While the perks of floater substitute positions may be great, these assignments still prove to be tricky for even the most seasoned veterans. Let’s walk you through a few tips to help you keep your head above water while floating.

<p>Floater positions are one of, if not <em>the</em>, most challenging roles in education. Your role is to move from one class to another throughout the school day supporting different students or various entire classes full of students. The environment you are working in is never the same. Moving from one end of a campus to another may also come with physical difficulties depending on the size of the school. Rapport building needs to happen quickly and efficiently. On top of all that you’ll need to adapt to working with a plethora of different school staff.</p>
<p>Despite these complications there are several benefits to being a floater. No two days are the same. These roles will likely always be needed as schools truly appreciate adaptable education professionals. Your practices will stay sharp as you’ll have a chance to learn and work with an abundance of educators who all use different strategies. Most importantly you’ll have the privilege of making an impact on a larger number of students.</p>
<p>While the perks of floater positions may be great these assignments still prove to be tricky for even the most seasoned veterans. Below we’ll walk you through a few tips to help you keep your head above water while floating:</p>
<h2><strong>1. Quickly Build Rapport</strong></h2>
<ul>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;">You don’t have much time, so you have to make the most of it. If quickly connecting with students is challenging for you, a floater position may not be a good fit.</li>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;">It’s crucial to build rapport with both students as well as school staff. <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/rapport-building-tips-for-tas-sped-aides-and-behavior-aides" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Our blog post linked here can give you some insights and strategies to do just that</a>¹.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>2. Travel Light</strong></h2>
<ul>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;">Having a packing list can be incredibly helpful (ex. dry erase markers, sticky notes, pens, pencils, emergency lesson plans, ID as needed, etc.).</li>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;">A bag or backpack can make hands-free traveling with supplies much simpler.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>3. Stay Organized</strong></h2>
<ul>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;">Remaining organized isn’t just helpful to you but it’ll be beneficial to the students you support. By staying organized, you demonstrate preparedness, setting a positive example for the students.</li>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;"><a href="https://www.graduateprogram.org/2024/02/how-to-be-organized-as-a-teacher/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This article</a>², while geared towards classroom teachers, serves as great advice for all educators who are looking to keep their materials organized.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>4. Stick to the Plan</strong></h2>
<ul>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;">Following the lesson plan isn’t only company policy but it’s best practice. The educator who wrote the plan knows the students academically, behaviorally, and socially. Utilizing their plan can allow you to tap into some of this knowledge.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>5. Consistency is Key</strong></h2>
<ul>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;">“<a href="https://www.powerschool.com/blog/why-consistency-is-important-in-classroom-behavior-management/#:~:text=Consistency%20is%20critical%20to%20creating,classroom%20procedures%20and%20their%20importance" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Consistency is critical to creating space for effective learning environments. Students can participate in learning more effectively when they have a clear understanding of classroom procedures and their importance</a>”³.</li>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;">While remaining calm and consistent it’s important to also focus on positivity. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wpviS5gaQ&amp;ab_channel=SBCUSD" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This video does a wonderful job outlining how to utilize a high PRR (Positive to Reprimand Ratio)</a>⁴.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>6. Hit the Reset Button</strong></h2>
<ul>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;">One beautiful advantage of being a floater is that between each class period you have a fresh start. Most of the time educators don’t have this opportunity, making their “<a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-pushing-the-reset-button/2017/06" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reset button” is much more difficult to press</a>⁵.</li>
  <li style="list-style-type: circle;margin-left:20px;">Every class or period should be treated like a brand new chance to make an impact on the students you serve. Remaining calm and consistent, as stated above, can help you reframe each time block as a</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p>Ultimately, floater positions are challenging but rewarding. They favor the well-prepared educator who is able to quickly build rapport with students and staff. While these assignments aren’t for everyone, schools, and students, greatly value those providers who are able to effectively and efficiently move from different environments and make an impact on students. It is our hope that some of the above tactics will help you navigate the sometimes treacherous waters of the floater substitute role.</p>
<h3><strong>Resources:</strong></h3>
<ol>
  <li style="margin-left:20px;">(N.d.). <em>Cross Country Education Blog</em>. <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/rapport-building-tips-for-tas-sped-aides-and-behavior-aides" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/rapport-building-tips-for-tas-sped-aides-and-behavior-aides</a></li>
  <li style="margin-left:20px;">Bouslog, M. (2024, February 14). How to Be Organized as a Teacher. <em>Graduate Programs for Educators</em>. <a href="https://www.graduateprogram.org/2024/02/how-to-be-organized-as-a-teacher/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.graduateprogram.org/2024/02/how-to-be-organized-as-a-teacher/</a></li>
  <li style="margin-left:20px;">YouTube. (n.d.). <em>A Snapshot of the PBiS 4:1 Ratio In a High School Classroom</em>. YouTube. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wpviS5gaQ&amp;ab_channel=SBCUSD" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wpviS5gaQ&amp;ab_channel=SBCUSD</a>&nbsp;</li>
  <li style="margin-left:20px;"><a href="https://www.powerschool.com/blog/why-consistency-is-important-in-classroom-behavior-management/#:~:text=Consistency%20is%20critical%20to%20creating,classroom%20procedures%20and%20their%20importance" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.powerschool.com/blog/why-consistency-is-important-in-classroom-behavior-management/#:~:text=Consistency%20is%20critical%20to%20creating,classroom%20procedures%20and%20their%20importance</a></li>
  <li style="margin-left:20px;">Torres, C. (2017, June 10). Pushing the Reset Button. <em>Education Week</em>. <a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-pushing-the-reset-button/2017/06" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-pushing-the-reset-button/2017/06</a></li>
</ol>


The Floater Substitute’s Survival Guide: 6 Tips for Success