The Sub Life: When Plans Change (Again)

 

Sometimes when you take a day off for an appointment, the school still begs you to come in. Especially if your appointment is early in the morning or late in the afternoon — that’s when you know they’re desperate and will take whatever time you can give.

I had a 1 p.m. appointment one day and had already blocked the day off. But then the school clerk texted, asking if I could work around it. I ended up being two teachers that day — covering two periods of 6th-grade math and two periods of PE. These are the days it almost feels like an identity crisis.

Recently, I had another situation that threw my schedule off. A teacher called me the night before because I had picked up his sub job. He explained it was for jury duty, but the court ended up not needing him that day — which meant I was suddenly out of a job. The twist? His whole week was going to be like that — maybe he’d be called in, maybe not — so he asked if I was available over the next few days.

I wasn’t free the entire week, but I told him what days I could work. It got a little confusing, and ultimately, I had to wait until the job was officially cancelled before I could pick up another one. Eventually, I grabbed a half-day gig for credit recovery classes at the high school. Definitely not a favorite — and honestly, I don’t fight the kids too hard on doing their work.

That’s one of the biggest frustrations of subbing: taking a job only to have it cancelled, sometimes even after you’ve already arrived on campus. Sometimes another position opens up, and you can jump in. Other times… you just don’t work. Blessing? Curse? Depends on the day. But one thing’s for sure — if you don’t work, you don’t get paid.

At the end of the day, subbing is full of surprises — some good, some not so much. Flexibility isn’t just a skill; it’s the secret to survival. You learn to roll with last-minute texts, cancelled jobs, and unexpected classroom switches. Some days you teach math, some days you coach PE, and some days you get sent home before you even start. It’s not always easy, but there’s something satisfying about knowing you can step into almost any situation and make it work — even when the day doesn’t go quite as planned.

Life, Loss, and Lessons from the Classroom

These last couple of months have really been a roller coaster. My father-in-law moved in with us, and although his time here was much shorter than we expected, his passing left an impact on our family. By the time he passed, I was also dealing with congestion and chronic indigestion—apparently my body’s way of saying slow down. 

So, I took a week off. I needed to help my husband take care of things, clean up, and get my health back on track.

One of the great things about being a substitute teacher is flexibility. You can say no when you need to—whether it’s to care for your kids, manage college classes, look after an aging parent, or simply take care of yourself. But remember: if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Substituting isn’t high-paying, but it can be a solid supplemental income, a good retirement gig, or a way to stay afloat while you figure out your next steps.

Don’t Be That Sub!

In a past post, I mentioned there are two types of subs: those who work and those who don’t.

The ones who don’t often fall into the “fun sub” category. They present the classwork, keep things light, and let the kids enjoy themselves—sometimes a little too much. But at least they still respect school rules.

Recently, I heard about a sub who won’t be asked back to one of the schools where I’ve worked. Why? They broke a major rule: they let students use their phones in class.

Lesson of the Day: Know (and Follow) the Rules

Always pay attention to school rules. Every school has its own policies, and even if a rule seems minor, breaking it can cost you your reputation—or your spot on the call list.

Being a substitute teacher is about balance: bringing your personality and flexibility into the classroom while respecting the structure that keeps everything running smoothly.

So take care of yourself, take the jobs that fit your life, but when you walk into that classroom—remember, you represent more than just yourself.

What about you—have you ever had to take time off from subbing for family or health reasons? Or maybe you’ve seen some “fun subs” in action? Share your experiences in the comments! I love hearing from other subs—your stories always remind me that we’re all learning and growing together.

Post-Teaching Break + A New Favorite Work Bag

 Well, my long-term substitute job wrapped up on September 19—just in time for our Fall Break! We get a full week off from school, and I’m definitely ready for some recovery time after teaching 7th grade math. 😅

I turned in the keys they let me keep for the week, and now it’s back to one-day gigs for a while. Honestly, I’m pretty happy about that! The flexibility is nice, and it’s a welcome change of pace.

In my last post, I mentioned a new work bag I had ordered—and I finally got to try it out. I really like the Emma & Kate bag! It’s super roomy and holds almost everything I need. One thing I love is how it stretches open so you can find things at a glance (weirdly, it reminds me of a diaper—in the best way possible!).

There’s also a drawstring opening on the side that gives you quick access, which is really handy… unless you’re caught in bad weather. 🌧️ Just something to keep in mind! It’s probably not ideal for carrying a laptop or iPad though—the fit is a bit tight. My notebook doesn’t fit well, which was a little disappointing, but overall I’m still happy with it.

If you’d like to check it out, you can find it here:  https://emmakate.store/ 

Changing assignments

Well, school has started and my assignment changed already! Since I was a certified teacher (albeit a librarian - or Library Information Specialist or Media Specialist - whatever) I get offers for long term jobs. 

August 1st till September 19th I am teaching 7th grade math. Although it is not my speciality, I do have a team working with me. The schools in our area are really good about that! I have a push-in teacher that is very familiar with the curriculum and will do a lot of the teaching for 3 of the 4 classes, and another teacher that teaches math & science that is set to swap in for the last class. 

