Substitute teaching tips—what not to do!

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Whether you’re just starting your first substitute teaching job or you’re a veteran substitute teacher—getting tips from those who learned the hard way is often the best way to avoid repeating their mistakes.

Kelly Education substitute teachers cover five million classrooms each year across the United States. We often tell our substitute teachers what to do to be successful, but it’s also helpful to know what to avoid.

In this article, we’ll look at some of our best substitute teaching tips to help you avoid common mistakes. Some are small, some are serious. Each topic has a link to an article with more details:

Don’t just wing it with lesson plans

The dress code

Holiday sensitivities

Social media

Political discussions

Your introduction to the class

Understand your role

Become a favorite

Don’t just wing it with lesson plans.

One of the most critical substitute teacher duties and responsibilities is following the teacher’s lesson plan for the day. The lesson plan will provide you with the information needed to ensure that the students receive the lessons they’re meant to receive to remain on track. Don’t choose to do something else.

But what happens if you can’t find the lesson plans? First, contact the office to let them know. They may instructions. They may point you to a neighbor teacher who can provide some guidance or materials for the class. You can also ask a responsible student where the teacher left off the day before. If all else fails, have a few appropriate grade and subject level backup activities.

Avoid a dress code faux pas.

You set an example as a substitute teacher, and as such, you want to look the part with the appropriate substitute teacher attire. Adhere to the school or district’s substitute teacher dress code policy.

Business casual is generally the norm for most schools. That means don’t wear blue jeans and apparel that could be considered offensive or have political themes. You also want to wear practical and comfortable clothing. So, no high heels, sandals, short skirts, or clothing that is too tight.

Don’t bring treats.

You might think you’re doing a kind thing by bringing treats to a holiday celebration for the students, and yes, you are well-intentioned. However, schools have policies about this—and you may not be aware of allergies or other food sensitivities. Therefore, don’t bring treats for the students.

Instead, follow the school’s guidelines about treats for students. Consider bringing stickers. Also check out our article about other seasonal party considerations, including wearing costumes and respecting all cultures.

There is no reason substitute teachers should ever need to communicate with students through social media.

Don’t accept friend requests, don’t reply to messages.

Don’t take photos or videos of students or inside the school building—or post them online.

Don’t use your personal devices for social media while in the classroom, unless you have an administrator’s permission.

Substitute teachers must adhere to all aspects of the school or district’s social media policy. These guidelines are necessary to keep the students and school safe and protected.

Read this article to learn more about social media as a substitute teacher, paraeducator, or support staff.

Don’t talk politics.

From time to time (especially when election time nears), politics can come up in the classroom. Your job is to redirect students back to the lesson plan. You are likely not trained to lead politically charged discussions with students.

In all professional school situations, keep your views and beliefs to yourself. Check out our full article, so you know the best ways to address political discussions with tact.

Introduce yourself with authority.

It’s okay to feel a bit uncomfortable at the start of class, especially when meeting the students for the first time. But you don’t show signs of nervousness. Get things off to a good start by introducing yourself effectively at the beginning of each class. A confident, concise introduction will set the tone for the rest of the day or class period.

Kick it off with a greeting like, “Hello, class!” Then, say and write down your name on the board, and include some information to highlight your credibility. You might also add a few fun facts about yourself. Be sure to emphasize your expectations, while owning that you are a substitute who might approach things differently than their regular teacher or other substitutes.

And remember, the more you practice introducing yourself, the better you’ll become at it!

Understand your role as a substitute teacher.

Know what you are there to do in the classroom. You are not a babysitter, and the students should not perceive you as one. When in doubt, refer back to the substitute teacher job description. Job descriptions include insights into what the expectations are for your role. They may also include what falls outside your scope of work.

Become a favorite!

By adhering to the guidelines above, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a substitute teacher favorite. And what does that mean? That you’ll be on the top of the list often when a school district needs a substitute teacher. It also means you can request professional references more easily down the road if you need them.

In addition to the above tips, you can also become a favorite substitute teacher by:

Building relationships with other teachers and staff

Leaving the classroom clean and organized

Sending a thank you note following the assignment

Leaving a brief report about what you did that day for the teacher to review upon return

Ready to launch your substitute teaching career?

Did you find these tips helpful? We’ve got a whole library of substitute teaching tips. Be sure to check out all our substitute teacher career advice.

If you’d like to work in schools or have a friend interested in joining our team, fill out our brief interest form. One of our recruiters will contact you to answer questions and share more about education jobs with one of our school district partners.

*This article is not intended to be a comprehensive list or a replacement for formal training. Rather, guidance to support new substitute teachers embarking on their journey.

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