Substitute Teaching
#1
Substitute Teaching
Hope someone can help. I taught secondary school for almost 20 years in the UK and now after 5 years in Canada my PEI licence should be here next week so I can hopefully get out into the school system as a substitute in September.
I've been tutoring local kids since I arrived so the curriculum and different terminology isn't a problem (it's a trapezium not a trapezoid ) but I've never actually experienced a Canadian high school classroom....
Any hints and tips and things to avoid (or ignore) would be great. Feels like I'm just starting out as a NQT again
Thanks
I've been tutoring local kids since I arrived so the curriculum and different terminology isn't a problem (it's a trapezium not a trapezoid ) but I've never actually experienced a Canadian high school classroom....
Any hints and tips and things to avoid (or ignore) would be great. Feels like I'm just starting out as a NQT again
Thanks
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: BC
Posts: 295
Re: Substitute Teaching
Hope someone can help. I taught secondary school for almost 20 years in the UK and now after 5 years in Canada my PEI licence should be here next week so I can hopefully get out into the school system as a substitute in September.
I've been tutoring local kids since I arrived so the curriculum and different terminology isn't a problem (it's a trapezium not a trapezoid ) but I've never actually experienced a Canadian high school classroom....
Any hints and tips and things to avoid (or ignore) would be great. Feels like I'm just starting out as a NQT again
Thanks
I've been tutoring local kids since I arrived so the curriculum and different terminology isn't a problem (it's a trapezium not a trapezoid ) but I've never actually experienced a Canadian high school classroom....
Any hints and tips and things to avoid (or ignore) would be great. Feels like I'm just starting out as a NQT again
Thanks
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: BC
Posts: 295
Re: Substitute Teaching
Best of luck. I hear it is beautiful there.
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: "Teh Westurn Zone D'oh Quebec"
Posts: 334
Re: Substitute Teaching
Hope someone can help. I taught secondary school for almost 20 years in the UK and now after 5 years in Canada my PEI licence should be here next week so I can hopefully get out into the school system as a substitute in September.
I've been tutoring local kids since I arrived so the curriculum and different terminology isn't a problem (it's a trapezium not a trapezoid ) but I've never actually experienced a Canadian high school classroom....
Any hints and tips and things to avoid (or ignore) would be great. Feels like I'm just starting out as a NQT again
Thanks
I've been tutoring local kids since I arrived so the curriculum and different terminology isn't a problem (it's a trapezium not a trapezoid ) but I've never actually experienced a Canadian high school classroom....
Any hints and tips and things to avoid (or ignore) would be great. Feels like I'm just starting out as a NQT again
Thanks
Most of PEI draws from a rural (Charlottetown=semi-rural) catchment. I'm guessing you'd get a fair deal of seasonal absence and disinterest within classes (I once taught in the rural UK . . .)?
From what I have come to experience/expect:
*Expect a class size of 28-38 kids (cramped rooms).
*Expect to have integrated kids (MD, LD, BD, Physical Disability, Asperger, Downs, etc.).
*Understand the school's code of student conduct - is really applied or just eye-candy.
*Technology changes (kids:cell, MP3, graphic cal. with games, etc.).
*Tech changes teaching [slow]- computerised attendance, digital student confidential files, mark reporting, HUD white board, LCD Projector, et al.).
*Overloaded teaching staff (=indifference).
*Overloaded administration (=ignorance).
*Lack of textbooks, supplies and on-site physical resources. You may have to be very resourceful . .
*Run-down schools (poor maintenance, filth, poor heating system . . .). Wear a boiler suit and a sweater .
Hints/tips:
(0) After working for a little bit, be very selective of what schools you cover when subbing - find out each school's rep and history, etc.
(1) Network with the staff - make friends and ask them for help.
(2) Take the first line of discipline into your own hands. Admin usually don't respect apron string teachers: apply conduct req's, give detentions seldomly & justly, call parents, fill in conduct reports for administration (paper trail), isolate and dissolve ringleaders, wheedle the class clown(s), and smile to the nice kids. When subbing get a full class list, and if possible, have staff flag/profile it for you.
(3) Suss out the admin - helpful or not, you may need to rely upon them for major discipline issues.
(4) Placate the mouthy, bothersome parents. Don't take any crap from misinformed yobs; don't deal with them.
(4) Enjoy the job; but leave it at work.
(5) If you end up in a hell-hole, change schools and don't ever look back . . .
Best of luck to you; I'm sure if you survived 20 years (hard time) you can manage the pastoral chosen of Anne's russet Isle.
#6
Re: Substitute Teaching
Have some business cards made with the subject areas you are willing to sub in.
Until you have some schools you reguarly work in leave these in the letter/mail slots/boxes of the teachers you would like to sub for.
DON'T sub for crazy, disorganized or harassed teachers - their classrooms will be a zoo!
Until you have some schools you reguarly work in leave these in the letter/mail slots/boxes of the teachers you would like to sub for.
DON'T sub for crazy, disorganized or harassed teachers - their classrooms will be a zoo!
