Surviving Casual Teaching: From Experience
We’ve all be there – a phone call first thing in the morning from a school Vice or Assistant Principal asking if you can cover a class for the day. Your mind could go in two directions. Firstly, you might be filled with excitement at the prospect of a day’s work in a stimulating classroom where your teaching and learning skills can be put to good use. For others, your mind may fill with dread as you imagine what may be in store when you arrive at a new school and you are standing in front of an eager bunch of little faces, who are monitoring every move you make and you are wondering how you are going to manage a new situation.
It goes without saying a beginning teacher (or even an experienced teacher) who takes on the task of working as a casual teacher can face many challenges – from unruly students, to working with unfamiliar content or simply having to be flexible in the nuances of different school environments – the task is challenging but always very rewarding.
To survive being a casual teacher at any point in your teaching career, equipping yourself with practical tools and strategies can significantly boost your confidence and ability to be the best teacher you can be in any given situation. The following strategies can assist you in being an amazing casual teacher.
Mental Positivity: Half the battle of casual teaching is having a positive mindset. Approaching a casual teaching day with negative feelings or fear can lead to an unsuccessful day. Believe in your own skills, knowledge and talents. You are not ‘just’ a casual teacher, you are a teacher. You are qualified, capable and professionally equipped to deal with any student or classroom situation that may arise.
Be Prepared: Never assume a classroom teacher has left work for the day. Always be ready with a plan in mind for the day, copies of worksheets or activities that you can easily implement during the day. Even be prepared with your own behaviour management strategies. If you are prepared for the day with suitable instructional level work for a class, the pressure of what to teach at the last minute can be eliminated. Being prepared will equip you with a successful day of teaching.
Get to Know the Students: The students you are teaching may not be your own class and you may never teach this class again, however, it has been stated many times that the key to a successful classroom is teacher/student connectivity. As a casual teacher you are the so called ‘outsider’ - someone new in an established classroom. The sooner you develop a positive rapport with your students – getting to know their names, having a joke or two and simply letting them know that you care about their learning can quickly turn a casual teaching day into a successful one – not just for you but also for the students. One day with a class or student can make a lasting impact.
Seek Support: Never be afraid to seek advice from the school leadership team, grade partner/s you may be working with during the day or other members on staff. Asking questions, seeking information and making yourself open to communicating with personnel at the school can make life so much easier. As a casual teacher, you are not expected to know everything about the school, class or students you are working with. However, asking questions like when the bell times are, if you have a lunch duty to cover or if there is a child to be mindful of can quickly put your mind at ease and a casual day to run much smoother.
You are a Professional: Remember you are a professional too. You may not run a class of your own, but you are just as qualified and experienced as other full time teachers. You have been to university, gained your degree and have the knowledge to teach. Never underestimate or undermine the knowledge and skills you have. You are teacher and an amazing one too!
Casual teaching does not need to be a daunting experience. When you are ready, equipped and positive about the situations you will be presented with, casual teaching because a positive experience. Casual teaching can be a rollercoaster ride at times but it is also a very rewarding and fulfilling career path. As a casual teacher you are open to new situations, you are able to meet and engage with new teachers, work with range of students, grades and schools and without realising it, you are making an impact on student learning. Casual teachers, you have this!
