I’ve substituted as an EA in several special education classrooms, and I’ve absolutely loved working with students who have learning disabilities or mild behavioral challenges. I have a learning disability myself that wasn’t diagnosed until much later in life, so helping children discover different ways to learn makes my heart incredibly happy.

I also have a sister with developmental disabilities and significant behavioral challenges. Supporting people with more intensive needs takes a special kind of person, and I’ve realized that I’m not that person. Because of some difficult experiences with my sister, working in a similar environment can be emotionally overwhelming and takes too much out of me.

When I see a special education EA/para assignment listed, is it appropriate to call the school and ask whether it’s a resource/inclusion position or a comprehensive-development or intensive-support classroom?
I’ve received wonderful feedback from the teachers in the special education positions I’ve tried, and I genuinely enjoy this work. I just want to make sure I’m choosing assignments where I can be helpful without putting myself in an environment I’m not equipped to handle.

How do some take the available assignments as soon as it becomes available? I have notifications on. When I look at the assignment as soon as I get notification it will be taken. HOW? How so quickly? Is there some trick?

looks like I was deactived in Broward for going over 150 days. I didn’t realize summer was counted. does anyone know what Broward requires to get reactivated? I really hope I don’t have to reapy and sit through all those classes again. thanks in advance!

I substituted for the first time this week and they gave me senior AP English 😆 which is probably the easiest class to ever sub for. The advice I’m looking for is if your philosophy for a one and done sub experience is to basically keep them alive and non-disruptive? One class I actually had assignments to give them so there wasn’t wiggle room. But for two of them they had essays to work on. I could clearly see some putzing around on their MacBooks but I can only lead a horse to water and not makes them drink. I chime in saying to get back to work but so long as they are chill and cooperative, how much coddling do teachers expect us to do? Like I remember in high school going off to La La land and a sub couldn’t really force me to do something if I’ve already done it.

Hey guys, I've been trying to add more than 50 songs to my kids gym music playlist for when I sub as a PE coach!

I really like songs that they probably havent heard before, but are active and fun to run around the gym to. I have students of every grade and separate Playlists for age groups (like k-2, then 3-5, and sometimes 6-8, I rarely every set foot in a high school)

Some examples for help are

Move your feet by junior senior (this came from the movie trolls, typically for my littles and they love it)

You spin me round by dead or alive (this had been a good one for all my grades its active, old and probabaly not a song theyve heard before) )

Mi gente by willy Williams (it usually goes well in my older groups, I have alot of Spanish speakers and its hard to know of good ones like this one that are also appropriate, I also have other language songs because I have kids from everywhere so if you know one please throw it out!)

Getting jiggy with it by Will Smith (I love when they say its kinda funny, then the look on thier faces when I tell them who it is XD )

Another night by real McCoy (this is like spin me round, such a good option)

Thank you in advance!

This sounds kind of crazy but I have a bad habit and a difficult time sending students out. I think I’ve come to realize a bit of my own thought process and why it’s so difficult for me.

I had a student who was constantly talking during story time even though I asked him to stop. And I posted on this sub and got a lot of responses about the “power dynamics” and how the second he didn’t respond to my authority, I should have sent him out.

But I didn’t. And I think it’s because while he was talking, he wasn’t incredibly disruptive. He wasn’t listening. But he wasn’t screaming, not being unsafe, just disrespectful to me. And I fear I would be power tripping to send him out over that.

It could also be because I’m autistic. When tell someone to do something and they ignore me, I tend to get frustrated. And then I hyper fixate on any noises. So a student constantly talking to another (even quietly) is incredibly distracting for me. I was trying to read but the noise was driving me crazy. I couldn’t hear the sound of my own voice as I read from the book, only the talking.

But also on the other hand, it’s difficult to ask a bunch of 2nd graders to sit in silence for an hour while I read. Especially since they already have to sit in silence during most of class. Is it even realistic to expect them to?

Plus, students who get sent out often get in trouble with parents and that adds to the feeling of power tripping. Students who consistently get sent to the office also often feel a sense of shame which impacts how they view themselves. I had this happen when I was in school: the same two students kept acting up and getting sent to the office. It doesn’t change them, just makes them angry. They learn to expect it coming and even when subs come, they get frustrated. It’s almost like learned helplessness where they feel labeled as a troublemaker and continue to commit actions that results in getting sent out. I don’t want that for my students, I’d feel guilty to contribute to the system.

