Help a sub...please!!!

Newteacher

Hello everyone!

I'm just wondering if any other subs out there can help.

I'm just qualified secondary school teacher and having no luck with job applications so I am going around to schools handing in my CV and praying.

Yesterday when I gave my CV to a principal he asked me if I would be willing to do S&S (I think that's what he said) and of course I enthusiastically said that I definately would. The problem is that I havent a clue what he was talking about.

My partner reckons it is a code for "do you do potnoodle?", Can anyone please enlighten me as to what S&S is in a secondary school.

Thanks a bunch!

Terri26

substitution and supervision. The principal means are you will to supervise classes probably with very little notice. If teacjers call in sick she/he wants to know if she can call you toc over when teachers are out.

dory

I did this last year for a while. Nice little earner, great experience and you get to know the school. If a job ever does come up in your subjects they may keep you in mind. And you can claim dole if you're working less than 3 days a week (sucks if you get 2 class a day for four days).

Newteacher

Thanks a million guys....I have a few questions as I have never actually subbed before (TP doesn't count I reckon)

By short notice do you mean 8am? Does this mean you need to be ready for a call every morning?

When you arrive at the school not knowing what subjects or levels you are teaching....how do you manage that? Should I prepare a folder of photocopied stuff for each level in advance....? Or does anyone have any advice on how to be a successful sub.

I really love love love teaching and cant wait to get into a school. The principal who asked about S&S sounded the most interested yet. Do I pursue him? Phone him regularily? Or do I trust that he has me on file..

Please help with any tips or advice..you are talking to a real newbie!!

Thanks a million!

peewee18988

Hi, I feel your pain. Qualified in 2009 and spent Sept sitting in my living room searching the internet and waiting for the Thursday Indo!

Have you registered with ERA? Look them up on the net. I rang these on a Fri and they set me up with three interviews on the Monday. Got the first one and still workin away now.

Best of luck

Terri26

check your Irish post for my reply to this. have you tried the text a sub?

Newteacher

Thanks Peewee and Terri,

I was told that ERA only really deal with Dublin and if you come from down the country they will only send your CV to Dublin schools anyway...any truth in that?? I'm determined to stay on the western side of the country ....until I'm absolutely desperate.

Again, I was told that the text a sub was only for primary teachers.....don't tell me I've got that wrong too.

I'm beginning to feel I should have logged on here months ago!:)

Thanks everyone!

implausible

Newteacher wrote: »

By short notice do you mean 8am? Does this mean you need to be ready for a call every morning?

When you arrive at the school not knowing what subjects or levels you are teaching....how do you manage that? Should I prepare a folder of photocopied stuff for each level in advance....?

The principal who asked about S&S sounded the most interested yet. Do I pursue him? Phone him regularily?

Yep, you'd want to be ready for a call in the morning.

It's a good idea to have some resources prepared, but it really depends on the school. Some will have a box of photocopiable material for subbing, whereas others aren't that organised.

It'd be no harm to give the school a buzz in a few weeks if you've heard nothing, but ringing every day or week would be overdoing it.

Newteacher wrote: »

Again, I was told that the text a sub was only for primary teachers.

I thought it was too. I've no experience of secondary schools using it.

dory

I sometimes was rung with 20 minutes to go!

I had a lot of generic things ready. Puzzles and the like to get kids thinking if you were put with a class you really had no clue about. Sometimes it's fine to just supervise. Depends on the year/subject.

Newteacher

Thanks Deemark!

I'm strong in my subjects and I got on great on TP so I feel confident I could handle a last minute call. And dont worry....I have enough cop not to hound S&S principal too much:) ..perhaps a note in a couple of weeks might do the trick.

I dont want to do text a sub as I really want to stick to secondary....but if I'm still sitting here scrolling through educationposts in October...

So I'm relying on the indo, educationposts, educationcareers, going around to local schools with my CV and I'm going to give the ERA site a shot...even if it has a Dublin focus. Is there anywhere else I should be looking?

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated

Newteacher

Thanks Dory!!! (We overlapped there!)

I think the extra puzzles type stuff for subjects not in your remit would work really well....especially with a challenging bunch!

I'll be spending next week putting together my bag of tricks for the "twenty minutes to go" call ( oh god...what would I wear???...better have that sorted too!:))

Great advice here guys!

jomama

On a personal note, I don't think the puzzles etc work. You may find them effective for first years, but for any older students, it screams of "newbie".

I don't think any experienced teacher that I know would provide entertainment during a supervision class. I just walk in and tell them that Mr X is absent, and they can do homework. Don't allow any out to lockers or toilet as they are just wanting to pass what will be a boring 40 mins. If they havent' anything in front of them after 2 minutes, ask him/her if you need to give them a bit of work to fill the time. That usually ensures they take out a book, and even if they just draw/colour or have a snooze, the main thing is the Principal wants you to be able to keep them quiet.

Whether you let them whisper quietly during the class is really dependent on you and the group of students. Be warned though that what starts off as 30 young people whispering can quickly escalate over a 40 minute class, so you are better off just telling them to work on their own.

A strange tip I got when starting out was to leave the door wide open. I thought I should try to bottle up any noise etc in case the Principal was passing! But in fact it has a very calming effect on the students because they know they may have to deal with a cross Principal if he hears carry on ashe walks by.

If it is an early class in the day, I find many students take the opportunity to do homework that should have been done the night before! The others are still tired so will have a little snooze! If it is late in the day, their homework will have built up over the course of the day and they will be delighted to be able to get a bit done.

That's just my personal opinion, but I definitely never try entertaining them!

And, as regards "waiting for the call", I am afraid we all did it to build up hours. So, it may mean you getting into "teacher clothes" at 8 and hoping for the call. I found that the more flexible and willing you are to make yourself available the quicker you will be offered something more permanent.

Good luck

looksee

http://www.ateci.ie/index.asp

I don't know if it is the same everywhere, or indeed if they are still doing it, but our local Teacher Centre used act as a 'sub exchange centre' where teachers could sign on and principals could ring in to find subs. It might be worth asking, unless anyone here knows.

tvnutz

What is ERA? I googled it along with the word "teacher" but got nothing that relates to finding a job. Any link would be appreciated. Cheers.

maynooth_rules

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