There are two days left until school starts, and I fully admit that I am not ready. I woke up early for a PD day on Thursday, and BOY was it a shock to my system. I also haven’t been in a classroom since March, and it feels intimidating to have to start in a new school. It feels like Grade 9 all over again!
I’m starting this year on a
long-term supply which I am entirely grateful for. However, this was not the
case a year ago (or even two weeks ago). I’m from Ontario where permanent
teaching jobs are few and far between. I’ll get there, but for now, I’m happy
to have a job teaching English for a couple months.
If you’re in the same position as me,
I have some advice for you based on my experiences from last year. Enjoy!
1.
Network, network, network.
Way back in the summer of August 2020, my dad kept telling me and my sister about networking. We joked that it was the word of week for a while. As it turns out, he was 100% correct. Because of networking, I got a part-time job at a care home through my sister, a tutoring job through family friends, a pastoral reference for teaching in a Catholic school through my dad’s friend’s brother, and two teachers who coached me on supply interviews. If you’re in a place where you feel stuck, reach out and talk to people.
2.
If you think something positive about
someone, tell them.
I cannot tell you how much this makes a difference. Teaching is very much a thankless job a majority of the time. If you see someone who has done a great job or a kid has mentioned how awesome their past teacher was, tell them. Those little moments really make a teacher’s day.
3.
Talk to everyone in the school.
This is something I have always been good at, and I get that it can be intimidating, but this is how you get far in schools. Make yourself memorable. Be the supply teacher everyone wants to have. I made a great connection with one school in particular that kept me busy for all but four days of supply before I started my long-term supply job last autumn.
4.
Even if you think you won’t get it, apply
for the job anyway.
It was early September. I was on my seventh day of supply teaching. I got a call from the principal of my old high school telling me they wanted me for an LTO starting in a few weeks. I had applied for the job the day before thinking that I had only worked six days and there was no way I was eligible to even apply. Well, I was the only one who was qualified that applied. That job also extended into teaching an extra class.
5.
Bring a little case with supplies in it because
you never know what schools have.
This is also helpful during this pandemic. I brought markers, stickers, paper clips, pens, pencils, sticky notes, and my business cards. I can’t tell you how much this tool came in handy while supply teaching. Whether the teacher keeps things locked away, or you just can’t find a pen that works, this is something I would suggest for everyone.
6.
Learn from everyone around you.
Supply teaching puts you in an incredibly unique position of being able
to see how other schools run things. Talk to everyone in your department and
then learn from them. Start new resources and share what you have so other
people share back. From being in two different English departments last year, I
have so many resources that have carried over into this year.
That’s all I have! Although I definitely
prefer to be in one school for an extended period of time, I also really enjoyed
the time I had as a supply teacher.
If you’ve been through this, share
some more tips in the comments!
-Daniella
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