What should substitute teachers not do?

Substitute teachers should not use their phones excessively, disrespect the regular teacher's room/materials, discuss sensitive topics like politics, take personal items, or neglect student supervision, safety rules (like with fire/machinery), and must follow school policies, ensuring they maintain authority, provide clear expectations, and leave detailed notes for the home teacher.

What not to do as a substitute teacher?

As a substitute teacher, avoid being unprofessional (using phone, snooping, rearranging rooms), getting too friendly or too strict, taking misbehavior personally, making threats, leaving students unsupervised, or failing to follow the original teacher's plans/notes, as these actions create chaos, erode authority, and can lead to safety issues or complaints. Focus on maintaining a firm but kind demeanor, enforcing clear expectations, and ensuring student safety and learning. 

What is the 70 30 rule in teaching?

The 70/30 rule in teaching is a principle that shifts focus from teacher-led instruction to student-centered, active learning, suggesting students should do 70% of the talking/practice and teachers 30% of direct instruction, or that teachers plan 70% for activities and 30% for content, promoting deeper engagement and skill development over passive reception, particularly in language learning. 

What problems do substitute teachers face?

Substitute teaching demands rapid adaptation, constant classroom management, and emotional stamina. The hardest parts cluster around five domains: preparation gaps, behavior management, instructional continuity, logistics, and emotional labor.

What is the #1 most important trait in a substitute teacher?

The number one common trait of successful substitute teachers is adaptability or flexibility, allowing them to quickly adjust to different classrooms, subjects, age groups, and unexpected challenges like missing lesson plans or behavioral issues, while maintaining a positive attitude and strong classroom management to keep students engaged and learning. 

10 TIPS FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS & THINGS TO CONSIDER | Tips for Subs

What makes a good sub teacher?

A good substitute teacher can articulate instructions, engage with students, and communicate with school staff to ensure they understand the lesson plans and expectations. This ability helps bridge the gap between the absent teacher and the students.

Why is subbing better than teaching?

It's a wonderful way to gain experience while you're on the path to becoming a certified teacher. Substitute teaching is also perfect for those who want a flexible schedule that suits their lifestyle. Subbing can give you exposure to various schools, grade levels, subjects, and locations.

Why do substitute teachers quit?

Substitute teachers are quitting due to a combination of low pay, lack of benefits, poor working conditions (especially challenging classrooms with behavioral issues and no support), health concerns, job insecurity, and burnout, with many finding better pay and stability in other sectors, while also feeling disrespected and lacking professional growth opportunities, leading to high turnover. 

Is subbing harder than teaching?

Subbing is often considered harder than full-time teaching because of the constant unpredictability, lack of established relationships, and pressure to manage classrooms with unfamiliar students and often incomplete lesson plans, requiring immense flexibility and quick adaptation, whereas a full-time teacher benefits from knowing routines, students, and curriculum, though they face the demands of planning and grading. While subbing offers flexibility (no grading/planning outside work), the day-to-day chaos, testing by students, and logistical hurdles (like finding the bathroom) make it extremely demanding. 

What are the three main consequences?

Three types of consequences change student behavior: reinforcement, punishment, and extinction. As you will learn, using reinforcement to increase desired behaviors is generally more productive than using punishment or extinction to decrease undesirable ones.

What is the 10 minute rule in teaching?

The "10-minute teacher rule" generally refers to two different concepts: a homework guideline suggesting 10 minutes of homework per grade level per night, supported by the NEA/PTA, or a classroom management technique where teachers switch activities every 10 minutes to maintain student attention, reflecting brain research on focus. It can also mean a classroom policy (often called the "10/10 rule") preventing student interruptions or departures during the first and last 10 minutes of class to ensure clear instruction and wrap-up, notes Eastern Washington University.
 

What is the Goldilocks principle in teaching?

The 'Goldilocks principle' states that teachers should focus on material that is not too easy or too hard, but 'just right'.

What are the 5 P's classroom rules?

The 5 Ps of classroom management are common behavioral expectations: Prompt, Prepared, Polite, Productive, and Positive (or Patient), creating a framework for a respectful and efficient learning environment where students arrive on time, have materials, respect others, stay on task, and maintain an optimistic outlook. These principles guide student conduct, helping minimize distractions and foster a positive classroom culture focused on learning. 

How to survive being a substitute teacher?

Tips for Substitute Success

1. Arrive 15-30 minutes early. ...
2. Be professional in dress and attitude.
3. Turn off or silence your cell phone.
4. Read through lesson plans thoroughly.
5. Be interesting and get involved with the students.
6. Leave detailed notes at end of day with your phone number.

What things are teachers not allowed to do?

Teachers may not make intentional or reckless false statements, nor can they disrupt the educational interests of the school district. Teachers also cannot undermine authority or adversely affect working relationships at the school.

What are the 5 ts of teaching?

Animated video developed by the Uganda Literacy Achievement and Retention Activity under RTI International describing the 5 Ts - Time, Teaching, Text, Tongue and Testing.

Is substitute teaching a dead-end job?

Yes, it really is. As a long term sub, you're making all there is to make as a sub. You may have been moving along so far, but you've moved right to the end. At this point, the only upward mobility is either leaving or getting a teaching degree.

What should a substitute teacher do if there are no lesson plans?

Like a magician, substitute teachers are always better off if they come to work with a bag of tricks they can dip into in when there's no lesson plan. Take some time to build a list (physical or online) of credible, go-to resources that you can bring with you to every class.

What is the least stressful teaching job?

Top Types Of Least Stressful Teaching Jobs

• Remote Jewish School Teacher. Salary range: $46,000 - $60,500. ...
• Virtual Christian School Teacher. Salary range: $44,500 - $60,000. ...
• Micro School Teacher Remote. Salary range: $46,000 - $60,500. ...
• Culture Teacher. ...
• Part Time Computer Teacher. ...
• Weekend Teacher. ...
• Hope Academy. ...
• Virtual Teacher.

Why do sub teachers get paid so little?

School districts determine the substitute teacher pay rate. As a starting point, many look to state minimum wage requirements for substitute teachers. Local cost of living, taxes, and school bond rates play a role in what the districts can pay.

What is the #1 reason teachers quit?

Teachers often cite working conditions, such as the support of their principals and the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, as the top reason for leaving.

How long does a substitute teacher last?

When teachers are unavailable, many schools rely on substitute teachers to fill in until the regular teacher can return. Substitute teaching jobs can be as short as a few hours or last as long as several months.

Can you make a living off of being a substitute teacher?

Yes, you can make a living as a substitute teacher, but it depends heavily on your location, willingness to work daily, qualifications (higher pay for certified/degreed subs), and ability to find long-term assignments or work consistently in a high-paying district, with some areas offering over $200/day or even substantial annual incomes in metropolitan areas, while lower-paying regions might require a second job or frugal living. 

What are the cons of substitute teaching?

Con: Subs have fewer days available to them to work.

While having a flexible schedule is definitely a perk of subbing, the downside is that there are many days you cannot work, even if you would like to, resulting in fewer opportunities to make money.