What are the common elements in substitute teacher horror stories?

One common element is unruly students. Often, they see a substitute as an easy target and misbehave. Another is lack of support from the school. If the school doesn't back up the substitute's authority, it's a recipe for disaster. Also, unclear lesson plans can be a big problem. Without proper guidance, it's hard for the substitute to keep the class in order.

One horror story is when a substitute teacher walked into a classroom full of unruly students. They completely ignored her instructions and started throwing things around. She tried to calm them down but they just laughed at her. It was a nightmare as she had no support from the school staff during that time.

One common element is lack of classroom management skills. Trainee teachers often struggle to control the students, like in the case where students keep chatting instead of listening. Another is being unprepared, for example, not knowing the subject matter well enough and making mistakes during teaching.

Poor working conditions are also common. Like old and dilapidated school buildings with problems like leaky roofs or broken heating systems. Teachers have to work in these uncomfortable environments, which can be quite a horror. For instance, in one urban school, the teachers had to teach during winter with a broken heater, and the students and teachers were freezing all day.

Rude behavior from the interviewers is also common. They could be dismissive of the teacher's experience or ideas. I know a teacher who was told her previous teaching experience in a small school was 'not good enough' in a very condescending way during an interview.

One common element is lack of respect for students. Bad teachers often humiliate students in public, like the teacher who called students stupid when they made mistakes.

One common element is over - strictness. Teachers who are extremely strict and don't allow any small mistakes can be quite terrifying for students. Another is unfair treatment, like what I mentioned before, favoring some students over others in grading or discipline. Also, a bad temper. Teachers who lose their temper easily can create a very hostile learning environment.

One common problem is lack of preparation. They often don't know the material well enough to teach it effectively. For example, they might mispronounce key terms or give wrong explanations.

One common theme is the element of surprise. Since substitute teachers are new to the students, they often bring unexpected teaching methods or personalities. Another theme is the challenge of gaining respect. Substitutes have to quickly establish their authority in a classroom where the students are used to someone else. And also, there's the theme of making a connection. Substitutes might find unique ways to relate to the students, like sharing personal stories or interests.

One common element is false accusations. Just like in the previous example where a teacher was wrongly accused of being unfair on Tumblr. Another element could be privacy invasion, such as when a teacher's personal information or photos are leaked. Also, cyberbullying is a big part. Teachers getting mean and untrue comments that can really harm their mental state and professional reputation.