Planning for a Substitute

Recently, due to a crisis and a shortage of available substitute teachers, I had the opportunity to cover a few classes in one of the schools that I work in.  It took me back to those early days in my career when I worked solely as a substitute or "guest teacher" as they are thoughtfully called nowadays.  This experience reminded me of the four basic approaches taken by teachers to planning for a substitute teacher.

Approach I:  Harry Wong Eat your Heart Out:
This teacher has every aspect of the day planned in 7 minute intervals.  Routines and procedures are not only in place, but they rule everything that happens in the classroom.  This teacher leaves nothing to chance, a script may accompany all lessons. The substitute who is in this classroom will have a thick document outlining everything from how and when to excuse students for bathroom breaks to a detailed map of all the art supplies in the classroom.  A substitute in this class can expect to frequently hear students say things like, "Excuse me but it is time for______now" and "That's not how Mrs. _____ does it!"

Approach 2:  Loose Tight and Trusting:
The teacher who uses this approach has faith that the substitute teacher actually holds a university degree and may even know how to teach.  Detailed plans are left however there is room for the substitute teacher to adapt for his/her own teaching style and based upon the needs of the students.  Generally students in these classes have established protocol but are not completely freaked out by change.  An ideal place to sub if you actually want to do some authentic teaching!

Approach 3:  Keep them Busy being Busy:
The teacher using approach 3 has either no faith in the ability of the substitute teacher, or no desire to find out.  This teacher leaves plenty of work for the students to do but little, if anything, for the sub to teach.  Students may be watching a video and completing a viewing guide, doing workbooks, word searches, silent reading and in the younger grades, lots of colouring.  Subbing in this class may seem easy at first but, most times the students understand that what they are doing is pretty much meaningless and consider it more of a free day.  For this reason, a sub in this classroom can expect some behaviour issues to arise as the day wears on...and it will wear on when all you do is babysit !

Approach 4:  Good Luck Loser:
The teacher using this approach is either too sick or distressed to leave any kind of a plan or just doesn't care!  This is the true test of a substitute teacher, figuring out what to do with a room full of kids and no plan.  It is kind of like Survivor: School...would make a great reality show actually!  The ultimate measure of success for the substitute teacher in this case is simply being able to walk out the door at the end of the day with most of your skin, nails, nerves and dignity intact.

We have all read the funny poems about substitute teachers, seen the stereo-types in the movies and sometimes even in reality but, it is truly a thankless job.  Every day is a mystery, not knowing where you are going, what you are doing and in some cases, if you will make it out alive.  These folks deserve some recognition for walking into the battle zone each day!  It is a tough job and somebody has to do it but, I am thankful it isn't me anymore!