6 Reasons Why Supply Teachers are Super Teachers

Teaching isn’t for the faint-hearted, and when it comes to supply teachers, they work at a whole new level. Like superheroes, supply teachers have to be ready for anything at any time: from changes in schedule to managing challenging students, all while teaching in an unfamiliar environment. Despite these obstacles, supply teachers have a special set of skills that make them not just good but super teachers. 

Here are 6 reasons why supply teachers are super teachers:

1- The Ultimate Flexibility: Super Teachers on the Go

When Batman sees the bat signal shining into the sky, he swings into action. For a sub, the signal is a morning phone call at 7 am, telling him where to go—he has to hit the ground running. He often ends up in a school he has never been to, is handed a lesson plan, and is thrown in at the deep end. A sub can be asked to teach English, maths, or Spanish to 10 or 17-year-old students. Whether he has to teach complex concepts or simple skills, his job is to keep order in the classroom. This is why he needs to connect with the students. 

2- The Art of Building Relationships: Supply Teachers Connect Quickly

Superheroes need good PR. Supply teachers do as well, but they don’t get to build long-term relationships with students. Good subs connect and engage with their audience instantly. Consequently, their classroom management is on top of the game, and they can handle extreme situations while keeping calm. When they enter a classroom and have no connection with anyone, it’s showtime. To get everyone’s attention, they put on a one-man show. Cracking jokes, roasting students, doing magic tricks, anything in the entertainment toolbox can and must be used. I was once asked to cover a Y8 French class on the outskirts of London. When the students entered, I understood there would be no teaching happening. I sat among them, chatted, and drew caricatures of them. Eventually, the HoD congratulated me; it was unusual, she said, that all students stayed inside the classroom until the end of the class. 

3- Time Management Masters: Supply Teachers Handle Pressure

When facing a dangerous situation, superheroes don’t have time to sit and make a plan. They have to think on the spot. 

Subs are often called upon to cover multiple classes in a single day. They have five to ten minutes to get ready; with or without a lesson plan, there is no time to waste, and their schedule might change instantly. Subs have more than one lesson plan in their pocket and can pull one out in no time. They know how to prioritize and maximize the use of their time. 

As they have to mark books, they ensure that during the lesson, giving instant feedback to students, one stone, two birds. 

4- Continuous Professional Development: Supply Teachers are Lifelong Learners

Superheroes are lifelong learners. And so are supply teachers. They work in numerous schools and receive instruction from different teachers in various subjects. Think of the number of lesson plans or teaching methods they are exposed to. They have tasted thousands of flavors they then used to develop their teaching style. Subbing is a continual learning process, an opportunity for ongoing professional development.

5- Resilience at its Finest: Supply Teachers Stand Alone

Superheroes are lonely. And so are supply teachers. 

You often see a new face in the staff room; that’s probably the sub for today. How often do you engage in a conversation with them? Not so often, right? You are a teacher, so you don’t have much time to mingle, and they will only be here for a day. When subs face a problem, they face it on their own. When they make a mistake, there is no one to turn to; they must stand up immediately and try something else. Do you remember the movie Catch Me If You Can? When Frank’s dad tells the mouse story:

“Two little mice fell into a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse wouldn’t quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and crawled out.”

Supply teachers learn how to churn the cream into butter. 

6- Mindful and Strong: Supply Teachers Embrace the Challenges

Subs knew mindfulness before it became trendy. They learn it the hard way. Teaching is stressful enough, but if you have tried subbing, you know the stress level is at another level. Good subs learn to accept that they have to work against the clock. When they face conflictual situations in the classroom, they accept it as part of the job. The first time a student said “Fu.. you!” to me, I knew I had to let go, not take it personally. 

Takeaways

Being a supply teacher is not for everyone, but those who take on the challenge will be rewarded beyond expectation. From the art of building relationships to the mastery of time management and continuous professional development, supply teachers have honed their skills through the deepest waters. Mindful and strong, they turn challenges into growth opportunities. And it is often during these daily or weekly placements that they find a permanent position. Supply teachers may not have a cape, but they certainly have the determination and skills to be superheroes in their own right.