TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

Being a sub, Id love to hear what the teachers like/dont like, need more/look for in a sub.

What are some DOs and DONTs?

I always leave a NOTE FROM YOUR SUB, with details of what went on..

some teachers specifically ask to let them know who misbehaves, but for those of you that dont, do you care or really want to know little details like this? Once or twice I had to document an incident because it was about a few boys that claimed (in the boys room) there was pushing, shoving, name-calling and one pushed the others head towards the toilet bowl to the one who was calling him names
It's a tough call though with minimal things in the classroom on what to let the teacher know about.. I mean we tell the kids no tattletales
Forthe most part, depending on how bad the kids are, I WILL jot it down (if they are just completely disrespectful.) If theyre just being kids and enjoying a sub with a teeny bit of chatting (I was one of them once!) I really dont mind that...

Whats feedback from the teachers ?
Let's hear it, good and bad !

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

I am in NYC and the subs are just awful...

*I like when the rooms is nice and tidy
*I get a list of things that were done and who did not behave
*Whatever worksheets that were not used are left neatly on my desk

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

I am also in NYC, but I like our subs. We have regular subs that get called.

I like when my subs:
*follow the plans (I write them for a reason)
*the room is the way I left it
*leave me a note to tell me what went on...

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

Most importantly I like to know what got done and what didn't. I also like to know if there were any visible problems with the work I left (if anyone really struggled, etc.) As far as behavior goes, I could care less about the little things. If it was something serious of course I want to know, but who talked out of turn, etc. I don't care. I always leave my subs a list of kids they can count on and possible problems, so if something happens with one of my problem children then I almost expect it, but if it was a really good kid whose name got left, I would want to know why. (hope that makes sense) I also love to know if any kids went above and beyond (from the sub's perspective) I always reward these kids. I like when the room is left clean (how it was when they came in), and when the stuff is in neat piles on my desk (like I left it). HTH

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

Honestly, I always feel bad for the subs because my class can be challenging. I ALWAYS leave detailed plans & extra work just incase. I honestly usually don't even care what they get to though. I leave it all really to make it easier fot the sub. I like when they leave me a note & tell me who did a great jb/ was helpful or who misbehaved. This way I can address it & praise/ speak to the class about how I count on them to follow the rules even when I am not there. The only thing I hate is when they leave the room a mess, but this rarely happens.

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

I love a note from the sub to let me know how the class was!
When the kids are good and the sub writes that, I make sure to tell the kids and thank them for behaving.
And when the kids are bad....I let them know I know what went on as well!

I do hate when a sub leaves my desk messy though.....one woman constantly leaves old coffee cups on my desk and it grosses me out!

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

as a sub, I think I am doing good so far. In fact I have other teachers and students comment on how neat the nesk is and organized I am.

I do think in all fairness (from a subs perspective) I should add....it's nice that the "regular" teacher is respectful to the sub and leaves plans and what the sub should know. If you have never been a sub, it's not easy walking into a bunch of students who are not your's and they know that! And to a school you do not know.

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

I like when subs keep the class neat and tidy (especially paperwork). I like when they leave a note about how the day went. I also like when they check the work that was given (im in kindergarten so its easy enought to do that). This way the kids still get immediate feedback.

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

I agree with the other posts.
I leave detailed plans (sometimes to the point of obsession) and I always hope the sub sticks to the plans a much as possible.
I like to know if there are any major behavior issues, especially so that I dont hear it third party after the fact.
I also like to hear the positive - if someone helped out etc.

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

i love getting a note and i ask the subs to tell me who misbehaved bc i do not let them get away with it

i love having a neat sub and getting my papers all nice and organized -

we were actually just talking about this today with one of the subs - a friend from high school - and she and another friend are considered two of the best subs bc of all the stuff i mentioned above!!

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

not to get off topic but last year when I had my own classroom the one and only time I had a sub was a horrible experience.

