What are your overall experiences working as a substitute teacher within FCPS

[Anonymous]

I was a sub in elementary and special education last year, and it was draining, to say the least. Curious to know others' experiences as a substitute? Are you going to go back this fall? I'm on the fence, to be honest.

[Anonymous]

At first it can be hard, but if you go to the same school they get to know you and they will like you and listen to you. This is my second job, so I will be going back. I work a few times a month.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. It is important as a sub to let the principals know if you are struggling with a certain kid or class. They can help, if you let them know. They are desperate for subs, so they want you to return. See if you can be specific about what is difficult. Is it lack of lesson plans, or classroom management? Other teachers in the grade will likely help out if you ask. You could only take pre-arranged sub jobs, so you know there will be plans and always ask for an educational movie to be left, just in case.

If you have a particularly troublesome student, they can move that child to another class for the day, but you have to tell them.

I would be liberal with praise and tell kids if they finish all the work for the lesson, they can tell appropriate jokes or have free drawing time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At first it can be hard, but if you go to the same school they get to know you and they will like you and listen to you. This is my second job, so I will be going back. I work a few times a month.

+1, I don’t do it full-time. I have another job. I only go to the 6 or so schools closest to my house and it’s only a few times a month.

[Anonymous]

What causes you to go back -- or not? I found the bait and switch from the front office offensive and would not go back to those schools who tried that on me. Also, the teachers who were totally checked out and not helpful... sorry, don't want to deal with your crazy students. I did notice and appreciated the staff that was helpful and supportive and it made a difference if I was willing to go back to sub at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What causes you to go back -- or not? I found the bait and switch from the front office offensive and would not go back to those schools who tried that on me. Also, the teachers who were totally checked out and not helpful... sorry, don't want to deal with your crazy students. I did notice and appreciated the staff that was helpful and supportive and it made a difference if I was willing to go back to sub at the school.

I was actually wondering about this. What do subs do with the kids? Does the teacher leave work for them? Do you ask them to work on any catch up work, lexia etc?

[Anonymous]

What is "bait and switch by the front office" mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is "bait and switch by the front office" mean?

It means that you accept a sub position with a 1st grade class but when you arrive at the school, they send you to another class. I would refuse anything but the one I accepted. Their response will tell you all you need to know about whether you want to be a sub there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is "bait and switch by the front office" mean?

It means that you accept a sub position with a 1st grade class but when you arrive at the school, they send you to another class. I would refuse anything but the one I accepted. Their response will tell you all you need to know about whether you want to be a sub there.

I didn't know they did this. Good to know.

[Anonymous]

Why not select something "easier" like HS biology where you turn on a video for the kids and the kids leave after 70 min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. It is important as a sub to let the principals know if you are struggling with a certain kid or class. They can help, if you let them know. They are desperate for subs, so they want you to return. See if you can be specific about what is difficult. Is it lack of lesson plans, or classroom management? Other teachers in the grade will likely help out if you ask. You could only take pre-arranged sub jobs, so you know there will be plans and always ask for an educational movie to be left, just in case.

If you have a particularly troublesome student, they can move that child to another class for the day, but you have to tell them.

I would be liberal with praise and tell kids if they finish all the work for the lesson, they can tell appropriate jokes or have free drawing time.

This only works if admin is receptive. At the schools in which I have subbed, the principal and assistant principal do NOT want to be bothered with disruptive students. It is frowned upon to bring them to the front office. I suppose that way they can pretend there aren’t actually any disruptive students and everything is going along smoothly. I now avoid those schools altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. It is important as a sub to let the principals know if you are struggling with a certain kid or class. They can help, if you let them know. They are desperate for subs, so they want you to return. See if you can be specific about what is difficult. Is it lack of lesson plans, or classroom management? Other teachers in the grade will likely help out if you ask. You could only take pre-arranged sub jobs, so you know there will be plans and always ask for an educational movie to be left, just in case.

If you have a particularly troublesome student, they can move that child to another class for the day, but you have to tell them.

I would be liberal with praise and tell kids if they finish all the work for the lesson, they can tell appropriate jokes or have free drawing time.

This only works if admin is receptive. At the schools in which I have subbed, the principal and assistant principal do NOT want to be bothered with disruptive students. It is frowned upon to bring them to the front office. I suppose that way they can pretend there aren’t actually any disruptive students and everything is going along smoothly. I now avoid those schools altogether.

I'm a teacher and former sub and I don't blame you. There are tons of unfilled sub jobs every single day. Subs are not paid enough to put up with crappy treatment or lack of support if a student is out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. It is important as a sub to let the principals know if you are struggling with a certain kid or class. They can help, if you let them know. They are desperate for subs, so they want you to return. See if you can be specific about what is difficult. Is it lack of lesson plans, or classroom management? Other teachers in the grade will likely help out if you ask. You could only take pre-arranged sub jobs, so you know there will be plans and always ask for an educational movie to be left, just in case.

If you have a particularly troublesome student, they can move that child to another class for the day, but you have to tell them.

I would be liberal with praise and tell kids if they finish all the work for the lesson, they can tell appropriate jokes or have free drawing time.

This only works if admin is receptive. At the schools in which I have subbed, the principal and assistant principal do NOT want to be bothered with disruptive students. It is frowned upon to bring them to the front office. I suppose that way they can pretend there aren’t actually any disruptive students and everything is going along smoothly. I now avoid those schools altogether.

I'm a teacher and former sub and I don't blame you. There are tons of unfilled sub jobs every single day. Subs are not paid enough to put up with crappy treatment or lack of support if a student is out of control.

+1
I'm considering no longer subbing this year. It's too bad - FCPS is losing out not only on great teachers, but also great subs who are responsible, conscientious, intelligent, and caring. If they were truly worried about losing this talent, they would immediately change their discipline policies so that disruptive kids are *removed* from the classroom after three infractions, period. Principals and ass't. principals need to be fully present and willing to help the teachers with disruptive students, rather than pretending they don't exist. The teacher/sub and other students shouldn't have to pay for the bad behavior of one or two kids.

[Anonymous]

NP- more insights helpful.
Anyone do HS at Hayfield, Edison or West Potomac?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. It is important as a sub to let the principals know if you are struggling with a certain kid or class. They can help, if you let them know. They are desperate for subs, so they want you to return. See if you can be specific about what is difficult. Is it lack of lesson plans, or classroom management? Other teachers in the grade will likely help out if you ask. You could only take pre-arranged sub jobs, so you know there will be plans and always ask for an educational movie to be left, just in case.

If you have a particularly troublesome student, they can move that child to another class for the day, but you have to tell them.

I would be liberal with praise and tell kids if they finish all the work for the lesson, they can tell appropriate jokes or have free drawing time.

This only works if admin is receptive. At the schools in which I have subbed, the principal and assistant principal do NOT want to be bothered with disruptive students. It is frowned upon to bring them to the front office. I suppose that way they can pretend there aren’t actually any disruptive students and everything is going along smoothly. I now avoid those schools altogether.

I'm a teacher and former sub and I don't blame you. There are tons of unfilled sub jobs every single day. Subs are not paid enough to put up with crappy treatment or lack of support if a student is out of control.

+1