I worked as a substitute teacher for a year before getting a full-time teaching position. Overall, it was a great experience as I was able to see a wide variety of classrooms and discover that I really did want to teach full-time. There were some days though that I wondered what I had gotten myself into with a class full of rowdy students or class where there were no plans for left for me. On those days, I found myself improvising and doing the best I could with the hand I was dealt. Back then it would have been good to read the substitute teaching guide that is posted on the Learning Curve blog. If you’re a substitute teacher or know a substitute teacher looking for advice, check out Relief for Relief Teachers. The article provides a wealth of tips and information that is useful for all covering all grade levels and content areas.