Dear PBIS Rewards –
I’m in charge of scheduling subs when one of our regular teachers is out. I’m concerned that our subs can’t/won’t use PBIS Rewards when they sub for our regular teachers. Can subs use PBIS Rewards, too?
Signed –
Sub Scheduler
Dear Sub Scheduler –
Substitute teachers can ABSOLUTELY use PBIS Rewards! In fact, it is easier for them to use than a manual PBIS system. With the web portal, they don’t even need to have PBIS Rewards downloaded onto their smartphone.
It doesn’t matter if a sub is there for a single day or is covering classes for an extended period. PBIS Rewards makes it possible for anyone in the school to recognize and acknowledge positive behavior.
How often a sub is in your building will determine how you give them access to PBIS Rewards. One-time subs can use a substitute authorization code to gain limited access to the regular teacher’s account. This code lasts for eight hours and can be used multiple times within that 8 hours. If you have regular or long-term subs, you can set them up with their own user accounts. These individuals can download the PBIS Rewards App onto their phone or tablet so they may award points anywhere on campus, just like the rest of your staff. Subs who have their own account can easily favorite the groups for the teacher they are subbing for that day.
Other Ways to Help Substitute Teachers Use PBIS Rewards
PBIS Rewards is easy for anyone on staff to use. Here are a few extra tips to help your subs get the most out of the time spent with your students:
Provide Them With Your School’s Expectations
It’s likely your school will have its expectations posted throughout the building, but a hard copy in the sub folder never hurts. Subs should understand what schoolwide behavior expectations are, and what those expectations look like in action. If there are certain expectations that your school is giving more focus to, your sub needs to know. For example, if the whole school is focusing on walking quietly in the hallway, your sub needs to know to pay particular attention and award points for that action.
Give Them a Class Roster
Knowing the names of students in the classroom is a great help for a substitute teacher. PBIS Rewards allows you to print off a classroom roster, including QR codes, to put into your substitute teacher’s folder. Even if administration hasn’t added student photos to the overall system, a classroom teacher can add student photos for his or her particular class(es). This can effectively stop students from switching identities – which as you know is a favorite prank for students to pull on a sub. (Sorry, kids.) In addition to the classroom roster, including a seating chart (if the classroom has assigned seats) can help a sub spot an absent student quickly. This chart, combined with a photo roster, can help assure the right students are in the right seats.
Provide Them With Classroom Routines
Each teacher has his or her own classroom routines, and arming a sub with those routines can help the day go more smoothly. Providing a detailed routine will help keep the class on track and make certain behaviors more obvious. If a teacher is focusing on specific behaviors in their classroom, the sub can maintain consistency in awarding points for those behaviors.
Allow Them to Generate Referrals
Sometimes the regular teacher being away from the classroom can spark poor behavior. Equip subs with referral forms in the substitute teacher’s folder. If your school is using the PBIS Rewards Behavior Referral System feature, your substitute teachers can generate a referral electronically. BRS tracks referrals from generation to resolution, creating a wealth of data that can help you fine-tune your PBIS program.
Tell Them Where to Get Help
For subs who are unfamiliar with the school or with particular classrooms, a list of emergency procedures, nearby teachers, administration contacts, and other important information is crucial. Subs should know the location of the faculty restroom, cafeteria, emergency exits, and office, among others. Some teachers also include a list of trustworthy students for each class. It’s also helpful to include contact information for your PBIS Rewards administrator, in case they have questions about how to use the software. They can also use our searchable Support site to learn more.
Give Them Some Leeway
Whether a sub is covering a class for a day or for an extended period of time, it’s helpful to give them a lot of leeway in awarding points. Subs don’t typically have a lot of power, so giving them the ability to award more points than normal can give them at least one more tool to affect student behavior.
Give Your Subs Some Love
Substitute teachers are just as important to the success of your school as your regular staff. Whether they are there for one day or many, giving them access to PBIS Rewards will help to reinforce your school’s commitment to improved school culture. PBIS Rewards is intuitive and easy to use, allowing anyone in a school to acknowledge positive behavior, including your subs. It’s a powerful lesson for students to see everyone in the school community participating in a positive school climate!
Sincerely –
Your PBIS Rewards Support Team