#7
Re: Substitute Teaching
Thanks for the info and encouragement so far - most helpful.
Full time teaching is virtually impossible to get into on PEI (as in many other places) but I'm lucky to be able to tutor a lot and since my daughter is still only three it'll be a few years before I'm ready for that sort of commitment to be honest - a bit of time to work my way in hopefully!
I also teach high school math up to Calculus and IB courses so I'm hoping there might be a bit more opportunity for me, especially if I ever actually get round to building on my rusty French O level and could teach in both languages
Any more input would be welcome.
Full time teaching is virtually impossible to get into on PEI (as in many other places) but I'm lucky to be able to tutor a lot and since my daughter is still only three it'll be a few years before I'm ready for that sort of commitment to be honest - a bit of time to work my way in hopefully!
I also teach high school math up to Calculus and IB courses so I'm hoping there might be a bit more opportunity for me, especially if I ever actually get round to building on my rusty French O level and could teach in both languages
Any more input would be welcome.
#8
Banned
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: the GTA
Posts: 3,824
Re: Substitute Teaching
DON'T sub for crazy, disorganized or harassed teachers - their classrooms will be a zoo!
These would be the grossly incompetent ones who have a job for life, as nobody in education management has the guts to fire them.
These would be the grossly incompetent ones who have a job for life, as nobody in education management has the guts to fire them.
#9
Re: Substitute Teaching
However, since society seems to want to turn out social conformers who avoid risks, and who accept McJobs, the organized teacher is the best one to sub for. They may actually be giving less of "value" to the kids than the "crazies!"
#11
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Substitute Teaching
No - they aren't necessarily "grossly incompetent," and may have many other equally valuable gifts to bring to their classroom and to the kids! For instance they may be deeply compassionate, and may be the only teacher to understand some of the misfits. They may be artistic or have a flair for the unusual.
However, since society seems to want to turn out social conformers who avoid risks, and who accept McJobs, the organized teacher is the best one to sub for. They may actually be giving less of "value" to the kids than the "crazies!"
However, since society seems to want to turn out social conformers who avoid risks, and who accept McJobs, the organized teacher is the best one to sub for. They may actually be giving less of "value" to the kids than the "crazies!"
It's also funny how advocates of non-conformism always seem to be the most judgemental. Yeah, look at the us we are the creative free thinkers looking down on ordinary people with their mcjobs. Hypocrites
#12
Re: Substitute Teaching
Teachers that lack the ability to be organized are incompetent. They are not zany, they are not like robin williams in dead poets society - being incompetent cannot be defended by saying 'yeah man I don't subscribe to societal norms of "competence" because you know, that's conformist'
It's also funny how advocates of non-conformism always seem to be the most judgemental. Yeah, look at the us we are the creative free thinkers looking down on ordinary people with their mcjobs. Hypocrites
It's also funny how advocates of non-conformism always seem to be the most judgemental. Yeah, look at the us we are the creative free thinkers looking down on ordinary people with their mcjobs. Hypocrites
#13
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Substitute Teaching
How is that relevant to what I said.
Presumably to manage 35 teachers you need organizational ability. Not an expert on teaching, but I would guess you have to make lesson plans, homework plans, provide some kind of structure in the class room. If a teacher is unable to do this that makes them incompetent I would say.
Presumably to manage 35 teachers you need organizational ability. Not an expert on teaching, but I would guess you have to make lesson plans, homework plans, provide some kind of structure in the class room. If a teacher is unable to do this that makes them incompetent I would say.
Last edited by Alan2005; Aug 7th 2010 at 9:59 pm.
#14
Re: Substitute Teaching
I have. And from my years of experience in admin organizational skills are not always any one teacher's forte. The admin does have to work with those teachers. However, organizational skills are not the only tools the teacher uses to teach.
While I would not choose to sub in a classroom of some teachers (as I mentioned above) because I would have to rely on their organization for the success or failure of my work day, I wouldn't refuse to employ a teacher just because their day planner as not up to scratch.
I'm just irritated by people who take a cursory look at either teachers or the work they do (or they see them do) and judge whether or not they could survive in the "real" world of employment.
Bottom line - you don't have to be a classroom nazi to be a great teacher. There - I've just succumbed to Godwin's Law!
While I would not choose to sub in a classroom of some teachers (as I mentioned above) because I would have to rely on their organization for the success or failure of my work day, I wouldn't refuse to employ a teacher just because their day planner as not up to scratch.
I'm just irritated by people who take a cursory look at either teachers or the work they do (or they see them do) and judge whether or not they could survive in the "real" world of employment.
Bottom line - you don't have to be a classroom nazi to be a great teacher. There - I've just succumbed to Godwin's Law!
Last edited by triumphguy; Aug 7th 2010 at 11:10 pm.
#15
Re: Substitute Teaching
BTW I was the most unorganized teacher I have ever met.... much to the despair of my admin. However, in working with street kids, kids just out of jail and gangbangers my freewheeling, flexible approach meant more success for these kids than the school board had seen in years.