First day teaching tomorrow: advice?

Dionysus

Right so. A vice principal rang me this afternoon asking how available am I and would I be available to teach tomorrow morning if she rang me at 8:50. I said yes, and she said she'd "probably" be ringing me in the morning then.

I've never taught in secondary school and last time I was in school I was the fella with the catapult down the back hitting all those swatty pony-tailed girls up the front who were always answering questions.

Now, I'm a new, reformed man- mar dhéa-so, I've a few questions:

1. What sort of clothing do they expect me to wear? I was thinking I'd be fine in me geansai, a t-shirt underneath, a good pair of jeans, and good shoes. Or at least I'm very comfortable in that. I expect they do not want me to wear a full business suit? (I genuinely forget what teachers wore when I was in secondary) The vice-principal is female, and it's a public/community school.

2. Any advice on how to deal with the kids? Are they grand usually, or do they take advantage of you when they know you're subbing? Should I be deadly serious or have the craic with them? Should I call them by their first names, or remain distant?

Thanks.

implausible

First, the clothes - jeans are ok but to make a good impression, a pair of trousers would be better or cords, just in case.

What would you have done to a sub?! They will probably try to take advantage if they know you're a sub, so try not to let them figure it out. Under no circumstances tell them you've never taught before! Ask the principal for the class lists, if she had them, so you'll not have the fake name problem. If you know their names use them, why wouldn't you?

You haven't said if it's general subbing you're doing or if you're covering a particular subject. There's a big difference!

Vanbis

Dionysus wrote: »

I've never taught in secondary school and last time I was in school I was the fella with the catapult down the back hitting all those swatty pony-tailed girls up the front who were always answering questions.

First thing id do would be to find that old catapult and have it on the ready for tomorrow just incase .

As i dont teach not sure really why i am posting, but all i would say is try to relax as they will know its your first day so try not look to nervours, if you follow football could always start about tonights games, results for five minutes and finally once you know the subject you will be teaching make sure you are prepared before you enter the class and not after.

Good luck

funktastic

Strike a balance between strict/friendly and fair. Don't try and be their friend. I know this may be difficult but don't worry how this comes across. Remember that they are teenagers and who cares what they think of you. Split up any messers that you can see after a few minutes. Shuffling the deck is always good.

lumo22

First and most important,keep them busy.If they're busy they can't cause trouble so be have some or a lot of work for them to do.Handouts are always handy, things you can collect at the end of class so you can know how much work they've done during class.The teacher should have a class seating plan and its important that the kids stick to it,just ask for it.Get them organised as quickly as you can, you know simple stuff like books out,jackets off and get them working. Remember your there to teach them not to be their friend,you cannot do both.Be fair but firm and you'll really enjoy it.

spurious

Make sure you find out exactly what the discipline procedures in the school are. Know the names to mention (class tutor, year head) and what various sanctions are called in the school - this can vary from school to school and you will be badly undermined if you threaten some sanction the kids know you cannot deliver on. Some schools for example have detention every day. Some schools you have to give parents 24 hours notice if their little darling is being kept back.

Having the craic is not advisable on a first day. It's very hard to get back from a start that is too lenient.

No harm apply a sanction to anyone gives you trouble. They will be testing you and if you threaten detention and then chicken out they will have learned a great deal.

You'll be fine. Just remember you are in charge and you're not there to be their friend.

Dionysus

Excellent advice, everybody. I hadn't a clue about any of that. I forgot completely and entirely about the fake names, and shifting desks. And the coats and bags, and class lists. And detention. I really must find out if detention is just a simple 1 hour lunchtime thing or if it's connected with something bigger like a longer-term evaluation. Again, never thought about that. Thanks.

What, though, is the "big difference" between general subbing and teaching a particular subject? In general subbing, do I just supervise or am I expected to teach the subject? Should I start off with the class list and ask them all to introduce themselves etc, or should that be done at the start of every new class anyway? How much pressure is there just to move on quickly and get the work done? She did not mention a particular subject yesterday so I surmise that I will be a general sub amárach.

I don't know how I would be expected to start a class at 9:30 without a notion about what subject I am doing until I arrive in school 10 minutes before. Do principals give substitute teachers class notes or something from the absent teacher? They must give something?

But, just to clarify, it is normal to ask for class lists and seating arrangements and any work a teacher may have for them? I don't want to annoy the vice principal by asking her for something that is an unusual request.

