Substitute teachers or anyone who's subbed in the past**UPDATE!!** I subbed middle school today

How do you feel about subbing outside of your certified area? I am certified K-6 and special ed. but I can sub secondary ed also. I'm so scared to take a job in the high school or middle school. Should I be or am I over reacting?


**Update**
I got a call this morning to sub in the middle school. It was only a half day position so i decided to take it to see what it was like. It was actually ok. I had 3 periods and 2 out of the 3 had another teacher in the room. The class i was alone in was a good class. So i think I might take other middle school jobs in the future but I think I'll stay away from HS. Thanks for all your advice!

Message edited 11/6/2008 11:38:31 AM.

Re: Substitute teachers or anyone who's subbed in the past

I'll be honest.

While I have never subbed, I can understand your hesitance to teach outside your certification.

I am k-6 certified and teach 6th grade. But I have an 8th grade advisory and I DESPISEEEEEEEEE it. 8th grade is NOT 6th grade....

So if you think you'd feel uncomfortable, don't do it.

Re: Substitute teachers or anyone who's subbed in the past

I was a perm. sub in a middle school for a year, even though I'm only certified K-6. It didn't bother me. As the OP said, 8th grade was a little nerve-wracking, but other than that I think it was fine.

I think it's great to get a multitude of experiences, so long as YOU feel comfortable!

Re: Substitute teachers or anyone who's subbed in the past

It depends.

I am certified 1-6. When I sub Kindergarten or Special Ed K-6, I'm fine. When I sub in the MS (only 3 times since I started in April) or the HS (only once so far), I am a mess. I think I even posted on here once because my classroom management skills are nothing like they are in elementary when I go to the upper grades and I was looking for advice.

In my district, I am a perm. sub in one particular school (K-5), and they call me if they need me somewhere else, otherwise I just go to my school everyday.

That's just been my experience though!

Re: Substitute teachers or anyone who's subbed in the past

I subbed briefly K-12 and asked not to be put in a high school math class because I didn't feel confident enough to teach it. With that said one day I was put in a 10th grade biology class and I was completely lost. I felt so dumb. (I am ESL certified)

Re: Substitute teachers or anyone who's subbed in the past

Back when I was subbing, I took a few middle school jobs (my certification was K-6 too) here and there. They made me nervous since it wasn't my "area of expertise" or target age group for that matter, but it was fun to do something different sometimes. I never took a HS subbing job though.

Don't be too scared - it can be a good professional experience for you to step outside your comfort zone, and you'd get to see first hand what the kids do with the elementary school knowledge base as they grow older.