Have you ever been a substitute teacher?

United States
January 23, 2007 9:34pm CST
Today I was substitute for a 3rd grade class and I loved it. It was fun and the kids were great! It wasn't at a public school so the class is very small. Although I have been quite involved with my children's schools I have only substituted twice now. They need me again tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. One bonus is that I get paid...I would still do it even if I didn't though. Has anyone else been a substitute teacher? How did you like it? Was it fun or do you never want to do it again? :)
5 people like this
45 responses
@rachelcaron (1679)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I used to substitute teach. Now I actually have my teachers certificate and Masters and I taught for a few years in the classroom. Now I stay at home with my baby. I think substituting was a good way for me to get a feel for teaching. But Students definitely can give a sub a hard time. You just need to go in there and be tough and let them know right away you are the boss and you won't put up with anything. Don't be afraid to punish them. They need to see you are serious.
• United States
24 Jan 07
I completely agree with you. It's like they see a new sub and think, cool, fresh meat. Let's see what we can get away with. hehehe The kids are slowly learning that they aren't going to get away with anything with me.
• United States
2 Feb 07
well, there are lots of quick ways to get a teaching certificate now. You might as well try it. YOu never know if you'll like something until you really try it.
• United States
25 Jan 07
Yeah, I like to have fun but I let the kids know that I will get serious. I'm not afraid to put my foot down when I need to. Luckily this class is really good. The boys are kinda hyper though. And today one kid got really upset...he does that easily and he admitted it. But other than that it went well. They need me again on Monday and I am looking forward to it. Like you, rachel, I am wondering if teaching might be something I would want to do. Growing up I always pretended that I was a teacher and it has been something I've thought of so I don't know. We'll see.
• United States
24 Jan 07
I just recently became a substitute teacher. I've subbed 3 times now. I love it. The kids can be trying, but that ok. I sub for grades Pre-K through 12th grade. So, far I've subbed for Pre-K(my first day) and in the Middle/High school for grades 7th through 12th. Some of the classes where mixed. So far the grade that I had less trouble with is 8th grade. Seems when the kids see a new sub they want to see what the sub will allow them to get away with. So, I usually have to start each class saying.... "Everyone take a seat and quiet down. No more talking. I will not speak over anyone and I will not speak twice." I'm hoping that the kids will start to learn that even though I'm not their usual teacher, they still have to treat me as if I was. But I love my job and hope that within 5 years I can become a teacher.
• United States
25 Jan 07
That's good that you start off by telling the kids that. I also tell them that they need to respect me the way they would their teacher. Also, when they try to tell me that "Mrs. So&So doesn't do that..." I tell them I am the teacher right now and they need to follow my instructions.
• United States
28 Jan 07
Oh, I get that too. Mr/Mrs. so-so lets us do this/that. I just look at them and say, well, I'm not Mr/Mrs. so-so. They hate that. But I also know that on a majority rule the teacher doesn't. Most of the kids are great, but there are a few that are totally disrespectful.
@justiman (428)
• United States
22 Feb 07
No but I was a teacher at a private school for 4 years teaching autistic teenagers. I loved it...for a while. The "high" went away after about the 25th time I was attacked by one of our students. We had to restrain atleast one kid everyday. I imagine teaching 3rd grade would be great. I think I would probably teach if I didn't have to got to college or 4 years to do so. Being a private school, I didn't have to have a degree, I just had to have experience, which I got from working at a summer camp for 8 years for all types of disabilities. I did love teaching though. Do you plan on going full time at some point?
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 07
Wow, that sounds very interesting. I am thinking about different options. I don't know if I would be able to do the college it takes either. I'm a full time mom. I've known of other mom's that have done it and I admire them. If I taught I would teach in a private school also and I know you don't have to have a degree. THey are always looking for teachers.
@mkirby624 (1598)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I am a full-time teacher and I can tell you right now that I would never want to be a substitute teacher. You could be walking into a well-behaved, well-planned class, or you could be walking into a chaotic, messy, and unorganized class. You never know what you're walking into. Also, subs just don't get paid enough. In my school district, subs don't even get paid minimum wage. When you're a long-term sub, like for someone who is out on maternity leave, you really get jipped because #1, you have to be certified in that area to teach it for that long, #2, you basically have to make the lesson plans yourself simply based on what the regular teacher would be teaching, #3, you still get paid sub wages for working just as much as a regular teacher.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Feb 07
Wow, I didn't know all that. My son's school, the one I subbed at, is really small, private school and I don't think they get that technical. If I was to teach I would want to teach at this school. I also went to this school for a couple years during high school.