Once again today I was being told by principals that Irish teachers are "like gold dust", but I only have 1st year Irish so I hope they don't give me above Junior Cert- isn't Irish class given entirely through Irish?? I am completely oblivious to the Irish standard in school now so I really must get a book.

Better hit the hay. Will check back at 8am; in 6 hours just in case anybody has responded. I really appreciate those long forgotten details of school.

Dionysus

One other thing: payment. Do they pay me after each subbing day or at the end of every week or month regardless of how many hours I've done?

And how much does a sub without a PGDE get an hour? I presume that they only pay more with the PGDE and having another postgrad like a Masters/ PhD would be irrelevant in terms of substitute pay for an unqualified teacher?

spurious

Sorry I didn't get to this before 8am - hope they haven't eaten you.

An organised school will have schemes of work available for each class, which while not an exact science will give a general plan for the year.

Unkindly, I'm having a little laugh about you thinking Irish classes are entirely in Irish - perhaps in a top honours Leaving Cert class, but certainly not for the vast majority of kids.

Not sure what your subject is, but unless it's terribly unusual, there should be something you can do with every class. Don't try to teach a subject that isn't yours. They will try and tell you they 'never did' most things anyway. Avoid wordsearches - dreadful things.

I know in the CDVEC claim forms go in every two weeks for part-time teachers. Whether you have to do a back fortnight, I don't know. In my day we had to teach for two months before we were paid, but hopefully things have changed. The procedure might be different in other systems.

There will be no up at all hours tonight if you get a full day's classes.

Dionysus

Thanks very much, Spurious. It's 9:50 and she hasn't given me a call yet, but I'm here surfing/waiting in a rare moment: wearing a button shirt and slacks.

Ah, in UCD all the Irish classes ( i.e. without exception) were through Irish and it was amazing how quickly we understood everything (or 95% of things) after a while. In contrast, French (and I believe all other languages) in UCD was delivered through English. But the fact that classes are not through Irish in secondary school changes everything: I would be confident giving them. After a while my conversation Irish would be good enough again to be sitting around chatting to them in Irish. I must now find out what the curriculum is for secondary school Irish, and the teaching techniques.

My main degree subjects are History and CSPE (i.e. Politics). My first year subjects are Irish and Economics (which does not seem to be taught in many places). My PhD is in history.


'Not sure what your subject is, but unless it's terribly unusual, there should be something you can do with every class.'

What did you mean by this? That I could teach history even while subbing for a geography teacher, for instance?

What are "wordsearches"?

spurious

I'm glad you don't know what a wordsearch is, pretend I never mentioned them.
Here's one of the beastly wastes of time. Dreadful things.

Certainly in our school, we would prefer if given a class that are expecting Geography that you would teach them something from one of your own subjects. What would you do if you were given a Woodwork class to fill in for?

Everyone does CSPE and I can't think of one subject on the curriculum that doesn't have some way of linking into CSPE, so you could stick with that, unless work has been left for them. Sometimes, later in the day, they will just want to do their homework and that can be fine, though check with the school first.

RealJohn

Generally speaking, unless it's for a long term subbing position (maternity leave or something), the school doesn't expect you to be an expert in the subject. Help the students as much as you can (without actually doing the work for them) and don't let them take control.

Some of them will be of the attitude that you're a sub so they don't have to do what you say. Don't accept this.
You're an unknown quantity to them so they will test you. Use this to your advantage and don't accept any messing or talking right from the off. As a sub, you don't have to develope a positive relationship with them, you just have to keep them under control and ideally, working.

If you know what classes you have ahead of time, have some kind of back-up lesson prepared if you can, just in case the teacher you're replacing hasn't left any work for them but if all else fails, make them study quietly for the class. No matter what year they're in, this is a good habit to encourage and they probably have Christmas exams coming up anyway. You can remind them of that.

Best of luck.

Rosita

Dionysus wrote: »

Ah, in UCD all the Irish classes ( i.e. without exception) were through Irish and it was amazing how quickly we understood everything (or 95% of things) after a while.

Dionysus,

Irish in UCD will be an Atlantic Ocean away from what you will encounter in secondary school where many will feel their human rights are being infringed by having to study Irish.

It is a catch-22 situation with Irish in schools as far as I can see - if students are not exposed to the spoken language regularly their prospects of learning it in any meaningful way are massively reduced, but if the teacher speaks in Irish they will be talking to themselves only.

