How to Support Your Child When They Have a Long-Term Substitute In Class
From the school’s perspective, they work to get the most qualified person in the classroom to educate children however that just isn’t always possible.
As most of us are well aware, there is currently a nationwide teacher shortage. Because of this shortage it is inevitable that many children will have substitutes in their classes, more than they have had in the past. From the school’s perspective, they work to get the most qualified person in the classroom to educate children however that just isn’t always possible. In this instance, Parents have to be equipped with the knowledge that they need to support their children during this process. When your child has a long-term substitute in their classroom, it can be difficult to know how to support them. You may be wondering how to make the situation feel less like a punishment for your child, and more like an opportunity for them to learn.
Talk to your child about the substitute teacher.
Once you have been notified by your child or from the school that your child will have a substitute for an extended period of time, have a discussion with your child about your expectations for them. We all know that many children behave differently with a substitute versus their teacher, so it is important that you articulate how you want your child to behave even if they see their friends misbehaving. The other topic that you will want to discuss is what you want your child to do if they feel like they are not learning or if they are not understanding the material being taught. Your child should ask questions of the substitute and if their questions are not being answered they should come home and let you know. This will give you the time that you need to communicate with the school. They should refrain from waiting until the end of the quarter or semester to inform you of their concerns as this will severely limit the amount of time that you have for communication. So, it may be helpful to check with your child at least once per week to see how the class is going.
Communicate with the school if you have concerns.
As you are talking with your child about their concerns, if they let you know that they aren’t learning or are confused you should immediately reach out to the substitute for assistance. Hopefully after reaching out to them, they can provide your child with some assistance. However, it is important to note that most substitutes are not required to complete the same activities as a teacher would. For example, they don’t have to provide afterschool activities such as coach classes or tutoring. They are usually strictly there for the school day so their assistance may also be limited. If you can’t get any assistance from the substitute, then you should reach out to the assistant principal or principal for support. This way they can either help the substitute provide support or find another staff member to assist your child. It is always important to remember to come from the lens of getting support for your child without being accusatory or negative. Being negative doesn’t help the cause. School staff members are more inclined to want to support your child when the Parent is positive and supportive, this doesn’t mean that you can’t address problems as they occur. It is just important to note your approach to the problem will make a huge difference in the outcome. For more tips about the best ways to communicate with your child’s school, read my article, How To Best Communicate With Your Child’s School.
Stay positive and upbeat around your child, even if you are feeling anxious or frustrated. This will help them to feel supported and comfortable.
Even if you are having major concerns with the long-term substitute, it is important to stay positive in front of your child. You can let them know that there are issues that you are addressing but let them know that you will work with the school to get the issue rectified. If you start bad mouthing the school, your child will lose respect for the school and the staff, and it will make their time in school more difficult. If they know that you are on the same page with the school and that you have a partnership with them, this will make them feel more comfortable and they will feel like they have the village that we should have as we are raising our children. Everyone knows the old adage; it takes a village to raise a child, and this is really key when there are challenges with your child’s education.