Substitutes Love Team Teaching

As a substitute teacher I love team teaching. Whenever I know that I will be spending my day with someone who knows the complexities of our classroom I am relieved of all my stress and know the students will have a productive day. My team teacher will know the students and the routine, plus I will never be stuck searching a foreign classroom for something that is not where it is supposed to be. Substitutes aren’t the only ones who benefit from team teaching, the students do as well. Occasionally when there is a substitute in the room the days are not particularly productive. Some students view these days as a holiday and refuse to work resulting in disturbances that impede others progress. Furthermore, sometimes with a substitute the students are simply given ‘keep them busy’ work that they know isn’t relevant or educational. Having a substitute can be even more disruptive and belittling for the special education students. These children often get removed from the classroom which damages their sense of community belonging and devalues them. Finally, team teaching also benefits the absent teacher. There is strength in numbers and it comforting for the away teacher to know that someone they trust is in their classroom who knows exactly what is going on and needs to be done.