Ah substitute teaching, I've been back at it now for a month. It's not bad this time around as I'm mostly filling in at the school where I had a replacement last year, so I already have (most) of the kids' respect. But I do feel your pain. There were days last year when I said that I'm not available as I simply couldn't deal with it. Mentally and emotionally, it was very draining.
My advice to you would be to stick it out, you really won't know if you like teaching until you have your own class. The experience was worth the wait for me.
Some things that may help the day go a bit easier:
- I'm not one for extrinsic rewards, but when substituting, it sometimes is just about survival and getting what the teacher has asked to be done. They won't become expecting of this from their teacher as you'll likely only have them a few times a year (I know a few games - if lower grades [7-8], that work fairly well from my experience if you'd like to hear them).
- Let your personality take over. Tell them stories, anything to draw their attention in a positive way. When you have them hooked (hopefully) assign whatever work is to be given and tell them that you'll finish the joke/story when they finish.
- Do your best to not take anything to heart. They're kids being kids, some will try to take advantage of you while others won't.
- I'm not sure how particularly bad your district is, but I know from subbing in such a bad school, that sometimes there is very little you can do. I had things thrown at me and had been called names at this one particular school. I really don't think there is much you can do as a one-day teacher if the environment is truly as bad as that. Just trust that the administration will do the best they can, and don't be afraid to call on them if needed.
- Can't think of much else at the moment, it's quite late here. If you want to ask me anything, feel free to PM me. I'll try my best to be of any help.
@DMJ: Sub teachers deserve no respect? They don't have the qualifications? I'm not sure how the Department of Education works in the United States, but in order to teach in Canada you have to have a B.Sc or B.A. with two teachable subjects followed by a B.Ed, regardless of whether you are substituting. Whether you are permanent or substitution is only a matter of situation and contract.
That being said, sometimes where there are a shortage of subs, some often get put in subject areas they are unfamiliar with but they certainly are not unqualified to be teachers. If you had said "They are often unqualified", I would agree completely, depending on the district of course.
