What are substitute teacher duties and responsibilities?

There are few jobs quite as rewarding as teaching. Becoming a substitute teacher is a great way to get classroom experience in supporting students—on a flexible schedule.  Substitute teachers come from all walks of life and backgrounds, from former lawyers and firefighters to stay-at-home parents and military spouses. 

The primary responsibility of a substitute teacher is to help students learn when the teacher is absent. We compiled a list of everything you need to know about substitute teacher duties. You can also check out an example substitute teacher job description. This way, you can decide if it’s the right fit for you, your skills, and your professional goals. If you choose to work with one our Kelly Education partner districts, you’ll get the core training, policies, and procedures to prepare you for day one. 

Taking attendance.

One of your most basic substitute teacher duties is the roll call. It may not be the most exciting part of teaching, but it’s an important way of informing the regular teacher — and, by extension, the school administration — who is missing. 

When you’re substitute teaching, you should also consider the roll call an excellent opportunity to match faces to names. As you call out each student, try to memorize their face as they respond. Being able to address the students by name will help you quickly establish a rapport with them, making the actual teaching easier. 

Facilitating lessons.

If a lesson plan is left for you, you’re responsible for walking students through the curriculum using the instructions the teacher provided. This ensures that students continue to hit their important educational milestones even when their teacher isn’t there. Try studying the lesson ahead of time so you’re well acquainted with the subject matter before class.  

If there isn’t a lesson plan, contact the school’s principal or a neighboring teacher for advice about lessons or activities. And if you need help coming up with activities, check out these lesson plan ideas for elementary school, middle school, or high school students. 

Creating a positive and safe learning environment.

Students learn best when they are in an environment conducive to learning. One way to do this is through an optimistic, helpful, and caring demeanor. Another way is by engaging students’ critical thinking skills. Try posing age-appropriate questions about the material or facilitating peer-to-peer discussion or debate. Think/pair/share activities are always a great starting point. 

While keeping students engaged, make sure to maintain a safe environment. Providing ground rules at the start of class and deescalate any conflicts before serious issues arise. If they do, don’t hesitate to seek help from a nearby teacher or school administrator. 

Assigning homework.

A major responsibility for substitute teachers is to assign homework to students. The teacher you are filling in for may have left some specific homework behind. Otherwise, you may need to come up with assignments on your own. 

If you end up creating homework assignments, make sure they align with the teacher’s instructional plan or established curriculum.  

Supervising students.

As a substitute teacher, you’ll mostly be supervising students inside the classroom. However, you may be required to supervise them in other settings, including at assemblies and in the lunchroom. 

There’s always a chance there will be a safety drill or even a real emergency on your watch. Be sure to review the school’s emergency protocols ahead of time so that you are properly prepared. 

What is a substitute teacher NOT required to do?

It is always the responsibility of the school district to provide you with an approved curriculum. Therefore, while you’ll be responsible for teaching lesson plans provided by the teacher, you shouldn’t need to build or supplement an educational curriculum from the ground up. 

And finally, it is not in the description of a substitute teacher duties to assign instructional goals to students or communicate with parents about their student’s behavior and/or academic performance. That is, unless otherwise instructed by the principal or other school administrator. Get more “not to” tips in this article.

Looking for flexible work that matters?

Now that you know the most important substitute teacher job duties, get started on the path toward achieving your career dream.

Here at Kelly Education, we’re ready to pair top-notch teachers like yourself with the schools who need you the most. Are you wondering, where are the substitute teacher jobs near me? Fill out our brief interest form and one of our recruiters will contact you to answer your questions and share more about opportunities to become a sub teacher with one of our school district partners.

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