r/SubstituteTeachers

As the title states. I can only say, “Well I guess you have a study hall,” so many times when the internet is down or the teacher didn’t post the assignment before I start fearing for my job, lol.

Now that jobs aren't getting snatched up before they can even hit the main app, I am suddenly back to scheduling jobs at schools I typically work at once a week that I haven't been able to book for most of the year.

Hi! Tomorrow is my first day, I’m a 22F who’ll be subbing a 5th grade class for 2 days.

I wanted to do lower elementary grades, but my employment company has a mandatory minimum of 5 days in your first month, April is almost over, I live in a district with very few schools and therefore limited opportunities, so I couldn’t afford to be picky!

So far I’ve packed my lunch, some emergency snacks for myself (I have low blood sugar issues), a water, my wallet, mints, keys, stickers, and my own set of a pencil/pen/highlighter, and a folder with spare paper to write my sub note. I have it all in a tote bag.

I have my outfit ready and my lanyard with my school id ready to go! I’m debating on whether or not I should print off a word search or something to have as a backup activity for the students or a crossword puzzle for myself during independent work or something like that.

I also grew up in this district and it’s one of the top ten in the state, so I’m pretty excited, but also incredibly nervous, of course!

I know to get there 10-15 minutes before my start time, look over the lesson plan and emergency procedures, introduce myself and my expectations when the kids arrive, and then go from there!

Subbed for a CTE class today and the game development students were finishing up their video game projects. Today they were supposed to be play testing so my sub notes said “inform the students that they are supposed to be playing their video games today.”

Hello everyone, I am having a very difficult day. I am the long-term sub for ART at an urban core school until May 8th, and I honestly don’t know if I’m going to last that long.

I have all the grades, and my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade classes are terrible. One student shouted at me and ran around the room and yelled at me. Another student was harassing me and physically blocking me when I tried to move and said what you going to do nothing that’s what I thought . In my other classes, students are fighting, yelling across the room, slamming doors, and even jumping off desks.

I called the office for help, and nobody came. While I was on the phone, a student threw a chair. I sent two students to a buddy room, and they were brought back within five minutes. Another student keeps distracting the class by screaming across the room and trying to start conflicts on purpose. This is the same student I called on last week when the interventionist came, they just smiled and said, “What’s wrong, buddy?” and didn’t do anything.

When I tell him to stop, he tells me I’m not running anything and that I can’t control him.

I don’t know what to do.

I have been subbing now for over a year. I really enjoy working with the kids and I have a long-term assignment I've been working lately. I would still apply to jobs in my old field from time to time but had pretty much given up on ever going back. Then out of the blue, I got an offer and I'm excited, but they want me to start soon which makes it impossible for me to give more than a few days' notice.

There is a part of me that feels bad but another that doesn't since I don't have any benefits or paid time off. My hope is to just leave on a positive note so if I ever need to sub again, I'm good. Has anyone here been in a similar situation? How did it work out?

Update: Middle schoolers are definitely feral. I survived the first two days and the teachers have been helpful , but at times it gets overwhelming and discouraging when another teacher does come in and make them listen. I'm definitely not a yeller, but I also think that these middle schoolers don't see me as a "substitute teacher" but someone who's close to their age group. I dont wan't be the hard ass sub but I definitely don't want to be taken advantage of. It's not just middle schoolers, but it's also Elementary and High school.

Hello! Today, a middle schooler hit my vehicle with their e-bike while leaving the campus. It scratched the front of my car, and while it's not a significant amount of damage, It's still noticeable. I was in the car and didn't recognize him, he then waved and left quickly. I got out and he was gone, honestly I was in a daze because the school day was so hectic.

I have no idea what I should do. Should I even do ANYTHING? The woman leading the kids off of campus said she'd try and find out who it was, and I'm at this school frequently. I like the kids and he was clearly fleeing out of fear, I don't hold it against him. I am not angry about it, to be honest, and I don't want to get insurance involved... but I wish I could be compensated! ☹️

I sub with swing education sometimes . I picked up a particular school 2 times in the past month and it’s been canceled both times. I worked with this school months ago once and things were fine. It happened 5 times this morning before I was able to get an assignment to stick. Why is this?

I’m only 20, which I know doesn’t go well especially with middle schoolers as an “authority figure”. I can only do elementary and middle as of now.

