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NO SUBSTITUTION FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHING EXPERIENCES: A CASE STUDY EXPLORING PERSPECTIVES OF NEW SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

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Date Issued:
2022
Abstract/Description:
Substitute teachers organize the classroom and instruct students in the absence of the regular teacher. An expectation placed on substitute teachers is to ensure learning experiences continue (Duggleby & Badali, 2007); however, this charge may exceed the preparation. Three central research questions and four sub-questions guided this case study. The questions focused on initial experiences of new substitute teachers in a Kindergarten through twelfth grade public school, the factors they believed influenced their confidence for instruction and perceived strengths and weaknesses of the required training in a large urban public school system. This case study explored perspectives of 32 new substitute teachers. An online survey, semi-structured interviews, and artifact reviews captured data. Online tools organized data for coding and analysis to discover themes and answer research questions. Findings indicated that the initial experiences substitute teachers had while working were varied, significant and often had a direct impact on their own performance and perceptions of school community members. Lesson plans, student activities and classroom management contributed to a new substitute teacher’s success in the classroom. Opportunities to interact with school community members strengthened a sense of belonging. These feelings were reflected in their own confidence as a substitute teacher. Additional factors impacting confidence included a personal knowledge of subject areas being taught, consistency with job assignments and building relationships with students in the classroom. The required training for the new substitute teachers highlighted more strengths than weaknesses along with a few recommendations for improvement. Implications from this study can uncover, design and implement a pipeline to full-time teaching - experience as a substitute teacher. There are no substitutes for an optimistic, well-prepared, engaged substitute teacher. By understanding the perceptions of new substitute teachers, a new direction improving the work of this instructional position as a valuable school community member is justified.
Title: NO SUBSTITUTION FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHING EXPERIENCES: A CASE STUDY EXPLORING PERSPECTIVES OF NEW SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS.
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Name(s): Barnes, Linda S. , author
Vaughan, Michelle , Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Department of Curriculum, Culture, and Educational Inquiry
College of Education
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2022
Date Issued: 2022
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 188 p.
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Substitute teachers organize the classroom and instruct students in the absence of the regular teacher. An expectation placed on substitute teachers is to ensure learning experiences continue (Duggleby & Badali, 2007); however, this charge may exceed the preparation. Three central research questions and four sub-questions guided this case study. The questions focused on initial experiences of new substitute teachers in a Kindergarten through twelfth grade public school, the factors they believed influenced their confidence for instruction and perceived strengths and weaknesses of the required training in a large urban public school system. This case study explored perspectives of 32 new substitute teachers. An online survey, semi-structured interviews, and artifact reviews captured data. Online tools organized data for coding and analysis to discover themes and answer research questions. Findings indicated that the initial experiences substitute teachers had while working were varied, significant and often had a direct impact on their own performance and perceptions of school community members. Lesson plans, student activities and classroom management contributed to a new substitute teacher’s success in the classroom. Opportunities to interact with school community members strengthened a sense of belonging. These feelings were reflected in their own confidence as a substitute teacher. Additional factors impacting confidence included a personal knowledge of subject areas being taught, consistency with job assignments and building relationships with students in the classroom. The required training for the new substitute teachers highlighted more strengths than weaknesses along with a few recommendations for improvement. Implications from this study can uncover, design and implement a pipeline to full-time teaching - experience as a substitute teacher. There are no substitutes for an optimistic, well-prepared, engaged substitute teacher. By understanding the perceptions of new substitute teachers, a new direction improving the work of this instructional position as a valuable school community member is justified.
Identifier: FA00013905 (IID)
Degree granted: Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2022.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Substitute teachers
Teachers—Training of
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013905
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.