A push-in teacher or co-teacher is support for special education students. Some are para-professionals, some are certified teachers, all are essential to the support of our students! Some students have special paperwork, 504’s, IEP’s, that spell out the needs and accommodations they need or just what ever the teacher needs to be aware of. For instance, students that have anxiety issues, attention issues or medical issues like diabetes or a pacemaker. 

So, what do I take with me to school? A sweater or jacket, notebook, bandaids, pencil pack - regular & colored pencils, pencil sharpener, tissue, agenda/calendar (I’ve been using a Blue Sky agenda from Walmart), change purse with lots of quarters - for the vending machine mostly, phone charger, safety pins, water bottle, snacks/lunch, advil (an inside, zipped pocket!), and always a book - preferably in print. I really want kids to see that a teacher reads!

Keeping track of jobs is a family affair. I used to write my jobs on a calendar as well as my agenda, tried keeping up with the phone calendar. Recently my husband bought a Skylight digital calendar https://myskylight.com/calendar/. Sunday evenings, we go over the weeks upcoming events. We really like it so far! We can color code who is doing what - all my events, including my jobs and what school I’m at, are in pink. My hubby’s events & gig are in blue; pet appointments in brown or yellow, depending on the dog. And it sleeps in a photo frame mode or goes dark during the night hours that we set. Pretty cool!

I’m waiting for a new bag to come - hope to review the Emma & Kate everyday bag next time. You can check it out here first you like -  https://emmakate.store/

I’ll let you know how the job is going - Until next time!

In beginning...

Well, I'm already working on my calendar for next school year (2025-2026). I cannot believe it's only the second week of July, and I already have five jobs lined up! Wow! Made me think back to when I first started subbing. It was the fall of 2020, and the school year had already begun. I was taking anything I could get, and some were longer jobs (2 weeks) due to COVID outages. It was also an excellent introduction for me to teachers, schools, and the processes, as well as where I preferred to substitute or not. 

Some things to know when you first start:
They will call you early, early in the morning! Or, when you think you have the day off, you may get a last-minute call. Being prepared for anything, especially during the first year, is crucial.

Each school may have different check-in and check-out processes. My first experience at elementary school was not good - there seemed to be an expectation that I knew who to talk to and what to do, but as a total newbie, I had no clue. The middle school had another experienced substitute show me how to check in, where to get my information folder, and where to go - it was great. High school was similar to elementary school - she gave me my folder, told me the class was on the 2nd floor, and off I went.  

Take whatever you can and work as much as you can for the first year. The more familiar you become with the schools and teachers, the more likely you are to know who you will and won't substitute for, what schools or ages you prefer, and they are more likely to ask you back. 

I have also found there are two types of subs - those who work, and those who don't. Many schools will take what they can get to fill a teacher's seat, but they are more likely to ask back a substitute who makes an effort in the classroom. I try to follow the teacher's lesson plan and hold the kids accountable. But I know many subs that may (or may not) present the lesson and then let the kids play games or do whatever, as long as everyone gets through the day. I have also seen or heard of subs who fall asleep in class. Sometimes, especially in High School, with so much being online, this can be easy to do, but I don't recommend it. At least pay attention to the class!

Be prepared for anything! Sometimes the assignment may change - you pick up a job as a gym teacher, but you're put in science because they don't want a substitute in the gym or weight room. Sometimes the teacher who called out changes plans, or they need someone in a classroom instead of the co-teacher you were supposed to be. I have had times when I didn't get lunch because I was covering more than one teacher, and their lunches didn't align, or I was substituting as a para pro who shadows a student or two and doesn't get a break until the end of the day. One time, I was subbing as a paraprofessional (kind of an assistant teacher) and was told I'd be helping with field day, so I dressed for being active outdoors. However, my assignment changed to a classroom setting instead.I wasn't comfortable wearing athletic leggings in a classroom, but I did bring jeans just in case.

Dress appropriately and be aware of the age group. In elementary school, you may be getting up and down from the floor. Many schools prefer a professional dress code, but some are more relaxed, allowing jeans, and this may not be clear until you arrive. As a sub, they may not care too much, but I highly suggest business casual. Nice jeans, a button-down shirt, a dress, a skirt, a nice top, dress pants, and a dress shirt. You get the gist? 

 Hello - for my first post, I guess I should introduce myself. I am Carol, a substitute teacher in the North Georgia mountains. I was a high school librarian for about 20 years in Pinellas County before moving in 2020. I would move away from education, but it was the easiest area to get into during COVID. Substitutes were in high demand! I started in December of 2020 and worked all grade levels. I thought elementary would be easy - all the kids like adults, right? I wasn’t ready to teach all subjects and some of the needy behaviors of elementary students, and I always seemed to get sick after being around them. So now I only work with middle school and high school. I can handle the sass and some bad behavior.  It has been a bit of culture shock going from a 128-school district to a five-school district - 3 elementary, one middle, one high - but it also makes it a lot easier, and I get to know the kids.

Now that I have been doing this for about five years, I have become a highly demanded sub. I hope to share some insights with you. I may vent occasionally. And if there is anything you’d like to know, please ask! Different areas may use different terms or ways of doing things, but I have found most classrooms don’t seem to change.