By: Robyn Copa
Robyn Copa was a high school Chemistry teacher and volleyball coach for five years. She has an incredible ability to make students enjoy learning the difficult concepts that Chemistry can present. She held high expectations for her students and they lived up to them. Her dream is to write children’s books about complicated science concepts. She is now teaching full time by raising her three children in Southern California.
- Be confident. Stick to your guns. The students will try to push boundaries just to know where they stand. If you’re a weakling, they will make a game of it, but if you come in with confidence (practice in front of the mirror), they will sense this and respect you.
- It’s hard for permanent teachers when substitute teachers have their own agenda. For example, some substitute teachers will go off on their own theories on physics or whatever and it has nothing to do with the lesson. (I had one substitute teacher try to promote his own book and other inventions of his.) I spend a lot of time planning for substitute teachers so I want them to stick with the lesson.
- High school students like to give advice or feel important. Ask about the students, what their interests are, and what they are learning/doing.
- Have some (appropriate) music playing so that when they walk into the classroom, they will recognize and like it.
- Look nice. Wear something that makes you feel great. You’ll feel confident and kids know when you care about your appearance.
- Stick with the rules the teacher has set. If there are no cell phones, that means no cell phones. Permanent teachers and students appreciate consistency.
What recommendations do you have for substitute teaching in a high school setting?