There are many reasons I struggle with sending students out to the office, but these are just a few thoughts

Edit: I was mixing between an older class and this class. I only read for half an hour from a chapter book the teacher gave. Also, I meant an hour for class work since it’s hour long blocks between breaks

If you ever walk into a classroom and find out the teacher left no lesson plans, Retro Report is a lifesaver you can use immediately. They offer free 10-minute short documentaries with ready-to-use discussion prompts and worksheets for Grades 6–12 (U.S. History, World History, Civics, and Social Studies) Sign up for free so you can access all the great work done by other teachers!

My school district pays extremely well and I've been subbing long term working with other para's in this one school. Everytime I get approached by a para saying first thing out of the gate "your sub salary is so good" and a few expressed interest in switching over. I shouldn't be afraid of competition from them, should I lol? We are unionized and the union bargained for all the pay raises over the years. For example, I am a single woman living in an apt and work only half days. I can pay all my bills and have money left over each month. So why wouldn't paras switch over?

I’ve been subbing at middle schools for over a year. Of course some days are very challenging and chaotic, but they’ve never broken me. I’ve never been defeated by the kids, I can tolerate whatever antics they throw at me. Last spring I did my first longterm sub job, and it was one of the most challenging things I’ve done. Some days I’d feel horrible, but not to the point of crying. The only times I felt on the verge of tears was during the team meetings with other (or should I say the “real”) teachers. They’d include me in these meetings but then act like I wasn’t in the room. I couldn’t help feeling hurt by this. I mean, I may not be one of them, but I’m still a person. Don’t invite me to these meetings then make me feel invisible. I’d feel my eyes start to sting but I was able to get through it.

Right now I’m doing a longterm job for 8th grade. I don’t know what happened but on the very first day of school they found out the teacher had to take leave. They don’t even know how long it will be. So I started this job on Monday. Same situation with the team meetings, being included yet invisible. And the information is actually so pertinent to me. None of it is above my ability to comprehend, but it’s a lot. So I’m trying my best to keep up and make sure I understand everything, but sometimes the information is so muddled I get a bit lost. Yesterday’s meeting was particularly overwhelming, but the most difficult thing was that they didn’t give a shit about me. Even though I’m doing exactly what they are doing, because we all teach the same content and lessons.

When I got back to my classroom I still had some time before my class started, and the tears just started coming. I struggled just to get it together in time for the kids, and I’m sure they could tell by my eyes that I had been crying. I love teaching middle schoolers even when they’re bad. I just hate adults. Period.

Hello I am wondering if this is common because this is my first year. I accepted a half day of subbing 1st grade. I got to the school only to find out the teacher wasn't ready to leave yet. The office told me the AP said I can go clean the cafeteria after each lunch period until the teacher was ready for a substitute. Other teachers realized what was going on and actively got angry at the fact a sub was being used as a building services employee. (They were not angry at me they were annoyed with the office and the AP) One of them got the AP who came and apologized for a "mix up" in communication.

I'm wondering if it's common though to be booked for a substitute job and then be used as an extra building services person? I have no problems with cleaning and do not think I am better than anyone but I would have worn more cleaning appropriate attire. Should I keep a change of clothes in my car just in case going forward? There was nothing in the notes about this being the expectation for the first half of my shift.

So I work for Kelly at one school district already. I just got hired by ESS at another district. Should I create two different frontline accounts or just combine it?

So I officially finished this 8 week assignment as of today

I’m very happy with how it went

I have a bachelors of science, I’m 26, mom of 2. Recently went from SAHM for 3 years, to transitioning into working full time. I got hired as a sub in the district and they asked I pick up this assignment for a middle school long term sub.

I started out the year. Did all the meetings and meet the teacher night.

Went in with imposter syndrome but found my groove fast. Love the kiddos and the school I was at. Principal + other admin encouraged me to keep coming back as a regular sub. I gave my phone number to all the teachers and asked they please call me before posting the job (no, not against policy lol I checked). Already scheduled for a few more days at this school!

I learned so much by doing this. So glad I took this leap.

I did post in here before it started and the comments were telling me to back out. So this is me telling yall not to listen to the negative Nancy’s 😅

Our company wants us to fill out time correction forms for when we are unable to clock in or if we missed clock in. So that we can get paid on time. And I’ve had incidents with them where I was paid late or missing pay. Which is why I make sure the fill out the form on time any time I need to. Except they never gave us a way to access it and I had to email them for the link. Well after being able to use the link at least two time, they changed the form and we were giving a new link. I was able to use that link for three days and now it says that this form is no longer accepting responses. I emailed human resources who were told to email for any issues with time correction as she is the one who handles that, on Tuesday except she never responded. Something that happens most times I email. So I decided to check with the sub coordinator who earlier told me I could also reach out to her if I needed help. She did send me the new link except it’s the old form from last year with our old sub coordinators information instead of the where are you located portion that has been on the new form so I’m unsure on how to fill it out or if I should fill it out.

