Classroom Management: Substitute teachers—put away the cellphone. 

As a substitute teacher, paraeducator, tutor, or support professional, you make a difference in students’ lives. As a role model at school, students are watching you. So, while you might be tempted to check your phone for the latest sports score, news, social media posts, or to see who texted you—think twice. 

Here, we’ll explore the classroom management reasons why it’s important to keep your cellphone away when you’re at school. 

School or classroom policy.

Be knowledgeable about school policies and adhere to them to set a good example for the students in your classroom. Most schools prohibit cell phone use or allow students to use them sparingly. For example, students may be allowed to use their phones to call their parents at the end of the day. 

• Confirm whether you’re permitted to use your phone during school hours.  

• Policy may be different for substitute teachers than full-time teachers. They may be permitted to use phones during regular hours to keep in touch with parents and manage instructional apps.

• If the classroom teacher left phone usage rules for their class, adhere to them. 

Safety and security.

When you’re substitute teaching, you’re responsible for the safety of the students in your classroom. If you’re distracted by your phone, you can’t stay on top of ensuring that students are safe and productive. When you spend time on your phone, you might not notice that a student is struggling academically or socially. You may also fail to notice a potentially dangerous situation brewing. 

Phones are a hot-ticket item in many schools. When students know that you have a valuable item, they may be more likely to try to steal it or otherwise go through your belongings. Keeping your phone tucked away can help lower the chance of theft.  

Professional responsibilities.

Your commitment to helping students matters most when you’re standing in front of them, giving each child your full focus. When you choose to put your phone away while you’re with your students, you’re showing them that you’re taking your professional responsibilities seriously.  

If you are a substitute teacher, this can help your students understand that they need to take their assigned work seriously, even though you’re not their regular classroom teacher.  

Conversely, when you have your phone out while you’re teaching, you’re showing your students that you aren’t fully focused on their needs. This can diminish your authority and lower the respect that the students have while you’re in charge of their classroom. 

Building relationships.

When you work as a substitute teacher or paraprofessional, there’s a good chance you’ll visit the same classrooms more than once. Each time you engage with a group of students, you have the chance to build a relationship with them.  

When students see you’re on your phone, they may feel like they’re bothering you if they ask questions or try to strike up a conversation. Phone use can send the message that you don’t care about what your students are doing or that you’re too busy to help them. 

When you keep your phone put away, you encourage students to do the same, allowing you to serve as a role model and helping your students see that you’re available and ready to be fully engaged. You want your students to see that you’re present, attentive, and ready to help them succeed. 

Single-tasking vs. multitasking.

While multitasking can feel productive, it can do more harm than good. While you might feel productive by responding to emails on your phone or checking your text messages while teaching, research shows that multitasking lowers productivity levels. 

In today’s increasingly digital world, students often feel compelled to take on more than one task at a time. If you watch closely, you’ll likely notice students checking their phones under their desks and peeking at their phones in between classes. When you choose to put your phone away, you’re showing students that single-tasking is the preferred (and expected) way to get things done. 

Practical tips.

For many of us, checking our phones regularly is a tough habit to break, and that won’t change when you walk into a classroom. 

To stay away from your phone while teaching, try these practical tips: 

• Lock your phone in a desk drawer or closet, creating an additional step that you’ll need to complete to check your phone. 

• Wear a watch (not a smartwatch) so that you can keep an eye on the time without relying on your phone. 

• Let friends, family, and others likely to contact you know that you won’t be available by phone when you’re teaching. Provide them with the phone number of the school office, so they can contact you in case of an emergency. 

• Mentally name tough emotions. It can be tempting to reach for your phone for distraction in moments of stress. Instead, try naming your emotions (for example, saying to yourself “I feel nervous,” or “I feel overwhelmed”) may help you focus on finding a solution. 

Growing your skills with Kelly Education. 

Our team is here to help you become the best educator you can. If you’re looking for other ways to improve your practice, check out these articles:  

• Classroom management for substitute teachers 

• How to introduce yourself as a substitute teacher 

• Instructional strategies for substitute teachers 

If you or someone you know is interested in substitute teaching jobs, fill out our brief interest form. One of our recruiters will contact you to share more about the requirements and process to work at one of our partner schools. 

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