We have a sub? Oh which one? You know that one who looks like this and does this? Greaaat?

Teachers have sick days and things they need to do, they are humans too. Although they are human they also are teachers that most students rely on, and when they are out with substitutes, students end up freaking out because they can’t get most of their work done or a student has an urgent question for them.

When teachers are absent and there’s a project due the next day, it is stressful and when grades are on the line it’s even more so.  Although it’s understandable that things come up and teachers can’t help that, substitutes should be more prepared or have a better hold on the students because the next day teachers come back and are on student’s cases about not doing any work. Most students do the work if they are given good guide lines and a substitute that actually knows what is happening.

More than half the time, it’s understandable that substitutes get thrown under the bus and don’t know what they are doing, or are left with no work for the students.  They most likely get stressed out about the fact that they can’t get the students to do any kind of work.

Instead of being left with nothing, something should be left for the students to do that is productive and somewhat goes along with what they are studying, even if it is just a crossword.  Teachers should try to prepare a list of questions that might come up about the assignment and provide answers to give to the substitute.