You will need to first decide what age range of student you wish to teach. Knowing this information will help you select the correct college classes that will give you the preparation you need to teach the age level you wish. If you are not sure, you will be given opportunities in the college class setting to gain a bit of experience teaching different age levels, and this will help clarify which you prefer.
You will also need to think about what you wish to teach. Some teachers are generalists while others are specialists. You can specialize in special education, physical education, driver's education, the arts or music. Typically, elementary teachers are generalists, because they teach every subject to their young students. The more areas in which you receive enough education means a greater number of endorsed areas on your certificate, which will be a boon to the substitute teacher, who can be asked to teach any subject as needed by a school district.
All teachers must have at minimum a four-year college degree in some subject. In addition, you will receive specialized training in education to learn how to teach. You will spend time observing certified teachers in the classroom. This also includes a certain amount of time spent as a student teacher. Your master teacher will help you gain experience in the classroom actually teaching students. You'll start by observing the teacher at work, and discussing the procedures and topics. Over time you will get worked into the teacher's schedule, until eventually you will fully take over one or more of the teacher's regular classes. Your master teacher will observe you and give you valuable feedback so that you will improve your skills. You will also be able to ask questions and get any clarification you need. You might also be asked to attend usual meetings that the teacher attends, to get a feel for what happens behind the scenes after the students are gone. You might also get asked to help out with after-school activities, practices or rehearsals, especially if your teacher's teaching area is performance related, such as a PE teacher or a drama or choir teacher. All of these experiences will help give you the training you need to step into an educational setting successfully.
Once you have received your four-year degree and have completed your educational training, you will apply for a teaching certificate. That, along with an FBI background check if you plan to work with minors, is what it takes to get certified.
Everyone?from the administrators and teachers to the secretaries at the front office-- know that a good substitute teacher is hard to find. Substitute teachers are usually viewed with disrespect, as transient workers who get paid for the day, regardless of whether or not they do their jobs, and then are never seen or heard from again. To dispel this reputation and or even to make a career out of substitute teaching, with its flexible work-when-you-want schedule, here are a few tips to make teachers ask for you by name.
The most important piece of advice, if you work for a large school district with multiple calling areas, is to do your research. Ask fellow substitute teachers which areas or schools they enjoy subbing for, and request that the substitute unit put your name on that list.
Make friends with the secretaries who work at the front desk. Let them know that you are interested in more work. The secretaries are usually the first ones notified of teacher absences, and they can get you work for the next day, week or month, if they find you reliable, easy to work with and friendly.
When teachers are absent, even the most angelic students find it hard to resist playing tricks on the substitute teacher. There's no need to be paranoid, but be aware! Make sure that each student entering your room belongs in your class. Some substitute teachers do this by matching student ID cards or birthdates against attendance sheets or rosters. Once students are inside, secure the doors and do not allow traffic, unless it's an emergency. Fights can break out in the blink of an eye if students get out of their seats without permission or run into an enemy in the hallway.
If you're given lesson plans, follow them. Explain the assignment to the students and let them know that you're available to help them. The age-old image of the substitute who props up his feet to read the paper or falls asleep at the teacher's desk still perpetuates. Look friendly but alert and walk around the room to monitor the students till everyone is working.
Depending on your comfort level and the vibe in the room, you may encourage students to help each other with the work. This strategy creates an atmosphere of support and lessens the feeling of alienation at having to take orders from an unfamiliar authority figure.
Before you run into trouble, introduce yourself to the teachers in the rooms adjacent to you so you can call on them for help should you need it. Also, use your camera phone to take a picture of the class or the disruptive student if you are unable to identify her and want her to face consequences later.
At the end of the day, straighten up the room and leave a note for the teacher. Attach your business card with your contact information, and don't forget to leave one at the front desk when signing out.
Both Susan Slobac & Charles Benninghoff are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Susan Slobac has sinced written about articles on various topics from Landscaping, Home Improvement and Home Management. Susan Slobac developed her expertise in education by working part-time as a . Gaining the experience required of a full-time educator, s. Susan Slobac's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
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