@minerc (1373)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I have susituted, I still carry my card and get calls, Ive had a bad expierence with the school and my son, So I no longer do it, I home school now. but when I did I had fun the only thing that I really didnt like about it was how the teachers talked about the other kids or there parents I just thought it was not appropriate, but other than that it was very fun. I subsituted for Public Schools in elementary, middle school, and high school. My favorite was High School the kids did what they were told and really didnt mouth. Good Luck
• United States
25 Jan 07
I was never a substitute teacher, but I taught English in Iran for a brief period in the 1970s. The students were adults (at least chronologically) and very intelligent, but they behaved like grade school students when a substitute teacher comes in. Those first few days I think I burned off all the karma I'd earned from my behavior in grade school.
• United States
25 Jan 07
These kids were really good. I was surprised and pleased.
@chingkz (230)
• Philippines
25 Jan 07
yup ive tried it.. when i was still in college...i was doing my OJT (on-job-training) and that day the teacher of the class was absent and so i was the one assigned to handle the class for that day it i had so much fun... they were still preschool level 3... ahihi.. they were so cute and so energetic.. at first i thought i cannot do it but eventually i was able to handle their behaviors well.. i miss them so much... i hope i can still see them...^^
• United States
30 Jan 07
Good for you...it is a big job but it sounds like you handled it well!
@ralevi (1885)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I haven't been a substitute teacher.
• United States
25 Jan 07
OK, thanks for letting us know. Maybe you should try it sometime. Do you have kids and volunteer at their school?
@matlgal (1686)
• United States
24 Jan 07
NO Ally I ahven't been, but I have the utmost respect for those of you who have, It must be very hard walking in to a class of children that LOVE their real teacher and all the pranks they play on you. I'm glad you enjoy it, it has to make you feel very accomplished.
• United States
25 Jan 07
The kids seem to like me. I like to have fun but I also let them know that I am serious. The girls especialy always latch onto me.
• India
24 Jan 07
no sweaty i never been a sunstitiute teacher but looks good of hearing ur experince
• United States
25 Jan 07
"Sweaty"? thanks...
@ronita34 (3922)
• Canada
24 Jan 07
I also am an on call substitute teacher and i know what you mean i also love this job. It is a great feeling to have total control of an entire classroom and it is reward alone to watch them all work! I am starting my Teaching degree in September because of the love that i have for it!!
• United States
25 Jan 07
Good for you! I am also thinking about whether this is something I would or could do. My youngest will be in school next year so maybe I would be able to go back to school. I dunno...I'm thinking about it. There are a few things that I would like to do but all of them are major things that I can't just jump into. I really want to be sure it's what I want to do.
@ronita34 (3922)
• Canada
4 Mar 07
I too have been a substitute teacher and i must say that i love it also!! The children interaction is great and they are so full of life and high spirited. I am actually starting school in the Fall now to be a Teacher as i love substitute Teaching so much that i figure i might as well make a career out of it ... LOL! Good luck tomorrow and take care!!
• Philippines
25 Jan 07
i've been a substitute teacher. it was really fun to work with kids. their innocence gives me the real high.
@mkirby624 (1598)
• United States
28 Jan 07
Lol, what grades did you sub in?? I teach middle school, and I must say that there is NO innocence left in my kids, haha.
1 person likes this
• India
24 Jan 07
it si good to being teacher to me. bcoz, that will give you a funn as well as makes you a fearless frm hesitation to come at stage.
• United States
25 Jan 07
Yes, I definitely admire any teacher for what they do. They are to be rewarded!
@blindedfox (3315)
• Philippines
24 Jan 07
I haven't really imagined myself teaching. But I think it's cool. Some school here offered me to teach a subject in their school before, but I refused. Maybe I should reconsider.. =)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Yes, you should give it a shot. You should go in and sub to see if it's something you would want to get into and do on a daily basis. At least you'd have summers off!
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I haven't been a substitute, I have been a teacher's aid and stayed in the classroom for a few minutes with the students and it was fun; My husband however is a substitute teacher and he loves it. He says there are good and bad days. Some kids have tried to con him but he knows how to deal with them. So he is happy teaching. He just would like a full time teaching job.
• Philippines
25 Jan 07
I havent been a substitute teacher and reading your story makes me so jealous of you! I am the last child in my family so I like kids sooo much and teaching preschool is also one of my dreams.
• India
24 Jan 07
yeah i had a simlar experience, and its always fun doing it. i had a n experience to be a substitute, but i had ato taech studs one year younger to me that too 80 in a class.it was fun, and laernt a lot from that experience.
@crosa125 (1483)
25 Jan 07
is good for one day only
• United States
24 Jan 07
Yes i been a substitute teacher loads of times but never get paid for it nor do i want any payment from them . My cousin work as a teacher in local private school and she always ask me as a replacement for her whenever she need a leave .
• Philippines
22 Feb 07
nope never been a substitute teacher but i was once a tutor before