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Since 2000, ESS | Source4Teachers has evaluated, trained, vetted, and hired thousands of substitute teachers for school districts across America. Today, ESS | Source4Teachers provides nearly 10,000 daily and long-term substitutes for more than 250 schools, serving one million students.
Substitute teaching is a demanding career, which can be stressful at times. Substitute teachers have found that the following five strategies help them enjoy their workday.
1. Arrive at work early to familiarize yourself with the room, the lesson plans the teacher may have left for you, and available teaching aids, such as a laptop or a smartboard.
2. Show confidence to the students by taking control in the classroom as you explain the lesson plan for the day. Students will notice if you assume an assertive attitude or if you lack confidence.
3. Regardless of the students’ grade level, share some information about yourself with them to ease the tension of not knowing one another, while you learn their names.
4. If there is no lesson plan to follow, improvise. This might include allowing younger students to play games or get involved in activities, and older students to visit the library or complete a journal or art assignment.
5. Leave a message for the regular teacher, stating what transpired during the day, especially information about the amount of the lesson plan that was covered and how students responded. Providing detailed notes for the regular teacher may increase your chances of being invited back for future substitute work.
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