Let us know how you get on anyway - this is an interesting test case!

rod flanders

Dionysus wrote: »

1. What sort of clothing do they expect me to wear? I was thinking I'd be fine in me geansai, a t-shirt underneath, a good pair of jeans, and good shoes. Or at least I'm very comfortable in that. I expect they do not want me to wear a full business suit? (I genuinely forget what teachers wore when I was in secondary) The vice-principal is female, and it's a public/community school.

A bullet proof vest.;)

Dionysus

Right. Just got the call to go in and sort out the little ****ers. It feels like Low Infants all over again. BBL.

Tom Dunne

rod flanders wrote: »

A bullet proof vest.;)

Not helpful. If you have nothing constructive to contribute, please don't.

Alessandra

The best advice I have been given is to keep your cool. Remain calm. Raised voices are often more provocative to unruly behaviour. Walk in confidently, introduce yourself, call the roll and give them instructions as to what is expected of them. It can often be more difficult to supervise than to teach but with a balanced attitude you can keep the peace and excercise authority.
I have had very few problems since I started the "cool calm and collected" offensive. Confidence is key.

What to wear can often depend on the school. For you first day it would be no harm to be more smart than casual as first impressions are crucial. Remember the Principal and VP are there to back you up should the nees arise. Become familiar with the code of conduct policy of the school and relevant disciplinary procedures. Best of luck

Dionysus

It went well.

On the first morning, last Thursday, the deputy principal was absolutely brilliant. She knew I never taught in secondary school before and gave me what turned out to be great advice. Be serious, like you've been teaching forever. Don't smile much. The kids will want to find your weak point and exploit it. But also gems like do not tell them to keep quiet from the top of the room but rather walk down to the student and say it right next to them- and then move on quickly before he/she has the chance to make a scene out of it and entertain the entire class! Now, that was excellent advice.

There was some adult in one of the classes on the first day, but she never introduced herself. She did know the students' names and I overheard her telling one of them to behave. But I'm not sure why she didn't just introduce herself. I never mentioned it to the deputy principal anyway, and she didn't mention it to me. The deputy stuck her head in the door and gave me a few more students and said later she was impressed that I kept them under control so well.

But I thought they were actually noisy. It was only when the bell rang that I realised how quiet they had actually been. But I really am not sure about how noisy a classroom should be. And I was really only supervising, not teaching. So that is important to note. I did help kids in one class with their CSPE homework and I loved that as it's one of my subjects. Most of the kids were great and all I had to do was keep walking around asking them to be quiet. One kid said 'I'm dying' and I responded 'Then die quietly' and walked on quickly to which the lads laughed in shock. Another kid said he didn't care about the Christmas exams and I smiled and said 'And do you think I care? I've passed them all; you haven't'. "I can't argue with that" came his reply.

They kept asking what were my subjects and what was my name and again under advice I didn't tell them anything and just said that they are here to study. Apparently if I gave them my surname they'd start making genealogical links, townland links, village links, GAA links etc just to waste time. I was so green until this board and that great chat with the deputy principal.

Anyway, the deputy principal asked me to come in again on Friday and said she was looking forward to my being able to teach any of my subjects in class, but for the moment the missing teachers had set work for the classes. I got another 6 classes on Friday including teaching an autistic student in a specialised prefab- which was a very new experience for me. It was simply timing that I got those two days as I dropped my CV into the school the day before she needed a substitute teacher, and I'm sure she had plenty of cvs already on file.

Thanks to you all here. You were very helpful.

carl-sagan

cool sounds like it went well...Ive been subbing for over a year now and while every day brings new challenges i am pretty confident in a class full of 30 or so teenagers.

clothes; wear what you feel comfortable in , however if you think what you are wearing might be unsuitable than you are probably right. Have a look at how some of the other teachers dress also..

supervision ; supervision is all good and well in theory and may go to plan sometimes but always make sure you have some sort of plan for a class, whether it be handouts or wordsearches , or wee games, something to engage the kids..But you will find classes that will actually do howework or catch up on study if you afford them the time to do so.

I find that when engaging with the students its best to appear a little stand offish. Just make them work a little hard to get to know you..Dont try and be their friend , it doesnt come off well. But thats bot to sat that you cant have the craic with them in the long run..

implausible

Dionysus wrote: »

There was some adult in one of the classes on the first day, but she never introduced herself. She did know the students' names and I overheard her telling one of them to behave. But I'm not sure why she didn't just introduce herself.

Probably an SNA - special needs assistant. She's probably used to sub teachers in and out all the time and that's why she didn't introduce herself. Anyway, introducing herself would only make it more obvious you were a sub!

Sounds like it went well, well done!