It is a rare teacher who does not miss a
day or so of school during the year. Whether you know days in advance that
you will be absent or whether you get sick during the night, you owe it to
your pupils and to your replacement to leave a situation that will enhance
learning.
If you know in advance that you will be
absent, adjust your scheduled work so that much of the day's work can be
done with little guidance from the teacher. Review lessons, individual and
group project work periods, tests, and one-day projects are easiest for a
substitute teacher to handle.
Most absences cannot be predicted in
advance. Therefore, before leaving the building each day, make and leave
lesson plans for the following day. The unit lesson plans which include
resources should be detailed enough that a substitute can use that lesson
plan as a guide if you are out for an extended period. Be certain to keep
all plans (unit and daily) up-to-date. What would you want to have if you
were the substitute?
Early in the year, develop a file or
folder for substitutes. Identify it as such; keep it so that it is easy to
locate, e.g., in a binder on your desk. In addition to your name and phone
number, include:
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Class rolls and ADA numbers.
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The current seating chart.
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Statements describing routine
procedures established for handling such things as room traffic, going to
the restroom, handing out papers, lunch schedule, disciplinary measures
commonly used, etc. (Teacher Handbook should be labeled and accessible.)
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A copy of school regulations and fire
drill procedures.
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A description of your extra class
responsibilities and duties for each day of the week.
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Special groupings or comments on
students that would be of particular value to a substitute. (dependable
student, etc.)
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Several lesson plans that a substitute
could use if it appeared advisable to drop a scheduled lesson for the
day. For example, it would not be advisable for a substitute to introduce
a new social studies unit or to take the middle lesson in a special
three-lesson series that required extensive preparation on the teacher's
part. Develop lessons in several areas that you know your pupils will
enjoy and that take minimal preparation from the substitute. Puzzle or
game type reviews work well.
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A form on which the substitute can
describe the behavior of the class, special problems that arose and their
disposition, and school work done.
The procedures listed will not only
enhance the instructional program available to your students during your
absence, but will help to ensure positive feelings between the substitute
staff and professional staff of the Irving public schools.
