Sub. newbie

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Archive : 2002 : July : 2

Sub. newbie
By Ken M.

Kay,

I also started in sub'ing in K-12 after some years of work in accounting, etc. The only teaching I had done before that were some accounting/computer courses for a tech. college and that was part-time only.

Being
nervous - yes, I still have my moments, too. Particularly when I sub. for a teacher I have not sub'd for before. But I like the challenge, enjoy the kids - particularly the very little ones - and have found that most teachers are very good about leaving you good notes, etc.
As I have some free time I jump over to the other forums on this resource just to see what is happening with a grade

level or content area.

I will always follow the teacher's lesson plans and I generally find I can quickly get teacher's resources identified, etc. I always try to identify one or two of the key students for help. Touch base with the other teachers; most of them can point you to teacher's resources or even lend you theirs.

I've built a reputation with the schools and many teachers as they know I always come to the room early, identify all the job duties, see if name tags are used, find the seating chart, etc. The closer you can be to the daily routine of the class the better - lots of kids do not handle major changes and I think sub's who come in and try to do their own thing are going to quickly find less calls and more behavior problems, etc.

I've also found that I learn so much from networking with some teachers/other staff. I just spent 2 hours this morning helping a principal from one of the schools start to tear-down an old barn! Great way to network with him and I suspect he'll see to it that I get called a bit more to his school this coming year.

I'm soon to be 56 and get so much more than the money from going to a school and having kids run up with greetings, hugs, etc. I've found my own niche to be K-2 or 3 but take all assignments. I'm even doing several hours of a pre-K summer school tomorrow; it is so neat to watch them grow and even as a sub. I get into their school enough to poke my head in, say "hi", etc. even when I'm there for another class.

Take the time to read thru the older postings; you're going to see lots of neat postings, some debates on behavior, etc. If you love kids and value your own role in education your nervousness will be positive. Best of luck,

Ken in a very hot Wisconsin