I have my fingerprinting today and once my background check is completed I can start.

However, jumping in at the end of the school year with no experience sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. I have yet to talk to a real person during the interview process, and my “orientation” was YouTube videos.

I plan to avoid the knowingly complicated schools and environments until next year when I have some experience under my belt.

Any advice to be prepared? How can I ensure I’m not taken advantage of due to my age (especially because I look like I’m 16)?

I have subbed mostly in the city for the last 4 years. Sometimes, I get anxiety taking attendance because of the unique spellings and pronunciations of student names. I sub K-12, all races, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc, and I am noticing the rise in new names or new spellings of a common name. I am not making fun of names AT ALL. But i have a genuinely curious question: If anyone else has this experience, and also, what are some of the unique names or pronunciations you have encountered that you struggled with?

refunded subalert and got prorated for my monthly subscription because they havent helped me get sub jobs faster than frontline. most of the time frontline alerts me first and the jobs no one wants get alerted on both (pe, sped) since they stay on for a long time. otherwise go sub jobs go fast. ended up canceling and getting the rest of my unused subscription refunded. ive gotten many frontline notifications where subalert didnt notify at all. it seems like frontline has updated their app to check every minute so there is no major benefit to having subalert which you have to pay for.

any other tips for grabbing good sub jobs now that ive canceled other apps? i know there is sidekick and i tried a trial but it wasnt always faster than frontline. i heard of some botting happening where jobs get taken off immediately by ai

Most of the classes were on a field trip left me 3 or 4 students in the class room. Everything was computer assignment so I literally had nothing to do. So I pulled my book out and read the students were all well behaved and busy. Missing my grade school classes where I actually get to teach.

I had been working in a self contained class. High behaviors, the class is what I imagine WW3 to be like. I have been in there on and off through the year in an aide position, they cant keep aides. Last week told me on a tuesday they were ending the assignment because they were getting a 2nd contract staff in. I was able to fill my days but I also started filling jobs for the rest of the school year. I make 143.50 a day in this district. I make 195 a day in another.

Now the contract staff didnt work out and they are wanting me back. I dont mind going back on the days I havnt filled up. I dont get long term pay in there either since its a classified position technically.

This question is particularly for those who aren't prepping to be a teacher or who sub because the hours and calendar for child care. I am most interested in those who sub because they are dirt poor.

Is this the best you can do?

I don't mean this in insulting way. I am truly curious. I subbed for 10 years in the 1990s for beer money while living with my family. At the time, it paid much more than fast food. The kids and teachers were better. And I think I was treated better than subs are treated.

I was looking for a retirement job, and tried subbing. I lasted about 2 hours, and realized that I could do better without even trying. The pay is now equivalent or less than I could make in retail, grocery or just about anything else. Even the sub service I looked into pays office temps more than subs.

So if you like subbing, more power to you, and I understand. But if you are only doing it for a paycheck then why not do something else?

Part of the reason I don't sub (not the whole reason) is that I don't want to endorse what subbing has now become. If I do this, then I am participating in something I disagree. Because on a fundamental level, I think subs should be paid more and schools should invest more effort in finding people suited for the job.

Going into my third week of subbing, still getting the lay of the land. This might be a silly question but, Kelly always says that you shouldn’t wear open heel shoes or jeans. How strictly do you all follow that? I can’t imagine the school having an issue with me wearing open heel shoes?

So yesterday I was subbing at a school and my class was crazy. When their teachers came and picked them up I was standing in the hallway with my door open so I can wait for my next class. I looked up and saw one of the teachers grab the student by his backpack and toss him in my room. I was confused and shocked by the whole thing I didn't think much of it till later on when the assistant principal came by and asked me what happened. I of course told her what I saw and she said thanks and went about her day. At that point I called my dad who is a retired teacher and told him everything. Dad told me to not write anything down in case this somehow goes to court. Fast-forward to my last period class and security comes and tells me to see the assistant principal again. When I reach the office the AP wanted me to write down a statement. I told her I didn't feel comfortable doing that, but she added that if I didn't write it down she was going to herself and...I got spooked and wrote my statement down. I called my dad after telling him and he was like don't worry about it now it's done and over with and just relax. I leave the school (never returning there again) and go to my mom's. I tell mom everything and...she agreed with my dad about the writing thing and that next time just say you didn't see it clearly enough. Am...am I insane for doing the right thing?