Almost every teacher has either been a substitute or has requested a substitute. Â While it is stressful on both ends, I think that classroom teachers can quickly forget what it feels like to be the substitute teacher. Â I know I did! Â This summer I spent some time subbing at a year round school. Â After talking to my sister who is a full-time substitute teacher, we came up with five questions every substitute needs answered. {Thanks sis!}
5 Questions Every Substitute Wants Answered
Where is the restroom and do I need a key?Â
I know that teachers rarely have time to use the restroom…but that also means we don’t have time to LOOK for the restroom! I remember one time I stood outside the women’s staff restroom door for an entire recess before another teacher told me that it was locked 24/7 and all the teachers only use the “male” restroom.  Well that would have been good to know. 😉
Where should I send attendance…and with whom?
Some schools take attendance online, while others still resort to paper-and-pencil attendance. Â Either way, substitutes need the details. Â Where do I click? Do I need a password? Â What reliable student should take this attendance sheet to the office?
What kind staff member can I call if I need assistance? Â
Oh, and how do I call them?
Unfortunately, not every staff member is always willing (or happy) to help. Â Let subs know which kind staff members can be contacted if things don’t go as planned. Â If they can “call” for help, is there a special extension needed?
Where’s the vending machine?
Sometimes we don’t know we are subbing until 30 minutes before school starts! Â That can often make for hectic mornings. Â Be sure to let the sub know where the vending machines are located in case they forgot breakfast or lunch.
Do you have any extra activities?
Since things don’t always go as planned, try to have some no-fail “extra activities” that are always available to the sub. Â I detail what these activities are in my substitute binder, which you can read about here. Are you a sub? Â What other questions do you feel like you need answered?
Love this!! Makes me rethink some of my sub plan notes!
Thanks Hadar! =)
These are good ideas. I'm pinning this so I can include this information in my sub. folder. Thank you!
I'm so glad you like them Susan! Thanks for pinning. =)
Thanks for reminding us of the "little things." I make sure the plans are complete, but I don't put in these little things. I will add them to my sub plans now!
I'm glad it was helpful! Thanks so much! =)
Lauren
Wow! Thank you for taking time to write a post during this busy time of year. I am so very grateful for bloggers like you! I hope you have a wonderful school year and I am positive all of your subs this year will be glad to have had your class!
-Jen
Jen, you are the sweetest! Thank you so much for your support!
Lauren
Great ideas, subs ask me all the time where the adult restrooms are. But I never thought to put them in my plans. Thanks for sharing!
I never did either! I'm glad you found it helpful! Thanks for your support.
Lauren
Great ideas, subs ask me all the time where the adult restrooms are. But I never thought to put them in my plans. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Deanna! =)
Great tips and ideas for a sub pack! 🙂
Thank you Aris!!!
I have subbed and you have some very good points. Especially #1! There have been times when I haven't known that.
Daisy Fryer at Not Your Mother's Math Class"
Thanks Daisy! I appreciate your support!
Lauren
When I was Subbing I was always unsure of classroom discipline procedures and what form of media to use when communicating my subs notes to the teacher. Any advice?
Hi Tyler,
Classroom procedures and classroom management should be outlined for you by the classroom teacher! If it is not, you can always ask surrounding teachers because many schools have a school-wide management system. If neither of those are available to you, I would focus on positive behaviors. For example, if many students are talking but one student is not, I would praise the student that is waiting quietly. Soon other students will pick up on it.
Personally, I always like subs to leave me written notes.
I hope that is helpful to you. Good luck in your subbing!
Lauren
I will be subbing for the first time this new school year. I have been helping my grandson’s teachers for 5 yrs now and see they need subs. Your questions help a lot. While I know the school layout I do know emergencies come up and some teachers do not have anything prepared for the sub maybe for that day. Your ideas help with that a lot! Thanks .
Hi Sharon,
I’m so glad you found it helpful. =)
Thanks for stopping by,
Lauren
These are all pretty good suggestions. I sub 4-5 days a week. Sometime I sub for teachers who visit a variety of classroom through put their day. Typically, teachers will say ” go to ms jones classroom”. I always feel bad when I have to take the office staffs time to write out all the room numbers of the classroom I will be I though out my day in their school.
Hi Mary,
That would be frustrating. That’s a great point, teachers shouldn’t assume subs know where another teacher’s classroom is located. Thanks for stopping by and sharing!
Lauren