STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

1. I think you can definitely sub without actual teaching experience, as long as you are comfortable around kids. Subbing (at the HS level anyway) is really just babysitting. So I would just choose jobs that have an age level you're comfortable with. I actually started teaching without any classroom experience (yikes!) but as long as you work well with kids and have a general sense of the law/proprietary concerns, you'll be fine.

2. Being young is tricky, esp. if you're teaching high school. You have to let them know that you're not going to be the "cool" teacher who lets them out early, lets them slack off, etc., but at the same time, you should be able to relate to their concerns. I like to think about it as a "big sister" role. You have to be fair, but also very firm. Let them know that just because you're young, you're not going to hang out with them, or let them cuss in class, etc. I also learned a lot about classroom management from Harry Wong's "The First Days of School" -- if you don't already have this book, you should totally get it. One of his key principles is to never yell, or cry, or act frustrated -- you have to stay calm and in control no matter what, because if they're trying to frustrate you and they see that they've succeeded, it's like a free-for-all. U think that would be especially important to remember for subbing.

3. I think the most important thing I have learned about teaching is that kids really want somebody to listen to them and take them seriously. In the beginning, I made the mistake of sympathizing with them too much (most first-year teachers do), and some of them walked all over me. Now, I make sure to listen to their concerns about the assignments, complaints about workload, etc., and I try to answer honestly, giving them reasons why things are the way they are whenever I possibly can. I also don't subscribe to the "give respect, get respect" thing. My kids get respected no matter what, and no matter how they act. I don't hold grudges in my class, either. They do something wrong, they get punished, and that's the end of it.

Also, although I never went through a traditional teaching program, I come from a family of teachers (my mom, my aunt and my sister are all elem. school teachers) and I don't think you ever really feel "ready." You will be a great teacher, though! I can tell, because you love your subject (English, right?). Let me know if you have any more questions or need specifics. I could write more, but I feel like I have written a novel already!