*Update* I'm teaching at a high school all day tomorrow.

[ScottyB]

What should I expect? This is my first time substituting, and this is for a high school English teacher.


*Update:


The day went okay. I had prep for the first 90 minutes of school, so I ended up sitting around and pacing the room. I then had academic center (aka study hall). The kids were very rowdy and snotty to me (they were freshman).

I toughened up for my second class in which I taught Earth Science. But I had to break up an arm wrestling match which then turned into a thumb wrestling match (as the kids were pushing boundaries).

During my third (and last) class of the day, I ran out of my caffeine buzz and was upset from the first two periods; I decided enough was enough and wrote a few rules on the board before class started. The kids were very quiet and did all their work. Some ugly fat girl with braces was sneering at me the entire hour, though (apparently she didn't like my more strict teaching style I adopted for that class). She started to pass a note around to her friends (which I suspect was about me) trying to be as covert as semi-retarded freshman can be. So I pretended to look away and waited until the note came back to her at which time I took the liberty of yelling at her.

It was fairly crappy until I put my foot down, then I actually started to like the job. I also got to spend a lot of time talking with old teachers (which got me on a few preferred sub lists). One of my old teachers suggested sneering back next time. All-in-all it turned out to be pretty fun.

 

[Rip the Jacker]

if (school.location != 'Suburbs') {
alert("LMFAO");
}

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Most HS teachers will have the lessen plans drawn out in advance (assuming they are either required to or knew they would be gone). It won't be like actually teaching as the lessen (if any) will be dumbed down. Expect kids to try to run things past you (going to lockers for 30 minutes, etc).

 

[Heisenberg]

You've seen Deliverance right? That's pretty much all you need to know.

 

[HaxorNubcake]

expect a lot of kids that don't give a sh!t and that won't respect you at all.
expect to be taken advantage of and tricked.
expect to have very little discipline in your class.
expect to be whined to a lot.
expect to be exhausted by the end of your day.

<- high school student

 

[SonnyDaze]

Well hopefully you'll make it through the day without being taken hostage or shot. :thumbsup:

 

[txrandom]

Look out for underaged teens?

 

[ScottyB]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Most HS teachers will have the lessen plans drawn out in advance (assuming they are either required to or knew they would be gone). It won't be like actually teaching as the lessen (if any) will be dumbed down. Expect kids to try to run things past you (going to lockers for 30 minutes, etc).

I was told during my phone conversation with the substitute caller that the lesson plan would be on the desk, so I should be fine as to what I should do. I also went to this particular school, so I know most of the rules/regulations. I am just worried about handling situations and knowing what to do between classes and such. I have never been on this side of the lectern before.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: ScottyB

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Most HS teachers will have the lessen plans drawn out in advance (assuming they are either required to or knew they would be gone). It won't be like actually teaching as the lessen (if any) will be dumbed down. Expect kids to try to run things past you (going to lockers for 30 minutes, etc).

I was told during my phone conversation with the substitute caller that the lesson plan would be on the desk, so I should be fine as to what I should do. I also went to this particular school, so I know most of the rules/regulations. I am just worried about handling situations and knowing what to do between classes and such. I have never been on this side of the lectern before.

Rub one off between classes.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: ScottyB

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Most HS teachers will have the lessen plans drawn out in advance (assuming they are either required to or knew they would be gone). It won't be like actually teaching as the lessen (if any) will be dumbed down. Expect kids to try to run things past you (going to lockers for 30 minutes, etc).

I was told during my phone conversation with the substitute caller that the lesson plan would be on the desk, so I should be fine as to what I should do. I also went to this particular school, so I know most of the rules/regulations. I am just worried about handling situations and knowing what to do between classes and such. I have never been on this side of the lectern before.

Just relax. Seriously. Take a deep breath and go at it. You are subbing, nobody expects much.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Most HS teachers will have the lessen plans drawn out in advance (assuming they are either required to or knew they would be gone). It won't be like actually teaching as the lessen (if any) will be dumbed down. Expect kids to try to run things past you (going to lockers for 30 minutes, etc).

In a thread about education it might be best to check your spelling

Back on topic, depends on the school, the teacher, the students, etc. My girlfriend is a HS teacher (Creative writing, English, Language Arts, etc). Just be prepared to be the authoritve figure. Let them know you take your job seriously but be nice at the same time. I'm sure in your schooling, your teachers taught you some strategy techniques for dealing with troublesome children. You'll know what to do

 

[secretanchitman]

expect lots of made up rules by kids. know the good kids...usually they are girls (at least in my school). bring some drink to keep you awake during class. and be SURE you keep your cool and not hesitate to write people up for disruption/disrespect, etc.

good luck!

*is a high school student*

 

[clamum]

I had one sub at my school that would just tell us to shut the ****** up and he'd sit at the desk typing on his laptop the whole time. If people were noisy he'd like yell and slam a desk and whatnot. I don't know if he was being serious or just putting on a show. He kinda scared me actually.

