Substitute Teaching Tips

by Donna
(Brisbane)

Here are a couple of Substitute Teaching Tips I used when I was subbing K-3 grades...

*Always go through the rules and make it very clear as to what you expect from the day.
*Always have a 'DEAR - Drop Everything and Read Session after lunch to quiet things down.
*A lot of the time I took in one of my favourite books and revolved the day's activities around that. This gave the day a real focus and the children loved it. We would draw pictures about the book, make up our own similar book, find words and sounds withing the book and more.
*It is also good to allow some 'free time' towards the end of the day if you feel comfortable with this - this is a good 'reward' for the day.

Here are some more....

*children write their names and decorate their name tag for the day.
*acrostic poems with children's names.
*label objects around the room - children draw and label their house.
*Make paper chains with spelling words, sight words.
*free writing
*Recipe book - take in a children's recipe book - children make up and write their own recipe.
*'I am Clever' concept book
*Make a worksheet for your partner.
*copy out poems / songs / rhymes in their most beautiful handwriting.
*read and draw off the board.
*talk and draw partner work - each child draws a picture then explains their picture to their partner so that they can draw the picture.
*cut letters out of magazines, newspapers, to make up spelling words.
*origami
*play number tag - call out a number - children make groups
*fingerprint characters - make up funny characters from childrens fingerprints
*play charades
*memory game
*chinese whispers

Hope this helps - please send in more....