Substitute teaching can be a difficult but very rewarding job. It takes a lot of hard work to build a skill set that can easily handle classroom management issues as well as effectively teach in the classroom. School districts usually have required tests, orientations, and trainings for prospective substitute teachers.
Individuals may also be required to pay for background checks, medical tests, or training materials out of their own pocket. They may also spend several hours in training/orientation sessions prior to becoming a substitute teacher. The links on the right outline the most common set of requirements for substitute teachers.
Every substitute teacher must have a set of skills to use for managing students in the classroom. However, not every substitute teacher has learned the five major skills necessary to become an excellent substitute teacher as presented in the SubSkills™ Basic Online Training Course and the Substitute Teacher Handbook.
Consider the following statements that relate to substitute teaching:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the #1 requested skill that substitute teachers want to learn? | The ability to handle classroom/behavior situations. |
| What is the #1 trait of a successful substitute teacher? | The use of a SubPack or resource kit. |
| What is the #1 skill requested by permanent teachers and school personnel of substitute teachers? | The ability to function as a professional substitute teacher. |
| What is the #1 skill requested by students of substitute teachers? | The ability to present stimulating lessons and fill-in activities. |
Increasing your proficiency in the later mentioned skill areas will improve your teaching skills, increase your confidence level, and enable you to more easily meet the goal of your role as a substitute teacher.
