National University Substitute Teaching Resource

        The design of this web site is conducive to those National University (NU) students and alumni seeking employment in the San Diego County area as substitute teachers.  The site is broken into individual areas, which includes elementary, secondary, and unified school districts.  In additional, information on the best practices for substitute teaching are available for viewers.  The development intention for this site is to continue to add information that will be useful for NU participants and to allow access on a continuous basis.  Additional regional information may be included in the future.

       For a brief introduction to the first steps for obtaining employment as a substitute teacher in San Diego County, please click on this link: http://nu.na5.acrobat.com/subbing/

Best Practices for Gaining and Maintaining Employment as a Substitute Teacher

       The best practices for gaining and maintaining employment as a substitute teacher are presented in the materials present in this web page.  As a beginning point, it is vital to open and maintain a profile in the web site maintained by the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (2010) for employment - www.edjoin.org.  Visiting the individual district web sites and reviewing all of their specific requirements is the next step in preparing oneself for substitute teaching employment.  Completing the requirements for employment and making contact with the individual schools is the final step in the job search.  Getting to know the secretary or similar office personnel position members is another key to getting hired for substitute teaching positions.  More information on the best practices for finding work as a substitute teacher and developing an ongoing relationship with the employers is present in this web site.  Click here for an introduction to this topic: http://nu.na5.acrobat.com/subteaching/

     The first steps for beginning your work as a substitute occur prior to your classroom assignments.  Depending upon your current credential status, you will need to follow the steps outlined below.  In addition, you will need to check the individual school districts for specific requirements for working in their schools.  Many school districts required in-house training prior to receiving classroom assignments.  Physicals that include drug testing and fitness for duty assessments are also a part of the requirements for some unified school districts.  Careful review of the individual district requirements will eliminate unnecessary delays in processing, which equate to missed opportunities.  Below are some keys that will prepare you for success:

• Complete all required application materials
• Have college course transcripts available
• Keep a copy of CBEST on hand
• Complete a Tuberculosis test
• Complete a First Aid and CPR course
• Obtain a 30 day emergency permit if you do not hold a credential (available through the San Diego County Office of Education)
• Determine the type of setting you want to work in (e.g., elementary, middle, and high school)
• Determine what other things you want to be involved in (e.g., sports, extracurricular activities, etc.)
• Research the schools you are interested in by visiting their web sites (available in this web site)
• Visit the locations in person
• Talk to parents, students, and staff to gain insights into the school culture as well as to make connections
• Make a good first impression by being friendly, courteous, and professional in your demeanor
• Leave business cards with office personnel - especially secretaries and administrators
• Be flexible and hold high expectations
• Dress in professional attire (you may be on an informal job interview) 

A brief narrated presentation is provided here: http://nu.na5.acrobat.com/subbing/

       The following is an overview of the nine steps for effective substitute teaching presented by Dr. Byer (2008).  Additional information is provided in the attachments including lesson plans, classroom management strategies, and formative assessment methods.  The presentations provided in this section cover many of these areas and are suggested viewing.  In addition, several web sites are linked to this overview page, but are not a part of the NU system.

Steps for success as a substitute teacher:

1. Be prepared by having lesson plans for emergencies, post-its, paper, pens, pencils, rewards (stickers are simple, yet effective), and bottled water (snacks are a good idea as well).
2. Visit the school office to pick up keys, attendance rosters, and events for the day.
3. Organize the day by getting to the classroom early and setting up for your teaching.
4. Set high expectations for the students and yourself.  Keep the rules and procedures simple.
5. Keep the students engaged in learning and stay on the lesson, especially if it was from the teacher you are representing.
6. Finish each class period strong by keeping the students on task until it is time to go.  Review the material that was taught and how it addresses the content standards at the end of each period or lesson.
7. Be ready for each class period or restore things for the next day.
8. Finish the day by leaving notes to the teacher of record and to the staff as necessary.
9. Reflect on your day by journaling on what went well and what you would do differently.
10. Leave a thank-you note with your contact information with the teacher and the principal. 

A narrated presentation on this steps is provided here: http://nu.na5.acrobat.com/successsequence/

CSET Preparation Courses

Let National University be your guide to success with our comprehensive California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) Preparation courses. In one month our instructors will guide you through a comprehensive overview of all the subject matter content you will need to pass the CSET. All courses have been created and will be taught by credentialed, subject-matter experts who are personally committed to your success on the CSET! Courses are designed to align with the structure and rigor of academic courses.

CSET Preparation courses are available for the following subjects:
     - Multiple Subject
     - Math
     - Science
     - Social Science
     - English

All courses are taught online one month prior to a CSET test offering and run for four weeks. They can also be taught onsite at a National University campus or at an off-site location for groups of 20 or more.

Onsite courses will typically meet either Monday and Wednesday OR Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 - 10 p.m. On request alternative weekend scheduling can be arranged.

The registration process can take up to 72 hours to complete for this course. Please note that if you do not submit your registration at least three business days prior to the course start date, there may be a delay in your registration.

For more information on National University's programs, visit : http://www.nu.edu/OurPrograms/ExtendedLearning/Education/Programs/CSET.html

For more information regarding the CSET examination, go to www.cset.nesinc.com