Hawaii Substitute Teacher Course Exam
Prep 2025/2026 – Study Guide &
Review
Section 1: Professionalism and Ethics (20 Questions)
1. What is the primary role of a substitute teacher?
a) To be a friend to the students
b) To ensure instruction continues and maintain a safe, productive learning environment ✓
c) To completely overhaul the lesson plans left by the teacher
d) To focus solely on disciplinary actions
2. The concept of "in loco parentis" means:
a) The teacher is always right.
b) The school and teachers act "in place of the parents" regarding student safety and well-being.
✓
c) Parents are not allowed on school grounds.
d) Students must obey all commands without question.
3. Confidentiality regarding student information is:
a) Only important for special education students.
b) A legal and ethical obligation that must always be maintained. ✓
c) Optional if the information is not serious.
d) Only required during school hours.
4. If a regular teacher's lesson plan seems too difficult to complete, what should you do first?
a) Skip the lesson and let students have free time.
b) Do your best to implement the plan as written.
c) Attempt to adapt the lesson while maintaining its core objective. ✓
d) Tell the students their teacher's plan is bad.
5. How should you dress as a substitute teacher?
a) As comfortably as possible, like in pajamas.
b) In a professional manner that meets or exceeds the school's dress code. ✓
c) The same way the students dress to build rapport.
d) It doesn't matter; you're only there for a day.
,6. When you arrive at a school for an assignment, your first action should be to:
a) Go directly to the classroom and wait for students.
b) Check in at the main office and receive necessary materials and keys. ✓
c) Introduce yourself to other teachers in the lounge.
d) Find the principal to let them know you've arrived.
7. A student discloses personal abuse to you. What is your legal responsibility?
a) Keep it confidential between you and the student.
b) Report your suspicion to the designated school authority (e.g., principal, counselor)
immediately. ✓
c) Discuss it with the other students to see if they know anything.
d) Wait for the regular teacher to return and tell them.
8. What is the best approach to take if a student asks you a question you don't know the
answer to?
a) Make up a plausible answer to maintain authority.
b) Tell the student it's a stupid question.
c) Admit you don't know but offer to help them find the answer. ✓
d) Ignore the question.
9. Your personal opinions on politics, religion, or controversial topics should be:
a) Shared freely to stimulate classroom debate.
b) Kept private and not discussed in the classroom. ✓
c) Posted on the classroom whiteboard.
d) Used to correct students' beliefs.
10. Professionalism includes:
a) Complaining about the absent teacher's lesson plans to the students.
b) Arriving late and leaving early.
c) Maintaining a positive attitude and communicating respectfully with all staff. ✓
d) Using your personal phone for social media during class.
11. What should you do at the end of the day?
a) Leave as quickly as possible.
b) Straighten up the room, leave a detailed note for the teacher, and return materials to the
office. ✓
c) Wait for the principal to dismiss you.
d) Let the students clean up the room.
,12. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects:
a) A teacher's personal lesson plans.
b) The privacy of student education records. ✓
c) The school's budget information.
d) A substitute teacher's pay rate.
13. If a parent approaches you after school to discuss their child's performance, you should:
a) Have a full conference with them on the spot.
b) Politely refer them to the main office or the regular classroom teacher. ✓
c) Give them your personal phone number.
d) Tell them everything that happened that day.
14. Acceptable use of school technology includes:
a) Checking personal email during instructional time.
b) Using the computer only for school-related tasks as defined by policy. ✓
c) Letting students use it for games as a reward.
d) Downloading unauthorized software.
15. Building rapport with students is important, but it should not include:
a) Learning their names.
b) Showing interest in their activities.
c) Sharing overly personal information or trying to be their peer. ✓
d) Encouraging their efforts.
16. If you are running late for an assignment, you should:
a) Not worry about it; you're a substitute.
b) Call the school as soon as possible to inform them. ✓
c) Show up whenever you can.
d) Blame the traffic to the students.
17. A key ethical principle is to:
a) Treat all students fairly and with respect, avoiding favoritism. ✓
b Focus attention only on the high-achieving students.
c) Punish students you personally dislike.
d) Ignore minor infractions from popular students.
18. What is the best way to handle a mistake you made during the day (e.g., giving incorrect
information)?
a) Hope no one noticed.
b) Acknowledge and correct it with the class the next day. ✓
, c) Blame the mistake on the absent teacher.
d) Punish any student who points it out.
19. Your feedback on a student's work should be:
a) Always critical to push them harder.
b) Constructive, specific, and focused on the task, not the student. ✓
c) Given only as a letter grade with no comments.
d) Avoided altogether to save time.
20. Why is it important to leave a detailed note for the regular teacher?
a) To prove you were very busy.
b) To list all the students who misbehaved.
c) To inform them about lesson progress, student behavior, and any important incidents. ✓
d) To ask for a better assignment next time.
Section 2: Classroom Management and Discipline (25 Questions)
21. The most effective classroom management strategy is:
a) Yelling to establish dominance.
b) Having well-structured, engaging activities and clear, consistent expectations. ✓
c) Threatening students with detention.
d) Ignoring all minor misbehavior.
22. As students enter the classroom, you should:
a) Sit at the desk and take attendance.
b) Greet them at the door and give clear instructions for the start of class. ✓
c) Let them do whatever they want until the bell rings.
d) Lecture them immediately about rules.
23. A student is repeatedly calling out answers without raising their hand. The best initial
response is:
a) Ignore them completely.
b) Send them to the principal's office.
c) Use a nonverbal cue or a gentle verbal reminder of the procedure. ✓
d) Yell "Stop calling out!"
24. Proximity control is a technique where you:
a) Stand near a disruptive student to redirect them non-verbally. ✓
b) Move a student's desk away from others.
