Whether you’ve landed your first substitute teaching job or are preparing to become a substitute teacher, it’s a good idea to know what to expect on your first day. After all, it’s common to feel a little anxious as you’re getting ready to take a new step in your career and envisioning walking into a new school for the first time. 

We have you covered with this guide. We’ll outline the key things you should expect on your first day, tips for success, and how you can continue finding opportunities to grow your career. Let’s dive into the details. 

Before You Arrive

When you’re offered a substitute teaching job at a new school, you’ll want to ask for some essential details before you arrive. Those include: 

• Where should you park? There may be a designated parking area for teachers and staff that you’ll want to use. 

• Which door do you enter through? Typically, schools will want you to enter through the front office, where you’ll sign in. It’s helpful to ask for directions to find the right door so you aren’t confused about where to go. 

• What time should you arrive? You’ll usually want to arrive early so you can sign in, ask questions, review and prepare for the day’s lesson plan, and introduce yourself to other staff members. 

• Is there anything you need to bring? You’ll likely have to bring your ID to sign in on your first day, and it’s good to know about any paperwork or other essential items you should have with you. 

With these details in mind, you’ll be on a good path to get off to a good start on your first day. 

Signing in at the Front Office

As you’re signing in at the front office, it’s a good idea to introduce yourself to any staff members present. The front office staff is a great point of contact if you need any help throughout the day. 

They’ll likely provide you with any essential details you need to know here as well, such as your lesson plan for the day, notes from the teacher you’re subbing for, and the school’s emergency policy. Make sure to review all these carefully so you’re prepared for a successful day. 

Getting Settled in the Classroom

Someone from the staff will usually walk you down to your classroom and show you around. Feel free to ask any questions you have during the process to ensure you feel prepared for the day. 

Then, it’s time to get ready for the day’s lessons and settle into the classroom before students arrive. During that time, you should: 

• Carefully review the lesson plan so you know all the tasks you need to complete. 

• Make sure you can log into your computer and access any technology and files you’ll need for the day’s lessons. 

• Get any materials ready that you’ll need, such as worksheets or your attendance sheet. 

Once you have everything set up and reviewed, it can help to go introduce yourself to other teachers. That’ll get you feeling more acquainted with the school and give you some other points of contact you can reach out to if you need any help during the day. 

Students Arriving for the Day

When students begin arriving for the day, you can greet them as they enter the classroom and let them know you’ll be their substitute teacher. It’s a good way to make some early introductions with your class and help them feel prepared for a day without their usual teacher. 

Then, once the final bell rings and it’s time to start class, you can make a more formal introduction to everyone about who you are and how long you’ll be the substitute teacher for, whether it’s just for the day or for a longer amount of time. 

After introducing yourself, it’s a good idea to go through attendance to make sure everyone’s present and start learning each student’s name. It’s normal not to remember every student’s name right away, so don’t be afraid to ask them again later in the day if you forget. 

Finally, you can review the lesson plan for the day, collect any homework if you’re supposed to do so, and get started with initial tasks you need to cover. 

Classroom Management

Classroom leadership and management are some of the top skills to develop as a substitute teacher. As you’re delivering lessons and having students get to work, you can establish a smooth classroom experience by: 

• Remaining calm, providing clear instructions, and setting expectations for behavior and what students need to accomplish. 

• Provide active supervision by walking around the classroom, helping students when they have questions, and keeping them on task.  

• Giving positive reinforcement when your class is participating, staying on task, and doing well. 

• Having backup plans for any gaps in the lesson plan or issues that arise. Many substitute teachers find it helpful to bring a sub kit with extra activities or worksheets that are appropriate for the grade or subject they’re teaching. It’ll help keep the class busy if you run out of tasks for the day based on the lesson plan provided. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you run into issues during the day. For example, if you can’t find materials needed for an activity, one of the other teachers on staff may know where they’re stored so you can find them and quickly get back on track. 

Ending the Day or Each Class on a Good Note

As you wrap up individual classes or the day as a whole, it can help to: 

• Review the materials you covered during the lesson so everyone in class is on the same page. 

• Assign any homework planned, explaining what it is and the due date. 

• Adding some final positive reinforcement for your students’ good performance or participation. 

You can pat yourself on the back, too, as you pack up and leave for the day, knowing you had a successful first day as a substitute teacher. 

Continuing to Find Opportunities After a Successful First Experience

After you’ve managed a classroom successfully, delivered a lesson plan, and gotten those first job jitters out of the way, you’ll want to keep looking for more opportunities to continue landing substitute teaching jobs and grow your career. 

First, it’s a good idea to update the details you include in your resume and cover letter as you gain more experience to continue to stand out in your teaching job search. Each new substitute teaching job offers opportunities to update the skills and career achievements you list. 

You’ll also want to ensure you’re searching in the right places to find teaching jobs that match your qualifications. Zen Educate is a platform that can help with that part. 

Zen Educate uses an efficient matchmaking system for teachers to find open jobs that meet their qualifications. That way, you can efficiently locate the right opportunities and apply without spending tons of time searching through job posts. 

You can sign up for free today to see the opportunities available!