The sub decided he didn't like my lesson and taught them something else in a completely different chapter far ahead of where we were!!!

I had slower paced kids so you can figure out how lost they were.

I could have killed him!

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

I had a sub today since I was at a workshop all day...she was great. I had heard in the building that she was awful and not liked but I told the secretary she did a great job with my first graders...She left a note, kept the room clean, kids liked her, and tomorrow I will review what they did with her.
Subbing is not easy since I started out subbing on Long Island in 4 districts but I always busted my butt to make a good impression so that I would get lots of work. I also had a good rep with the faculty. Although many times other teachers did not look at me or want to talk to me I always SMILED!!!
It makes a difference and the principal told me she could not not hire me since I was always smiling I guessed she noticed
SMILE you never know when someone is looking. All it takes is one person to see you frowning to think you are MISERABLE

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

First I like my subs to be sane! I have a few loonies-- like on that yelled at imaginary students on the ceiling.

I like that the sub does the plans exactly as I have them written- they are like that for a reason. I had a sub tell my kids to stop doing their work and he wanted to have a human life lesson with him. I like when my subs do not go through my desk or personal items.

As for discipline I want to know everything they do. If they hiccup wrong I want to know and I will decide what actions to take. IMHO being a sub is a VERY hard job (especially at the middle school level), because they don't know the kids and the kids can try and take advantage of them or be rude. I actually called a sub at home once that had been in for me. She left a bad report on some of my kids. I wanted to know exactly what they did and they had 1 week detention with me. I tell my kids I am NEVER out so if I am it's a true emergency so I better not come back to a bad report. I tell them I expect them to treat the sub as well as they treat me and I will not tolerate less. I have rarely had bad reports from a sub.

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!
I cant beleive some of the things that subs do! go into your desk drawers? leave a mess?
I leave sticky notes with paper-clipped groups of whats what. their mail, who stopped by for what. etc.
I usually go step by step and follow their plans. Ive gotten many compliments on my little SUB NOTE "worksheet" type thingie
There are several teachers and admins who request me in one district. They said my name kept coming up even when I was home with baby (newborn days) and they were thinking of leave replacements for a few teachers.

the only time I ever went off the plans was last week, a math lesson (which is neither my passion nor my strength!) and it was a brand new chapter for them, and I had no answer key so I was NOT about to start something I HAdnt seen in ages, without an answer key to help explain the answers to me. It was formulas and yes it's simple once I have time to go over it, but I literally had about 4 minutes between being told I was subbing for this math teacher last minute and the bell ringing and the class walking in.
Mind you, there were 2 TAs in the room who had NO idea about what the class was up to, who were the weaker/stronger students, etc.
so it really annoyed me that they were of NO help whatsoever.
But we had fun with it anyway
I explained it as best I can, and we started their hw assignment, I thought that was fair since it was totally new to them and they were lost.

WOw, I NEVER leave coffee stains, or ANY type of mess. I even hate to sit at the teacher's desk. I rarely do. If she leaves tons of things to do on the desk, I'll sit there to sort through it all, but for the most part I leave my stuff and do my writing at another table, just a common courtesy thing to respect their private space.

Message edited 1/16/2007 11:08:27 PM.

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

do all of your subs leave their email or ph#? I used to leave my # incase they needed to call me, then I thought it was akward and stopped doing it..
thoughts on that ?

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

I have seen both sides of this. I had to sub for 2 years before I had my own classroom.. I would always leave a note, clean up the room, and even check work if I knew how to do it (when I was a permanent sub). When I had my own classroom I expected the subs to do the same for me. Don't get me wrong, some do, but most leave the room a wreck and don't even follow the plans. I don't get it.

Re: TEACHERS: Lets talk about your subs

Posted by anna

do all of your subs leave their email or ph#? I used to leave my # incase they needed to call me, then I thought it was akward and stopped doing it..
thoughts on that ?

Message edited 1/17/2007 12:07:47 PM.