games
Teachers and substitute teachers alike can benefit from this tried-and-true arsenal of easy games to play with their classes. You can use games as a reward-- something the class earns after meeting...
The Complete Guide to Long-Term Substitute Teaching
What is a long-term substitute? A long-term substitute is a substitute teacher that covers the same class for an extended period of time. Each school and district will set the minimum length...