 

[everman]

Wear your bullet-proof vest.

 

[Hacp]

Quit while your ahead.

 

[schneiderguy]

have fun

 

[Mathlete]

Originally posted by: HaxorNubcake
expect a lot of kids that don't give a sh!t and that won't respect you at all.
expect to be taken advantage of and tricked.
expect to have very little discipline in your class.
expect to be whined to a lot.
expect to be exhausted by the end of your day.

<- high school student

I am glad that I don't teach at your school.

But seriously, be yourself. Parker Palmer in his book "The Courage to Teach" talks about the perfect classroom environment. He describes it as an atmosphere of truth. Be yourself. Let the students see your passion for the subject and try to make the lesson as interesting as possible. Take a few minutes to tell them the point of the lesson(be pspecific). Also, take 5 min of class to talk to them not at them.

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: Mathlete

Originally posted by: HaxorNubcake
expect a lot of kids that don't give a sh!t and that won't respect you at all.
expect to be taken advantage of and tricked.
expect to have very little discipline in your class.
expect to be whined to a lot.
expect to be exhausted by the end of your day.

<- high school student

I am glad that I don't teach at your school.

But seriously, be yourself. Parker Palmer in his book "The Courage to Teach" talks about the perfect classroom environment. He describes it as an atmosphere of truth. Be yourself. Let the students see your passion for the subject and try to make the lesson as interesting as possible. Take a few minutes to tell them the point of the lesson(be pspecific). Also, take 5 min of class to talk to them not at them.

:roll:

A substitute teacher's lesson plan usually consists of..."Read chapter 5 and then answer questions 1-8 in the book"

 

[Mathlete]

Originally posted by: altonb1

Originally posted by: Mathlete

Originally posted by: HaxorNubcake
expect a lot of kids that don't give a sh!t and that won't respect you at all.
expect to be taken advantage of and tricked.
expect to have very little discipline in your class.
expect to be whined to a lot.
expect to be exhausted by the end of your day.

<- high school student

I am glad that I don't teach at your school.

But seriously, be yourself. Parker Palmer in his book "The Courage to Teach" talks about the perfect classroom environment. He describes it as an atmosphere of truth. Be yourself. Let the students see your passion for the subject and try to make the lesson as interesting as possible. Take a few minutes to tell them the point of the lesson(be pspecific). Also, take 5 min of class to talk to them not at them.

:roll:

A substitute teacher's lesson plan usually consists of..."Read chapter 5 and then answer questions 1-8 in the book"

When I was a sub I always altered their crap lesson plans. I would get there early and read the material and come up with my own lesson plans. Now that I am a teacher I always put fun activities in lesson plans for the sub. When they get done subbing they should say "Holy Crap! That's what a teacher does."

 

[Rip the Jacker]

Originally posted by: Mathlete

Originally posted by: HaxorNubcake
expect a lot of kids that don't give a sh!t and that won't respect you at all.
expect to be taken advantage of and tricked.
expect to have very little discipline in your class.
expect to be whined to a lot.
expect to be exhausted by the end of your day.

<- high school student

I am glad that I don't teach at your school.

But seriously, be yourself. Parker Palmer in his book "The Courage to Teach" talks about the perfect classroom environment. He describes it as an atmosphere of truth. Be yourself. Let the students see your passion for the subject and try to make the lesson as interesting as possible. Take a few minutes to tell them the point of the lesson(be pspecific). Also, take 5 min of class to talk to them not at them.

Go to a non-suburbian high school.

 

[atybimf]

Give the class the work right away so they can get it done and then let them talk the rest of class. If it's anything like my high school, no one cares.

 

[Mathlete]

Originally posted by: Rip the Jacker

Originally posted by: Mathlete

Originally posted by: HaxorNubcake
expect a lot of kids that don't give a sh!t and that won't respect you at all.
expect to be taken advantage of and tricked.
expect to have very little discipline in your class.
expect to be whined to a lot.
expect to be exhausted by the end of your day.

<- high school student

I am glad that I don't teach at your school.

But seriously, be yourself. Parker Palmer in his book "The Courage to Teach" talks about the perfect classroom environment. He describes it as an atmosphere of truth. Be yourself. Let the students see your passion for the subject and try to make the lesson as interesting as possible. Take a few minutes to tell them the point of the lesson(be pspecific). Also, take 5 min of class to talk to them not at them.

Go to a non-suburbian high school.

I spent 2 years at an inner-city school and it worked there, too.

 

[daniel1113]

Taking into consideration the events over the past week in the US, I'd bring a gun

 

[everman]

I remember one sub in high school that was pretty cool, retired NASA rocket scientist who always had interesting stories

 

[Kirby]

just don't be a prick. you need to do as little as possible to satisfy the administration. be personable. don't be like a sub we had..."Alright, we're going to say the Pledge of Allegiance and have a moment of silence until the end of the class." the more you are an a$$ the more the kids will try to get under your skin. get the work and chill.