Britney Dearest: Slay A Busy Day: 6 Tips For First-Year Substitute Teachers

/ Monday, October 2, 2017

Slay A Busy Day: 6 Tips For First-Year Substitute Teachers

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #SnackHonestly #CollectiveBias

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During the past five weeks, I have been spending a few days per week substitute teaching at various local schools. Yep! I'm a "newbie". In those few weeks, I quickly realized there were things I needed to do to improve my day, such as adding extra supplies to my substitute bag and reenergizing myself before and after lunch. Below, you'll find tips that have helped me so far!


1. Bring your own supplies. During my school years, I recall seeing the substitute teachers in my classes carrying their own personal bags of supplies, so before my first day of substituting, I knew I wanted to make sure I came prepared with supplies that either I or the students would possibly need at some point. In my bag I keep:

-A clipboard that I carry around with me throughout the day. It usually has a class roster as a reference to help me remember students names, the class schedule, dismissal procedures, and a piece of notebook paper to write down a daily report of events.
-Coloring and craft supplies. Markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks, and scissors.
-Sticky notes.
-Dry erase markers.
-Extra pencils and pens.
-Notecards.
-Hypo-allergenic facial wipes for quick hand or face cleaning for myself or the students and facial tissue.
-My planner.
-Snacks (more on that below!).


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2. Arrive early greet the students as they come in, and introduce yourself. As with any job, arriving early is very beneficial. As a substitute, arriving early give you extra time to look over the schedule and lesson plan and prepare supplies as necessary and also to look over the school safety plans so that you know what to do if, forbid, a serious emergency ever occurred.


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3. Follow the home teacher's instructions. So far, I have not entered a class where the teacher did not leave a detailed schedule or assignments from a lesson plan, however, I know that there may be a time where I may not have detailed instructions. Usually, there is a substitute binder with general classroom notes and worksheets that students can complete.


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4. Have a snack. Although I genuinely enjoy my new responsibilities, I have to admit that by the end of the day, as proud as I am to have made it through the day after interacting with students and helping them learn, I'm equally as exhausted. Thankfully, I was recently introduced to Honest Tea® and Lorissa's Kitchen beef snacks, a perfect snack pair that's both appetizing and better for you than snacks that are high in sugar and preservatives. During my students' special classes; music, art, and P.E. and recess, I can re-energize during my quiet time with a snack.


Walmart, Snacks, Organic, Honest Tea, Lorissa's, Kitchen, Beef Jerky, Substitute, Teacher, Tips, Protein, Bust Day, Britney Dearest, Interracial, Multiracial, Family


Honest Tea is just a tad bit sweet and certified organic by USDA. Lorissa's Kitchen premium prep-free protein snacks feature a clean label with many benefits that include 100% grass-fed beef, responsibly raised pork, is gluten-free and has no preservatives, no added growth hormones, no added MSG, and no added nitrites. The ingredients used in these portable snack packs can be found right in your own kitchen.

With Honest Tea and Lorissa's Kitchen products, you can feel better about your responsibly sourced protein snack and maintain a better lifestyle without sacrificing delicious flavor wherever you go.

Lorissa's Kitchen offers four globally inspired flavors that can be found at your local Walmart store near the cash registers at the front of the store. Honest Tea products can be found nearby.


Sweet deal alert: Earn $1.00 cash back with your purchase of the following combination, exclusive at Walmart, Lorissa's Kitchen™ Premium Protein Snacks - Any variety - 2.25 oz. bag and Honest Tea® - Any variety - Single bottle only. Both products must be purchased on the same receipt to receive credit for this rebate.

Walmart, Snacks, Organic, Honest Tea, Lorissa's, Kitchen, Beef Jerky, Substitute, Teacher, Tips, Protein, Bust Day, Britney Dearest, Interracial, Multiracial, Family

Walmart, Snacks, Organic, Honest Tea, Lorissa's, Kitchen, Beef Jerky, Substitute, Teacher, Tips, Protein, Bust Day, Britney Dearest, Interracial, Multiracial, Family


5. Keep track of the day. Substitute daily report forms may not be required by all schools or districts, however, I highly suggest you write one. Some teachers have preprinted forms you can fill out or you can print out your own. I use a piece of notebook paper. I write my first and last name and the Throughout the day I write down any behavioral or safety incidents that occurred with students, what students were helpful, who had to have redirection and frequent reminders to follow instructions, and what assignments and activities were completed, and whatever else I feel should be added.


6. Tidy up. Before you leave at the end of the day, make sure the classroom is tidied up. Put furniture and supplies back where they found. I usually have my students pick up the trash around their desk or table and call them up and few at a time to throw it away. Some teachers have their students put their desks on the table before leaving, others don't. If you're unsure, ask a student.


Walmart, Snacks, Organic, Honest Tea, Lorissa's, Kitchen, Beef Jerky, Substitute, Teacher, Tips, Protein, Bust Day, Britney Dearest, Interracial, Multiracial, Family

Walmart, Snacks, Organic, Honest Tea, Lorissa's, Kitchen, Beef Jerky, Substitute, Teacher, Tips, Protein, Bust Day, Britney Dearest, Interracial, Multiracial, Family


Bonus Tip: If you have no classroom experience and your educational background is not in teaching, thoroughly research and practice classroom management techniques. Many educational staffing companies and districts will go through a few quick training courses with new subs, however, it's extremely beneficial to learn more.



I received permission from the principals at both schools to photograph the classrooms and share the images in this blog post. Thank you for reading!
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4 comments:

  1. Awesome tips! Any time you start a new career it can be so overwhelming and so helpful to get advice from someone who is already there! ~ Client

    ReplyDelete
  2. I cannot stress enough the need to CLEAN UP! Teachers SO appreciate you doing that and you will be so much more likely to be called back.

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are such a useful list. Having been both a substitute and a teacher, it can be super stressful coming into someone else's classroom and wrangling their students all day! Just keep your sense of humor, keep an open mind, and try to take deep breaths!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your blog! I sub in Raytown and this is perfect! Great job!

    ReplyDelete

About Me

Hi! I'm Britney. I'm a wife, mother to 3 children, and a serial hobbyist. Britney Dearest is a YouTube channel I started in 2016 to document my family's life. If you want to laugh, smile, and become part of a fun-loving growing YouTube family, we're your tribe so find us on YouTube and subscribe! Turn on notifications to avoid missing new vlogs and videos. For business inquiries, sponsored videos, product reviews, all that fun stuff send your information to britneydearest@gmail.com Read more

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