How to be a good substitute teacher.

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If you’ve chosen substitute teaching as your career, then you’ve come to the right place to get the best tools for how to be a good substitute teacher.

Kelly Education substitute teachers fill more than five million assignments in classrooms across the country each year. As the nation’s experts in this field, we offer best practice guidance to help you be the best substitute teacher–not just a good one.

Quick tips on how to be a good substitute teacher.

Have a positive attitude.
Abide by the professional dress code.
Arrive early and check-in at the office.
Stick to lesson plans.
Manage the class.
Clean up and leave a note for the teacher.

Have the right attitude.

There’s a saying that your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. And that’s certainly true when it comes to substitute teaching.

It’s easy to start doubting yourself if you’re teaching a subject that’s not exactly in your wheelhouse. Maintain a positive outlook regarding your nervousness, the students, or your assignment. Your demeanor will also impact student engagement.

Arrive early.

Being punctual not only says a lot about you as a person, but also helps you feel much more relaxed in your assignment — especially if it’s your first day.

It will give you time to familiarize yourself with the school, classroom, classroom materials, and lesson plans left by the teacher. You’ll also meet other teachers, and that makes it much easier to ask for assistance during the day if the need arises.

Be professional.

This means presenting yourself in a dignified way that earns the respect of others – including students, teachers, and other school faculty members. The way you speak, dress, and interact with others goes a long way towards your being a good substitute teacher. For more information on dress codes, check out this article about what to wear.

If the school is pleased with your performance, you may make a short list of teachers they’ll call when they need to fill a substitute teaching job in the future.

Follow the lesson plan.

If the teacher left a lesson plan, be sure to follow it closely. This maintains continuity in the teacher’s absence.

Have a backup plan.

The teacher may unexpectedly be absent because of an emergency. So, you may have to come up with an activity on your own. Experienced substitute teachers always ask the administration or neighboring teacher first. Then, they always have some prepared lessons they can use as a backup plan, just in case.

No lesson plan? No problem! You remain cool and confident, because these lesson plan ideas are a great starting point.

Be flexible.

Whether it’s an unexpected emergency drill, a school assembly, inclement weather arrives, or someone gets sick in class, the best substitute teachers know that adaptability is key to success. Above all, keep safety in mind when you have to pivot.

You may also be asked to cover a different class than your original assignment. Being flexible is helpful, as administrators are juggling many variables.

Clearly communicate.

Communication is essential to being a good substitute teacher. At the beginning of class, explain clearly what your expectations are regarding proper behavior and decorum. Mention the consequences of deviating from those expectations.

Some substitute teachers have also found it beneficial to outline the class schedule at the beginning of the day or period. If the students know what will be covered in class that day, they’ll be more likely to work along with the lesson plan.

Respect the students.

Respect is a two-way street: if you want your students to respect you, you need to respect them.

Do your best to learn their names.
Treat them with kindness and dignity.
Establish a cooperative, collaborative atmosphere where students feel they have a stake in their education.

If a student is off task or acts out, don’t berate them in front of everyone. Instead, use tactful reminders and management methods to get things back on track.

Use effective classroom management strategies.

While you can’t anticipate every challenge or difficulty that will arise, you should have a few go-to classroom management strategies that will help you keep things under control and address any behavioral problems that come up. Do some research or consult with experienced teachers to find effective ways to do this.

One strategy used by successful substitute teachers is to “catch the students doing good.” In other words, instead of addressing only problems — for example, if a student is off task or the class is noisy — be observant to notice when the class or individual students do something well and commend them.

Did they all get their books out and open them, like you asked? Say something!

Are they sitting quietly and paying attention? Tell them how much you appreciate it!

Did a student pick up some trash and throw it away? Good job!

Reinforcing good behavior will always get you farther than punishing bad behavior. The truth is that most kids want to be good and recognized for it when they succeed.

PRO TIP: Never lose your cool. You’re the adult in the room and the one charged with maintaining proper decorum.

Talk to office staff and other teachers.

Among your best resources are other teachers you’re working with. They’re familiar with the school, school administration, and school rules and policies. They may even have some insight into the specific classes and students you’re teaching.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you first arrive in the morning, between classes, and during breaks. Most teachers and staff are glad to help. By doing this, you also establish a good rapport with them, which is useful if you have an extended assignment or accept a substitute job at the same school in the future.

Don’t gossip.

If a substitute teaching assignment extends over a period of days, weeks, or months, you’ll get better acquainted with the teachers and staff at the school. Don’t talk about them.

It’s unprofessional and will cast you in a bad light. It’s always best to be positive when speaking about others.

Leave a note.

A good substitute teacher leaves a note for the teacher they’re filling in for. It doesn’t have to be lengthy. Briefly mention which students were absent, what was covered, if there were any changes in the lesson plan, how the students behaved, what (if any) problems arose. Include anything else you feel important to communicate to the teacher upon their return. Be assured that this information will be much appreciated.

Clean up.

Finally, before you turn off the lights and close the door at the end of the day, make sure the classroom is tidy. It should be left in the same condition you found it, if not better.

Be sure the desks, chairs, and tables are back where they should be, and any class materials are put away in their proper places.
Erase the board if the information doesn’t need to remain until the next day.
Throw away any trash left on the floor or other surfaces.
And try to arrange the teacher’s desktop the way it was when you arrived that morning.

You can be sure this will be noticed, and along with the above-mentioned factors, it could lead to positive feedback from the regular class teacher.

We hope these suggestions on how to be a good substitute teacher have been helpful. You’re no doubt already implementing some of them in your assignments, and now perhaps you have a few more ways to be the best possible substitute teacher you can be!

Grow as a Kelly Education substitute teacher.

When you work with Kelly Education, you’ll get training before you ever enter the classroom. We also provide free professional development webinars and an extensive library of articles that address many aspects of substitute teaching. Check out these selections:

If you think someone you know would make a great substitute teacher, have them fill out our interest form. A recruiter will contact them, answer any questions they have, and tell them about opportunities in their area to work with one of our district partners.