Lesson 1.2: Developing a Substitute Teacher Mindset
Live- Mindset: Most important is believing in students’ abilities
- Positivity: Maintaining a positive attitude, even in challenging situations.
Having the right attitude can make all the difference in your day.
Staying positive:
- Remember that you are making a difference, even if it’s just for one day
- Focus on the good things, like a student who tries hard or a fun lesson
- Do not take it personally or be hard on yourself if things don’t go perfectly–do your best
Viewing challenges as opportunities:
- See each problematic situation as a chance to learn and improve
- Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?”
- Use challenges to come up with creative solutions
With a positive mindset, you’ll be ready to tackle any classroom.
- Flexibility: Being prepared for anything and adapting to change.
- Proactivity: Taking initiative and being resourceful.
As a substitute teacher, you need to be ready for anything. Being flexible means you can handle surprises with a smile.
Why flexibility matters:
- Lesson plans might change at the last minute or not be available
- You might have to switch classrooms or subjects
- Students may need extra help with something unexpected
- Students may present needs not previously known
Tips for being prepared:
- Bring a “sub bag” with extra pencils, paper, and activities
- Have some appropriate backup lesson ideas and materials available in case you need them
- Learn the school’s rules and emergency procedures (i.e., visit the school’s website to learn as much as you can about the school)
- Arrive early (when you can) to get organized, learn where key spaces are, such as bathrooms, central office, etc., read any notes and lesson plans left by the teacher, and familiarize yourself with the school’s/classroom’s emergency plans
- Inquire about who you can contact at the school (e.g., the grade-level team leader) should you have any questions, need support, etc.
Flexibility and preparation will help you feel confident no matter what happens.
Mindset and Positivity
Having the right attitude can make all the difference in your day as a substitute teacher. Believing in students’ abilities and staying positive, even in challenging situations, are key to a successful experience.
Staying Positive
- Remember that you are making a difference, even if it’s just for one day.
- Focus on the good things, like a student who tries hard or a fun lesson.
- Don’t take it personally or be hard on yourself if things don’t go perfectly—do your best.
Viewing Challenges as Opportunities
See each problematic situation as a chance to learn and improve:
- Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?”
- Use challenges to develop creative solutions.
With a positive mindset, you’ll be ready to tackle any classroom situation.
Flexibility and Proactivity
As a substitute teacher, being prepared for anything and adapting to change are essential skills. Flexibility means handling surprises with a smile and staying resourceful.
Why Flexibility Matters
- Lesson plans might change at the last minute or not be available.
- You may need to switch classrooms or subjects unexpectedly.
- Students might need extra help with something unexpected.
- New needs may arise that require quick adjustments.
Tips for Being Prepared
- Bring a “sub bag” with extra pencils, paper, and activities.
- Have some backup lesson ideas and materials available in case you need them.
- Learn the school’s rules and emergency procedures (visit the school’s website if possible).
- Arrive early to get organized, read any notes and lesson plans, and familiarize yourself with key locations like bathrooms and the central office.
- Ask who to contact at the school (e.g., grade-level team leader) if you have questions or need support.
Flexibility and preparation will help you feel confident, no matter what the day brings.