Prep 2025/2026 – Study Guide &
Review
Section 1: Professionalism and Ethics (20 Questions)
1. What is the primary role of a substitute teacher?
a) To be a friend to the students
b) To ensure instruction continues and maintain a safe, productive learning environment ✓
c) To completely overhaul the lesson plans left by the teacher
d) To focus solely on disciplinary actions
2. The concept of "in loco parentis" means:
a) The teacher is always right.
b) The school and teachers act "in place of the parents" regarding student safety and well-being.
✓
c) Parents are not allowed on school grounds.
d) Students must obey all commands without question.
3. Confidentiality regarding student information is:
a) Only important for special education students.
b) A legal and ethical obligation that must always be maintained. ✓
c) Optional if the information is not serious.
d) Only required during school hours.
4. If a regular teacher's lesson plan seems too difficult to complete, what should you do first?
a) Skip the lesson and let students have free time.
b) Do your best to implement the plan as written.
c) Attempt to adapt the lesson while maintaining its core objective. ✓
d) Tell the students their teacher's plan is bad.
5. How should you dress as a substitute teacher?
a) As comfortably as possible, like in pajamas.
b) In a professional manner that meets or exceeds the school's dress code. ✓
c) The same way the students dress to build rapport.
d) It doesn't matter; you're only there for a day.
,6. When you arrive at a school for an assignment, your first action should be to:
a) Go directly to the classroom and wait for students.
b) Check in at the main office and receive necessary materials and keys. ✓
c) Introduce yourself to other teachers in the lounge.
d) Find the principal to let them know you've arrived.
7. A student discloses personal abuse to you. What is your legal responsibility?
a) Keep it confidential between you and the student.
b) Report your suspicion to the designated school authority (e.g., principal, counselor)
immediately. ✓
c) Discuss it with the other students to see if they know anything.
d) Wait for the regular teacher to return and tell them.
8. What is the best approach to take if a student asks you a question you don't know the
answer to?
a) Make up a plausible answer to maintain authority.
b) Tell the student it's a stupid question.
c) Admit you don't know but offer to help them find the answer. ✓
d) Ignore the question.
9. Your personal opinions on politics, religion, or controversial topics should be:
a) Shared freely to stimulate classroom debate.
b) Kept private and not discussed in the classroom. ✓
c) Posted on the classroom whiteboard.
d) Used to correct students' beliefs.
10. Professionalism includes:
a) Complaining about the absent teacher's lesson plans to the students.
b) Arriving late and leaving early.
c) Maintaining a positive attitude and communicating respectfully with all staff. ✓
d) Using your personal phone for social media during class.
11. What should you do at the end of the day?
a) Leave as quickly as possible.
b) Straighten up the room, leave a detailed note for the teacher, and return materials to the
office. ✓
c) Wait for the principal to dismiss you.
d) Let the students clean up the room.
,12. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects:
a) A teacher's personal lesson plans.
b) The privacy of student education records. ✓
c) The school's budget information.
d) A substitute teacher's pay rate.
13. If a parent approaches you after school to discuss their child's performance, you should:
a) Have a full conference with them on the spot.
b) Politely refer them to the main office or the regular classroom teacher. ✓
c) Give them your personal phone number.
d) Tell them everything that happened that day.
14. Acceptable use of school technology includes:
a) Checking personal email during instructional time.
b) Using the computer only for school-related tasks as defined by policy. ✓
c) Letting students use it for games as a reward.
d) Downloading unauthorized software.
15. Building rapport with students is important, but it should not include:
a) Learning their names.
b) Showing interest in their activities.
c) Sharing overly personal information or trying to be their peer. ✓
d) Encouraging their efforts.
16. If you are running late for an assignment, you should:
a) Not worry about it; you're a substitute.
b) Call the school as soon as possible to inform them. ✓
c) Show up whenever you can.
d) Blame the traffic to the students.
17. A key ethical principle is to:
a) Treat all students fairly and with respect, avoiding favoritism. ✓
b Focus attention only on the high-achieving students.
c) Punish students you personally dislike.
d) Ignore minor infractions from popular students.
18. What is the best way to handle a mistake you made during the day (e.g., giving incorrect
information)?
a) Hope no one noticed.
b) Acknowledge and correct it with the class the next day. ✓
, c) Blame the mistake on the absent teacher.
d) Punish any student who points it out.
19. Your feedback on a student's work should be:
a) Always critical to push them harder.
b) Constructive, specific, and focused on the task, not the student. ✓
c) Given only as a letter grade with no comments.
d) Avoided altogether to save time.
20. Why is it important to leave a detailed note for the regular teacher?
a) To prove you were very busy.
b) To list all the students who misbehaved.
c) To inform them about lesson progress, student behavior, and any important incidents. ✓
d) To ask for a better assignment next time.
Section 2: Classroom Management and Discipline (25 Questions)
21. The most effective classroom management strategy is:
a) Yelling to establish dominance.
b) Having well-structured, engaging activities and clear, consistent expectations. ✓
c) Threatening students with detention.
d) Ignoring all minor misbehavior.
22. As students enter the classroom, you should:
a) Sit at the desk and take attendance.
b) Greet them at the door and give clear instructions for the start of class. ✓
c) Let them do whatever they want until the bell rings.
d) Lecture them immediately about rules.
23. A student is repeatedly calling out answers without raising their hand. The best initial
response is:
a) Ignore them completely.
b) Send them to the principal's office.
c) Use a nonverbal cue or a gentle verbal reminder of the procedure. ✓
d) Yell "Stop calling out!"
24. Proximity control is a technique where you:
a) Stand near a disruptive student to redirect them non-verbally. ✓
b) Move a student's desk away from others.
