Income while subbing?

KnocKnocKnock

I'm in my final year of an arts degree and intend to go into doing primary school teaching. I can't start the post grad next September and want to get some work experience for the year.

From reading some other threads, I've seen that I might be able to get some volentary observation work, but my question is, how do you make an income while doing this? Would you be observing every day, regularly (say 3 days a week) or just the odd day here and there? I need to be in paid employment and I don't know the system with regards to observation or how I could do it as well as paid employment if it's very irregular. Can anyone else tell me what they did?

Thanks :-)

TheColl

With your arts degree you'll be able to do paid sub work (if and when you can get it). In terms of observation, it really depends on what you want to do and how much observation time a school is willing to grant you.

Farolina81

I think your first step should be to make yourself known to the school principals in your area. Tell them what you're looking for and perhaps offer to help out in any way that you can in the school as well as observing. You'll probably want to get experience in the different levels of the school too. It's also helpful to take a look at the Curriculum books: http://www.curriculumonline.ie/en/ especially the introduction to the Curriculum. It gives you the main principles/values in Primary teaching. Good luck!

Farolina81

If you want to tell me where you're located (even roughly), I might be of some help.

KnocKnocKnock

Hey,

Thanks for the replies so far!
From what I've read I think it would be very tough to get paid sub work because there are lots of newly qualified teachers and not enough jobs. But I will take the advice and at least get myself known to the principals.

HarleyNug wrote: »

If you want to tell me where you're located (even roughly), I might be of some help.

Hi, I live in Drumcondra in Dublin and went to a local primary school myself. I did some work experience a few years ago under the still current principal. I have relatives attending the school now and a few of the teachers would still remember me so I feel this works in my favour - at least they can put a name to a face.

When you say helping out in other ways do you mean I might get paid for this while observing is volentary? I'm just conscious of having enough to live on..

Thanks again

Farolina81

I was thinking more in terms of gaining a good reputation in the school. Then a Principal would be more likely to call on you to do paid subbing work if you're committed, etc. Would you do grinds outside of school in whatever specialised subjects/areas you have?

KnocKnocKnock

HarleyNug wrote: »

I was thinking more in terms of gaining a good reputation in the school. Then a Principal would be more likely to call on you to do paid subbing work if you're committed, etc. Would you do grinds outside of school in whatever specialised subjects/areas you have?

Ok, I understand, and I could give grinds in one of the subjects, but I'm not sure if this would be enough to live off. Can I ask if you have any personal experience or know someone who went down this route?

Thanks for the reply

Farolina81

I was working fulltime when I decided to apply for the Grad. Dip. in Mary I. I just couldn't combine any classroom observation with my job because of working hours etc. so I felt as if I really had no choice but to give up my job. That said, I also worked part-time as a music teacher and that kept me going, aswell as days subbing here and there. When I didn't have a day subbing, I did observation and made myself generally useful around the school which gave me lots of experience. If there wasn't something to "do", I sat at the back of a class and observed or read the intro to the Curriculum. I moved around classes too so that I would get experience at different class levels. Most teachers I know are pretty comfortable with other adults in the classroom and are delighted with extra help, especially with CAPER reading/computers, art, etc. Shame you're about 2 hours drive away from me!!

KnocKnocKnock

HarleyNug wrote: »

I was working fulltime when I decided to apply for the Grad. Dip. in Mary I. I just couldn't combine any classroom observation with my job because of working hours etc. so I felt as if I really had no choice but to give up my job. That said, I also worked part-time as a music teacher and that kept me going, aswell as days subbing here and there. When I didn't have a day subbing, I did observation and made myself generally useful around the school which gave me lots of experience. If there wasn't something to "do", I sat at the back of a class and observed or read the intro to the Curriculum. I moved around classes too so that I would get experience at different class levels. Most teachers I know are pretty comfortable with other adults in the classroom and are delighted with extra help, especially with CAPER reading/computers, art, etc. Shame you're about 2 hours drive away from me!!

I'll apply for subbing and observation posts so, and I can make an income from giving German, and English (if I do TEFL) grinds.

Thanks a lot for all your advice!

pooch90

KnocKnocKnock wrote: »

I'll apply for subbing and observation posts so, and I can make an income from giving German, and English (if I do TEFL) grinds.

Thanks a lot for all your advice!

You could just do normal English grinds, not as a foreign language. Plenty of kids need to pull up their grades in core subjects, and if you're in Dublin you've got the population to keep yourself busy. Great money in grinds!

Farolina81

Good point. A homework club might work too

Farolina81

Teachers are often asked about homework clubs/grinds, etc. so make that known to the schools you're contacting too

KnocKnocKnock

pooch90 wrote: »

You could just do normal English grinds, not as a foreign language. Plenty of kids need to pull up their grades in core subjects, and if you're in Dublin you've got the population to keep yourself busy. Great money in grinds!

I know! Two friends of mine needed German grinds in college and the girl (who as far as I know was a non qualified teacher, not much older than us) was charging €60 each! Thanks for the tip about the English

And thanks to HarleyNug, setting up a homework club would be a great idea, especially as I'm lucky enough to live near a good few primary schools. Does anyone know how you go about doing this?

Farolina81

Don't have personal experience but www.homeworkclub.ie might be of some help although it seems to be on a big scale. You'll need Garda clearance too if you're going to be hired by a school.