Substitute Teaching

[Anonymous]

Does anyone on DCUM do it/ have done it?
How did you like substituting?
and as a full time work?
and managing kids?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

There’s a whole thread on this somewhere!

I’m sure some have done it, some enjoyed it,
Some didn’t, means to an end, end to a means..

What about managing kids? Your own?

Subbing is about managing kids.

[Anonymous]

I’ve done it. It has elements that provide satisfaction, like getting to help students and covering for favorite teachers and the like. This are big positives to me. It also has a lot of downsides, like some unpredictability, handling unplanned things (materials all in the teacher’s files and you can’t get to them), feeling like a babysitter more than a teacher, and behavior issues that you don’t have the history to address. Plus the pay is dismal. FWIW I’ve only ever handled MS and HS classes so it may be different in ES.

[Anonymous]

I did it for years. Each level has its own challenges and it’s easier if you just stick to a couple of schools so you learn the routines, rules and staff.

[Anonymous]

I did it for a while and mostly enjoyed it but some days were exhausting. And if you do primary grades you're gonna get sick.

Some districts pay extra on Fridays.

[Anonymous]

Several friends 50+ years old (male and female) within past years left their jobs or retired early to teach. All started as subs—4 returned to school to earn credentials and masters degree, 2 became special ed teaching assistants, and the rest are still temp or perm subs.

[Anonymous]

Sounds awful. I could not imagine doing this. I'd rather be a cafeteria lady.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did it for years. Each level has its own challenges and it’s easier if you just stick to a couple of schools so you learn the routines, rules and staff.

+1, I do not go further then 15 minutes from my house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did it for years. Each level has its own challenges and it’s easier if you just stick to a couple of schools so you learn the routines, rules and staff.

+1, I do not go further then 15 minutes from my house.

Agree with above but I did it part-time.

Full time it's a lot work and you could probably not find full time on the same location. You probably have to split between different schools/different days to make a full week.

Some substitutes are great and some are terrible with instructions left from the teacher. Same way, some teachers have a strict schedule, some don't.

Some teachers will like you and "book" you, some won't and will ask not to have you back. LOL

Managing kids? depends on the age. Elementary is easy, middle school is horrible. High school, they don't care for you..

[Anonymous]

I sub, unfortunately it seems the pool of available substitutes have grown rather large, so you need to hustle to get the good assignments. If you need it as a full time job, you can apply to be an in house sub - you work every day. The challenge is that it can be absolutely anything and you don’t have a choice. It might lead somewhere if you want to become a teacher - you might get hired on a provisional license and get credentials later.
If you need it as extra income, it works, but don’t rely on it much - they can cancel on you last minute and you are left scrambling to find another assignment or lose the day.

[Anonymous]

Beware if you want to do Full time in Fairfax County, you can be 15min. away from home or 45min.

[Anonymous]

I've done it for 2 years but don't recommend as FT if you have kids -- maybe if you are 22 years old or kids are moved out of house. I don't like being on call bc I am selective about the schools I go to, but you get more jobs if you're available on call. If you're good, they will ask you to be a long-term sub (I've been asked twice) but I don't want to work full-time plus it's the workaround for having a FT teacher but no benefits. I like it for if I want something in particular, I can work a few days to get the money. Also, bc DH works from home, I do it to make myself get away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did it for a while and mostly enjoyed it but some days were exhausting. And if you do primary grades you're gonna get sick.

Some districts pay extra on Fridays.

For the DC agency I worked for last year, we got paid extra for Mondays.

[Anonymous]

The sub assess test manual seems
like subbing is extremely hard because of how hard the students’ behavior in classes.
That alone is deterring me.

[Anonymous]

I was worried about handling kids when I started. But I was pleasantly surprised that I could handle most problems with showing interest in what the kids were doing (even if it broke rules) and firmness. But I’m a SAHM and love kids! My only bad experience was when a kid in the sped class that I was asked to take outside a classroom to calm him down became physically violent (hitting doors etc.) and then jumped into the window will of a big picture window and refused to come down for a bit. The principal later told me the glass would not have broken but I don’t believe her! after that I avoided that classroom. But teachers and kids loved me and I would get special requests to cover when they were out. If you keep the kids happy and make sure you complete the assigned work, they tell the teacher who then requests you next time they are out. If they hate you because you are too strict, that gets back too and depending on the teacher, you may or may not be called back.