New to supply - help!

[Butterf1y]

Hello everyone,

I'm a NQT and I have signed up with an agency to do supply from September.

Although I feel excited that I am finally putting all that training and hard work in practice, I feel quite anxious about the whole thing and have a lot of worries and concerns over behaviour management and planning.

Did anyone else feel like this before they embarked on supply work?

Also, any survival hints and tips would be greatly appreciated!

Best wishes to all, hope you are having a good holiday!

X

[janeb]

Hi Butterf1y,

Totally normal to be worried - I had 15 years experience before my first day of supply and I was very nervous!
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Try not to show your fear to the kids - they love to play up for supply teachers and will tell you that every normal rule doesn't apply in their class! Stick with your own rules unless they are clearly stated in the classroom - e.g. "You might not tie your hair back for P.E., but I think it is a safety issue so today you will tie it back!" etc etc
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Is there any chance of you doing supply in one of your practice schools? Then you'll be happy with the routines already - may be worth asking.

There's so much advice and information on this forum - have a search around.
Good luck

[Butterf1y]

Hi janeb,

Thanks for your reply and advice. I feel a lot more confident now, this site is amazing and I am glad I found it!

I'm moving house next week which means I'll no longer be in the area where my placement schools were so I wouldn't be able to do any work with them unfortunately.

I've only ever taught year 5 and 2 in schools with children that were mostly well behaved. I'm a bit concerned about teaching year groups I've never taught before and also working in tougher schools.

I'll do my research, get resources and 'supply bag' ready!

All the best
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[audrey]

Hi Butterfly and welcome to the forum.

Some useful advice has already been provided by Janeb
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To add to this I would say that doing supply and in different year groups can be the best way of experiencing the yr groups that you are unfamiliar with. This also goes for working in unfamiliar schools, yes I too felt nervous but once you have worked as a supply teacher for that first day you will be fine (honest). Another advantage is that you don't have to go back to schools that you aren't keen on.

As for behaviour management, I would echo Janeb's advice and whatever happens do not go back on your decision as this tends to be when things go wrong. There is lots on the site about behav man techniques just enjoy picking out the tecniques and you will of course find your own way. I have just spent a year with an extremely difficult class and managed to turn them around, they are a delight I reckon, although the boundaries will always need to be in place for them to be successful.

I always think it is a good
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on your first time in each class to let them know exactly what you are prepared to put up with and not put up with, in a way they know exactly where they stand that way.

good luck and be proud you
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e it and will be brilliant
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[SuziStar84]

Hi there, I'm new to supply too,

Very scared about getting the call and not got anything ready yet... I can imagine I'll not get called until next week (or even later) as most schools have training days, and I can't imagine many teachers being off in the first week or so... but what do I know!

Good luck x

[clarabelle]

Don't worry, you'll be fine! Supply teaching can be a learning curve at the beginning but once you've been doing it for a while, you'll feel more experienced and less worried when you do get an early morning call. The best thing about it is, if you have a rubbish day, you still get paid AND you never have to go back there again if you don't want. I'm returning to part-time supply (3 days a week) after working at a school for the last 2 years (I've been doing supply before that for about 5 years) and even I'm a bit nervous! I don't expect to get any supply for the first
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of weeks back (although I may be
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!) which will give me a chance to get settled into my new jobshare. The main thing I'm worried about it the jobshare - I mean, some jobshare partners take the mick and expect you to work beyond your contracted days. I'm just going to have to make sure I have a good work/life balance. Good luck everybody!!!!

[SuziStar84]

Thanks Clarabelle,

Yes I can imagine that jobsharing is a bit tricky, good luck too xxx

[clarabelle]

It's proving to be tricky already!!!! I felt really out of place today whilst 'setting up' the class as I know she's been there for years and has 'her' ways of doing things. I felt a bit like a spare part! No doubt it will get easier as we go along. I'm quite unfamilar with the routines and they do individual ERR as well as whole class ERR which is also new to me! I've only ever done ERR whilst on supply and I usually just muddle along!!!! Oh well, ask me how it's going at half term hopefully I'll tell you a different story!!!