Customer Reviews - Substitute Teacher Handbook
Some great things people are saying about the Substitute Teacher Handbook.
Grace Washington "Grace" (NC) said:
This book provides some real insights and valuable suggestions for how to approach substitute teaching. In fact, I have used the techniques outlined in the book to solve other problems with regards to public speaking and small group leadership.
Overall, I have found the book helpful, I do have one very minor complaint... Although the book makes every effort to be clear in its presentation (using reminder icons etc.) The headings threw me off. Generally you expect Larger headings to be the main point with smaller headings explaining sub-points; however the headings in this book kind of blurred together using the same fonts, so I had to go back in the reading to determine what the over arching themes were for the chapter.
As I said, very minor complaint!!! Otherwise, I would say...Buy this book first! The others just reiterate the same points, and they don't do it with half the level of thoroughness.
TaterTeacher (NC) said:
This book is the best resource out there, and is currently being used at the local university. I am an education major and my campus uses this edition as well. There are many helpful bulleted lists for quick reference while in the classroom. Several supply freebies are printed up just waiting to Xeroxed st your convenience. Still, the best features are it's ease of reading and application of little details that make all the difference. This is the kind of "practical magic" you don't receive from a formal education that makes all the difference come game time.
L. J. Schrader (NH) said:
I am just starting out as a sub for grade school and wanted to be well prepared. I saw great reviews on this particular book and decided to go for it. I was not disappointed. It has a lot of good tips and includes some handy filler/emergency tactics such as games and pages to copy to keep the day running smoothly. It also has lots of handy information that is grade specific so no matter where you go, you will have a reference and appropriate backup to refer to. I highly recommend it.
Anna Hopkins said:
This book has been great, very practical and detailed. I feel it well prepared me for substituting. It gives specific classroom management strategies that I feel were lacking in my credential program. Highly recommended.
L. Bluh said:
This book was required for a course I took but it has great ideas to help keep the class busy. Includes a whole section of reproducible handouts.
Holly J. Whitman said:
Great book, gives lots of information that would also help the classroom teacher. This book offers advice on how to manage classrooms, alternative activities in case the teacher fails to leave enough work for the class to do, filler activities that activate critical thinking, positive ways to change behavior in the classroom, etc. It also tells the substitute teacher how to create a "sub pack" that can be brought to each assignment, making the sub look professional as well as ensure that substitute teachers have what they need for the day, both personally and professionally. Great advice in many areas!
Elli T said:
This book is an absolute must for all subs. Most books only cover k-8 and this book goes all the way through high school. As any sub knows, high school is a whole new ball game from any thing else. If you sub PLEASE buy this book!!
D. Gagnon said:
Very comprehensive excellent handbook on substitute teacher. The number one book recommended by many school districts.
We also have our critics too...
L. Morton said:
If you buy this book used, or cheap, it's a decent read. However, I think if you buy it new you'll regret it.
Overall, the book made a ton of sense to me and gave some great tips about organization, but I found the classroom activities silly and classroom management techniques useless.
I think the activities were silly because most of them involve you going out and buying/xeroxing a bunch of stuff, and high school students in particular will see them as a waste of time. Why would a student want to do more work if he or she knew it was not going to be graded?
I think the classroom management techniques were useless because they make you waaaaaaaaaaay to rigid. First of all, it recommends that you pick 5 rules and when class starts you must relay them to the students and tell them how many warnings they will get before they are in big trouble. Kids often think it's unfair especially if you pick a minor rule (in their eyes), like keeping their hands to themselves or not play fighting, and you keep calling them out on it. Also, few if any teachers/administrators will support you (at least in my area) if you try to write a kid up or send them to the principal's office. When I look back on my early subbing experiences, I feel embarrassed because I took this book too seriously and was overly strict and rigid. This book might have worked well a decade or so back when kids had more fear of consequences and respected all adults in general, but today kids don't really respect subs because administrators rarely do either.