Does a Sub ever teach a real lesson?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I been subbing for a few weeks, and noticed I don't really have a real lesson plans, most of the time is just busy work, like maybe just reading a Story time, but not doing real work...

The teacher may be a little racist and think that because English is not your first language that you’re not capable of teaching.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the sub, the teacher and the sub’s relationship with the school. Our school has a sub that only subs for our school. The teachers know her (she’s had kids go through the school and is very active in the school), know she’s capable of teaching a lesson and can manage anything from K-6. So she’s given full plans. I know other subs they’ve just hoped the kids wouldn’t make them cry. (Happened in my daughter’s second grade class. Sub went crying to a teacher next door).

[Anonymous]

Like other said, if you’re a long term sub the teacher you’re subbing for will leave lessons for the weeks they’re gone. If it’s a one-off day, no, you’re not teaching my material for me, you’re just watching the kids with busy work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I been subbing for a few weeks, and noticed I don't really have a real lesson plans, most of the time is just busy work, like maybe just reading a Story time, but not doing real work...

I can’t get my subs to follow basic plans like “hand out this worksheet at 11:00”. I’m definitely not leaving actual instruction. I’ve had multiple subs “help” on a 5th grade review worksheet and do the math wrong. I know there are some great subs, but I’ve never been lucky enough to get one.

+1, even when I leave a word-by-word script with answer keys, the kids still tell me that the sub was completely useless…and these are 2nd graders.

DP. Who are these subs you're getting? I can't imagine accepting a subbing job and not actually instructing. I follow the teacher's plan to a T.

The subs are rarely good. If I recognize the name as someone who subs around the school, they may teach a little. It appears to be a new sub that no one in the school is ever worked with then it’s read-aloud books and worksheets.

5-10 years ago it may have been different, but nowadays that’s how it is.

[Anonymous]

Following a teacher’s plan is one thing. Teaching material correctly, answering kids’ questions about that material, giving an assignment and providing support are all very different than just “following a plan.” The qualities that make someone “a good sub” don’t translate to being able to teach content in an area you aren’t licensed in as well as the experienced teacher can. Teaching is actually a skill; not just anyone can stroll in and do it on the fly successfully with kids they have no existing relationship with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Following a teacher’s plan is one thing. Teaching material correctly, answering kids’ questions about that material, giving an assignment and providing support are all very different than just “following a plan.” The qualities that make someone “a good sub” don’t translate to being able to teach content in an area you aren’t licensed in as well as the experienced teacher can. Teaching is actually a skill; not just anyone can stroll in and do it on the fly successfully with kids they have no existing relationship with.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following a teacher’s plan is one thing. Teaching material correctly, answering kids’ questions about that material, giving an assignment and providing support are all very different than just “following a plan.” The qualities that make someone “a good sub” don’t translate to being able to teach content in an area you aren’t licensed in as well as the experienced teacher can. Teaching is actually a skill; not just anyone can stroll in and do it on the fly successfully with kids they have no existing relationship with.

This.

Agree... I am in middle school admin and it's a daily struggle to get the teachers to put in for a sub and submit their plans... then we have teachers who literally leave in the middle of the day because they don't feel well so we have to scramble to cover for them... half the time I'm begging the HPE team that has planning to go sit with a class because the teacher called in and had no sub assigned or bailed.

I will say this though and it may be off topic but as a part of admin we are looking at teachers that consistently called in sick or left early and not extending contracts to them, despite the shortage

[Anonymous]

PP that posted above - the only reason I bring this up is that it's a who you know environment and you need a good reference from your principal to move to another school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like other said, if you’re a long term sub the teacher you’re subbing for will leave lessons for the weeks they’re gone. If it’s a one-off day, no, you’re not teaching my material for me, you’re just watching the kids with busy work

I was a long term sub and only had plans through the second week. After that, I was on my own and told to "print out some worksheets" by the other teachers. Talk about busy work...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Following a teacher’s plan is one thing. Teaching material correctly, answering kids’ questions about that material, giving an assignment and providing support are all very different than just “following a plan.” The qualities that make someone “a good sub” don’t translate to being able to teach content in an area you aren’t licensed in as well as the experienced teacher can. Teaching is actually a skill; not just anyone can stroll in and do it on the fly successfully with kids they have no existing relationship with.

No one is debating that. You sound irrationally defensive. I sincerely hope I never sub for you. The teachers I enjoy subbing for all leave clear, detailed plans and follow up later to say thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following a teacher’s plan is one thing. Teaching material correctly, answering kids’ questions about that material, giving an assignment and providing support are all very different than just “following a plan.” The qualities that make someone “a good sub” don’t translate to being able to teach content in an area you aren’t licensed in as well as the experienced teacher can. Teaching is actually a skill; not just anyone can stroll in and do it on the fly successfully with kids they have no existing relationship with.

No one is debating that. You sound irrationally defensive. I sincerely hope I never sub for you. The teachers I enjoy subbing for all leave clear, detailed plans and follow up later to say thanks.

I was responding to 21:44 saying they “can’t imagine” not instructing as a sub because they follow the teacher’s plan to a T. That is not instructing or teaching. It’s appreciated when subs follow the plan but it’s not the same thing as instructing. The plans almost never involve actual content instruction - they’re designed to be plans anyone can implement and are often simply supplementing content the kids have already learned from us.

[Anonymous]

When I subbed pre-pandemic, most teachers left a lesson plan for me. But I was known at the school because it was my kids’ school. (I never subbed for their classes.) one time I had to cancel last minute and when I came in a few days later, the teacher I was supposed to sub for told me what a disaster the sub had been because she had left a lesson (thinking the sub was me) and the sub didn’t teach it at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child has a long term sub and she has been doing a great job - the teacher is on maternity leave so she had time to prepare, she hand picked the sub, and the curriculum is team taught so she has a lot of support from the other teachers. It’s the best sub experience any of my kids have had.

Same. We also have a long term sub while the teacher is out on maternity leave. She's doing great. The only actual difference I've noticed is that she grades the homework instead of just checking for completion and provides more feedback on assignments. We've chatted and she spends hours every evening preparing for lessons, working to keep up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has a long term sub and she has been doing a great job - the teacher is on maternity leave so she had time to prepare, she hand picked the sub, and the curriculum is team taught so she has a lot of support from the other teachers. It’s the best sub experience any of my kids have had.

Same. We also have a long term sub while the teacher is out on maternity leave. She's doing great. The only actual difference I've noticed is that she grades the homework instead of just checking for completion and provides more feedback on assignments. We've chatted and she spends hours every evening preparing for lessons, working to keep up.

Anyone spending hours every evening deserves more than $25 per hour paid only for 7 hours. I’m glad your child’s class has a good long term sub but this is why there aren’t many people picking up these jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has a long term sub and she has been doing a great job - the teacher is on maternity leave so she had time to prepare, she hand picked the sub, and the curriculum is team taught so she has a lot of support from the other teachers. It’s the best sub experience any of my kids have had.

Same. We also have a long term sub while the teacher is out on maternity leave. She's doing great. The only actual difference I've noticed is that she grades the homework instead of just checking for completion and provides more feedback on assignments. We've chatted and she spends hours every evening preparing for lessons, working to keep up.

Anyone spending hours every evening deserves more than $25 per hour paid only for 7 hours. I’m glad your child’s class has a good long term sub but this is why there aren’t many people picking up these jobs.

+1
One of my kids has an excellent long term sub - far better than her actual teacher was. It’s criminal that they’re expected to do all the work of a teacher with such low compensation. I sub (short term only) and can see the long list of sub openings that no one is picking up - and for good reason.