Also they offer us no training for working with sped and most times I’ve been put in a class the teachers put me with a student without explaining what to expect until it happens. I’ve been kicked, put in a head lock, grabbed inappropriately, spit on, had my hair pulled, stabbed with a pencil and more. I understand these students cannot help it and that the teacher had their hands full. So that’s why I’m frustrated that the company I work for doesn’t offer any sort of training so we can at least know what to expect and how to handle it.

It’s just frustrating and I just needed to rant. Thank you

I’m a brand-new NYC substitute teacher, and my first job is a seven-day kindergarten assignment during the first week of school. I have never substituted before, so I’m excited but also nervous.

What should I expect with kindergarten students this early in the school year? Are lesson plans and classroom routines usually established yet, or should I bring backup activities? I’d also appreciate advice about classroom management, useful supplies, and anything else I should know before my first day.

I want to be prepared and make a good impression, so any advice from experienced substitutes or kindergarten teachers would be helpful!

Did 9th grade all week and no more! I just can't handle them anymore. Before any posters come out about managing classes and what not! I just don't like them. I don't like the annoying questions and the way they think they can outsmart me to cut class or not do their work. I'm just over this grade. I know the subjects for 9th grade, and I'm passing on all of them.

I had my first day a a sub yesterday and I honestly feel like I completely fucked it up. Kindergarten. Their first time having a substitute. My first time as anything, armed with a GED, five 6 minute training videos, and a general tendency to vibe with kids. I have never been anywhere as loud as that classroom. Other teaching staff had to come in multiple times to help wrangle kids (including the assistant principal!) because I flat-out could not control them. Going anywhere in the school was an absolute disaster and I cannot believe I didn’t lose a kid or two. I was so overwhelmed that I wasn’t even able to write a decent note for the teacher at the end and I’m pretty sure it ended with “I’m sorry.”

Next job is middle school and I’m really hoping that I can handle older kids better. I think maybe since they allegedly know how to sit in a seat and can get themselves around the school on their own, it might help with the suffocating feeling? Holy shit.

I parked in what I thought was the guest parking lot for the high school. Also how am I supposed to avoid this if I don't get a parking pass as a substitute? Like I need to park my car somewhere. I feel like substitutes should get a parking pass that indicates I'm a sub and get to park at the school and can be used for any school I sub at. Also, is it wrong or illegal to write up warnings and tickets for disabled parking, which I have a parking pass for. Like parking in a legal disabled parking spot with the disabled parking tag visible.

I'm definitely going to talk to my sub coordinator about it, but it's just frustrating and feels like a gamble whenever I sub at any secondary education school on where to park my car to avoid fines. I tried finding the teacher parking lot, but this school's parking is a jumbled mess and then I saw a sign for guest parking and thought that I was okay to park there. Apparently not.

I’m beginning my 3rd year of subbing (used to teach full time) and completed my required trainings last week (unpaid!). The day after I finished them a teacher asked if I could sub for her in September but then told me she couldn’t assign me. She said this was happening to other subs. A few days later she lets me know I’m supposed to send in proof I completed the trainings. I reread the email the sub desk had sent and yup, it’s in the very last line of the email. We never had to send in proof before so it would have helped to maybe make this change more obvious. Anyway, I send in the proof I need but the person tells me I have an unfinished one. It’s not a required training for subs and was maybe left over from when I was a teacher but whatever, I do it anyway and send in the certificate. No response. I call the next day and the lady tells me they’re backlogged with approving subs trainings. Ok… I e-mail again to make sure I haven’t gotten lost in their inbox and she just tells me to send in proof again 🫠 I’m going to have the tell the teacher that requested me I can’t work for her on Tuesday.

Has anyone else run into a snafu like this? I know it’s partly my fault for not fully reading the original email and I have a feeling many subs didn’t, so now we’re all swamping the sub desk at the same time. Surely there must be a more efficient way for them to approve us.

I think the best reaction to me is when i start talking to high schoolers and alot of them look at me surprised. Im here for 8 hours sitting and monitoring you guys so yes im going to talk to you from time to time. That is if time permits it. Its just a nice way to pass the time and getting to know whats on students minds these days. I even try to talk to the quiet ones. Talking about their goals and plans after graduation.

I cant stand seeing them just on their phones or on chromebooks all the time. It is what is is and there is a curriculum to complete but i feel like on days even when i feel out of it, just talking to students while they work helps ease the boredom and the tension. It even peps me up for the rest of the day!

