Tag Archives: be a supply teacher

Supply teaching ideas

As a supply teacher, you should find that work has been prepared for you. Sometimes however, this is not the case. It doesn't happen too often, so don't worry too much about it, but having a handful of great, adaptable supply teaching ideas up your sleeve can help calm your nerves, increase your confidence, and improve your chances of being invited to do supply work again!

I have a few emergency lesson plans here you might want to take a look at for one off lesson ideas, and there are plenty of time fillers to be found on the forum.

 As for other ideas, you might want to start by writing a literacy lesson plan based around one story or poem (look at the 3rd category in the shop for inspiration). Then think about how this could be adapted to each year group, each ability.

Guy the Grumpy Gargoyle by Gill JepsonIf you do this exercise properly, it should give you the confidence you need to take it into any classroom. Don't sweat the small stuff: if no planning has been left, the Headteacher should be suitably embarrassed and will not be looking so closely at your planning that they notice you haven't included any visual stimuli for the visual learners!

When you've brainstormed that lesson idea, see if you can eke out a numeracy / history / geography idea from the same story / poem – you should be able to find something that's not too tenuous!

Where next? There's a great quick read here on teaching your own child whilst on supply.
Check out our resources area here too.

Returning to teaching, is supply work a good route?

Thinking of returning to teaching? After an extended period of absence, maybe to raise a family, or have a well deserved break, the thought of stepping back into the classroom can be a daunting prospect.Returning to teaching through supply work

Supply teaching offers a flexible route back into work. You may feel overwhelmed at the thought of all the paperwork that having your own class would mean, coupled with lack of current curriculum knowledge (guaranteed the curriculum has changed since you left!) and supply work could be the answer. Returning to teaching through supply could possibly mean working fewer hours outside of the classroom.

On the flip side, facing a room full of screaming kids who you don't know, and who have no idea how to talk to you? Phew. What a thought.

First of all, they won't be screaming. You'll be able to follow someone else's plans (almost all the time). And really, it's like riding a bicycle.

Have a go? Got questions? Carry on reading, or pop on over to the supply teacher support forum.

Did you take a break from teaching? Has supply teaching boosted your confidence or does just the thought of it leave you quaking in your boots?

Where next? There's a great quick read here on preparing for the start of the school year.
Check out our resources area here too.