When going in to a school as a supply teacher, you may feel quite nervous and worries, especially if you have never taught there before. Not only do you have to get used to the way the school is run and set out but also the other members of staff and the pupils. Every school may have slightly different policies and so if possibly it is important to find out how the school operates and the names of the teaching staff.
When going in to the new classroom, beware that not all pupils deal with change in a good way and you may come across a certain amount of resistance. Many pupils may think that they can wrap the wool over your eyes as you are not familiar with the school of the pupils but if you have a teaching assistant to hand, do not be afraid to have a chat with them first or if anything comes up that you are not sure of.
Always have a tried and tested lesson planned that you can use if possible so you are confident in what you have to teach and how to do it. Set out clear boundaries to the pupils when you first start the lesson explaining what you expect and what you don’t expect from them and do not be afraid to challenge a difficult pupil.