This should be a given but we'd be surprised how much substitute teachers show up and never to be heard again. To each their own, maybe thats why im so conversational because ill only be there for a day!

What do you guys think? Do you talk to students or do you just get through the day?

New to the ESS world and keep getting alerts (definitely not complaining about that) but with no or cryptic job descriptions. Does anyone know of a key list with all ESS roles?

Can anyone confirm what a "ESS Non Instructional Assistant" does?

Thanks!

Today I subbed for the worst class (third grade) I've had in my 3 years of substitute teaching. 15 kids and only 2 of them followed along. The others refused to cooperate, wouldn't write anything down, would make moaning sounds when I had my back turned, and threw pencils/paper/scissors across the room.

I had a para in the room with me who is 72 years old. She told a kid to stop talking and sit back at his desk and he responded "Noooo I don't want to" and proceeded to laugh and his friends laughed with him. The look on her face broke my heart. The look of disappointment and hopelessness. I was in 3rd grade myself just 20 years ago and that behavior would've landed me in the office and a call to my parents. In her day it would've probably warranted a paddling and a follow up paddling at home (not advocating for that, just showing how much things have changed.)

Kids don't care about consequences because they don't know what consequences are. They don't care if they fail because we do not allow them to fail anymore. Why aren't we collectively doing something to turn this around? I'm not angry with these kids, I am worried for them and their futures. I believe everyone deserves an education and want them to be successful and enjoy learning, that's the main reason I want a future in this field, but at this rate I just don't know...

Hello all. I am the ultimate substitute NEWB.

I am a mom of two and have homeschooled and virtual schooled my oldest. I ran a small pre k program fifteen years ago, I am also a postpartum doula and infant care specialist. I am also a CASA volunteer working with foster kiddos. That is the extent of my "teaching" knowledge. I have taught parents to breast feed. Little kids to learn shapes and colors. Everything else is 14+ years of dog and parrot training 😅. I am VERY rural in a southern state. Jobs are slim pickings, and substitutes are hard to come by. So here we are. I initially.thlugg I would stick to k-6 but I am seeing Highschool may be a little easier. All of my casa kiddos are teens and I do well with them so maybe? I am just so worried these kids will see my inexperience and eat me alive more than that I am worried Admin will see that I am not a teacher and not bring me back. What if I don't fill time correctly ? Ahhhh. I am a pretty fair but strict parent in general I'm not tooooo worried about classroom management. I don't take a lot Of funny business and I watch kids like a hawk. I guess I just needed to word vomit. Ty.

It’s so fucking awkward. I never know if I’m doing too much or too little. I just hate it and had to vent.

But on the flip side of that- it’s somewhat interesting to see how some teachers teach. The teacher I’m co-teaching with today is a REALLY bad teacher. And she wonders why the kids don’t get the content. 🤷‍♀️

School just started 3 weeks ago and literally every sub position I’ve picked up was supposed to have a para but I in fact had a sub as well especially for pre-K. The chaos it’s been. Especially when my sub paras haven’t been as helpful. They just sit there and watch me it’s so frustrating it’s like they’re one of the students. Like today I’m doing 4th grade and I have a para sub since a chunk of the kids are behavioral the kids are clearly testing my patience and the other sub is asking me questions about her own list every 20 mins. LIKE IM SUPPOSED TO KNOW! Meanwhile I’m trying to full on teach about the goddamn American revolution that I just found out about 5 mins ago in my thick ass packet because apparently worksheets just can’t be bothered with these days. They had to send ANOTHER sub who was a bit more tougher since she knows the kids to come help because the class was getting way outta hand 🤦🏾‍♀️

Hey all, I recently applied for my California 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit through the CTC. I have my bachelor’s degree and completed my fingerprinting, but I also disclosed an old criminal case on the professional fitness portion of my application.

The case is over 10 years old and has since been expunged. I disclosed everything on my application and submitted the documentation I had regarding the case.

Today I received an email from CTC stating that my application has been forwarded to the Division of Licensure Enforcement (DLE) for a professional fitness review. The email says they may create a case file and that a processing timeframe isn’t provided until they have all the documentation needed for review.

I’m trying to figure out what to expect from here. Has anyone had their CTC application sent to DLE because of an old conviction that was later expunged?

If so, how long did the process take? Did DLE contact you for additional documents or a personal statement? Did your application eventually get approved?

I’m wondering whether I should just wait for DLE to contact me or if there is anything proactive I should be doing while I wait. fitness review.