Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Sophomore Sub - what worked and what didn't

After establishing a reputation from my first year, I found myself getting 50% of my jobs via pre-arrange assignments and 50% from the system.  My unscientific gut feel tells me half the jobs from the system is from me being on a preferred sub list at certain schools.

Most effective practices:

  • Visiting schools the week before school started to pass out business cards and introducing myself.  I booked September this way. 
  • Freely distributing my business card and writing my notes to teachers I subbed for on my matching stationery.  I came back to some classrooms and found they kept my notes.  I also found other subs would write notes on post its, scratch paper, etc.  I believe mine is more memorable.
  • Sending an e-mail beginning and mid year to all the teachers I subbed for + secretaries listing my recent professional development with the notice I'm improving myself to serve them better.  It worked as a reminder and a way to differentiate myself.  I received several calls for jobs in response to that note.
  • Introducing myself to my neighboring teachers and asking for help as needed, especially when it shows flexibility and initiative.
  • Being flexible in the classroom and adapting the lessons as needed.  I always try to include some independant work.
Not so effective practices:
  • Coming into a classroom tired and not mentally prepared for what may go wrong.  Those were the days when I was weakest as a teacher which makes for a worse experience for me and the kids.  Even when it is a class I know and have subbed for regularly, I need to be alert as losing my temper benefits no one.
  • Working all five days, including two half days on the same day.  I get too tired and the grades/names/schools mixed up.  It was not fair to the kids when I can't focus on them in the moment.
  • Not having a separate classroom management plan for the last hour of class, especially near the end of the school year.  The kids would be tired and I would be out of intermediate + powerful incentives like giving/taking minutes away from recess that day or sending them to the office.  I'm still trying to figure this one out. 
  • Being too much in love with the written lesson plan to flex.
  • Not offering independant work time during the day.

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