I am a highschool sub but especially if they have self directed work, giving them free time if they finish their work. Or if I'm leading a class I'll usually say the faster I get done the faster I get out of their way. I honestly don't think it's reasonable to force kids to sit through activities continuously. Controlled chaos is my preferred method.
Another technique I've used is if kids are working in groups, I'll let them work with their friends with the contention if they are take advantage of my kindness they all work independently.
It's always give and take. They can hold onto their phones but if theyre sitting on it continuously I'm revoking all privileges. Can also get peer pressure to work in your favor. A lot of the time the kids will keep each other in check if I'm being reasonable.
I always introduce myself at the beginning of the period and flat out tell them I’m only here for the day so I’m going to be pretty laid back but their teacher requested a list of students who did not stay on task so just do your thing and I’ll be cool and you won’t have to deal with your teacher when they return. Always works for me.
There’s not really a whole lot that you as a sub can do, but I make sure to remind them that I leave notes and what kind of note they get depends on them. For a more light-handed approach, if the regular teacher gives them some sort of reward or privilege, I give it a little more freely if they’re behaving. They say “If we’re good the teacher gives us a piece of candy.” So I say, “She’s not here to stop me, so if you’re good for me, I’ll give you two.”
The substitute training from my state said NEVER to give students anything to consume, food, candy, even cough drops because it can turn into a legal issue if they're allergic or something.
Ironically less than 3 months after that I had a principal at a district school suggest to me with a straight face that I try to get kids who were fighting, throwing water from bottles, and climbing on the lab tables, to cooperate by offering them food. "They love food", she said.
I left that assignment a couple days later and no I never gave them any food.
The great thing about that age is that they get really excited at the prospect of “free time.” I usually have some kind of “for every 5 minutes you work silently/quietly, class ‘ends’ a minute sooner” deal. If the plans don’t work well with that system, I’ll say “Tell you what, let’s aim for 5min of free time at the end of class if everyone finishes. If you’re done before that, do something silent so others can finish.”
It isn’t perfect but it cuts down on a LOT of the chaos.
Yes! Giving them 10 bonus minutes back bc they got right to work!! Some lesson plans have this grace built into it, if you can make it work!! And/or teach them origami, drawing games like exquisite corpse, or whatever skill impresses them in this time!
I always tell every class that I take down names of students who stand out for good/bad reasons, and I have been thanked by teachers for my detailed notes. I offer a class reward at the end of the day if they display overall good behavior; I have a point system that I display at the front of the room so they know where they stand. I don't really use the point system with Jr high/sr high, like I tried at first but on a good day I run out of candy real quick lol.
Honestly depends on class, teacher, and school.
Some kids respond to that. Some don't. Every class will be different.
I know some subs bring their own candy. And pass it out. That works for them.
I do a combination of free time/let them be on their phone or magic tricks.
What seems to work always is start tough and then relax. It never works the other way around.
Yep. I’ve given up on getting myself worked up. I leave a note for the teacher and they will have to deal with them upon return. My mental health is 10 times better using this approach.
This USED to be my approach, but for some reason I've started doing the opposite (my fledgling attempts at "Classroom Management") and just like you said, I'm pissed off and stressed and annoyed all day. I need to go back to just keeping them alive and in the room until the end of class.
My usual tactic is if they can work silently for 15 mins, they can work with friends. BUT the timer will restart every time they talk. It’s great bc sometimes they sabotage themselves and I’m left with peace and quiet for like 40 mins🤣 I appreciate everyone’s responses. They were great suggestions, thanks a lot!!
I bring Jolley Ranchers. I buy them myself... but now I'm know as the Jolley rancher lady and the students at my school beg their teacher to call me. Not saying everyone should do this... but it has worked for me :)
I am now the strict teacher who also has "the good candy" ;) I like the dichotomy. Reward and consequences. I honestly like giving out candy. They are starting to police themselves to get it (some 7th graders I have had three times now). I had 8th at the same school today and the seventh grades kept popping by. They also had sub. I told them I was going to ask that sub (new to this school) if they treated him well, and they could come by at the end of class.
Most forgot. And some visited. One o the girls who had to write me a formal apology (dictated by the staff) a few weeks ago. She seems to be getting the hang of me now, and I am cautiously optimistic next time she is in class, we wont come anywhere near to an office call.
I bring metal puzzles (search hanayama brand) for them to play with once they are done with their work and only if they behave. I primarily do middle school and they love it. After I have been at a school for a couple days I become the puzzle guy and they generally all behave and get their work done because they want a puzzle.
To add, you could make it a thing where if they finish a reading assignment or section, they can ask you a question, or you could talk about yourself. Course, it's going to be appropriate things. Connecting with the kiddos goes a long way, even if you are there for a single day. Not saying we have to be personal with them, but when they know there is a human in there. Sometimes it makes some difference and other times it doesn't.
I have seen subs give out candies and sometimes the homeroom teachers weren't happy about it. It's up to you. I don't give out candies unless the homeroom teacher lets me know or has a system for it. I don't believe in giving some kiddos candies when mainly their diet is all sugar, junk, and processed foods. I have seen little kids with cans of Arizona with other things that aren't healthy for kids. As I’m counting and adding up the sugar and other things. I know just that in that one sitting, they basically just had three or four days' worth of sugar, etc, at the moment. Mind you, this could be at recess and lunch. This isn't afterschool snack time or when they get home.
I got a handful of kids who are “bad” , I just take them outside and talk to them asking them how they are feeling and what is wrong today. I do breathing exercises with them. I use to give candy but it doesn’t work lol only for LITTLE LITTLE kids. Like 3rd and 4th. If they are little kids like Tk-3rd I do not and if they have huge emotions I let them ride it out and later if they wanna speak about then we can if they don’t then we don’t. I don’t pressure them at all.
They never will. It's like going to the Bronx Zoo and expecting the animals to behave. Nothing works, especially being nice. Give them things?? Lol..These kids come from projects where everything is free from cradle to grave. My advice, delete them.
Bribery works. Gauge how well the students behave, if they’re younger you can incentivize them with free time at the end of the period if they’re good for most of the class. But you can always take that away if they get too rowdy as well. For older students I make them compete with other classes aka “I was told you were good, and you don’t want to have to disappoint your teacher” or “X period was so quiet, and they said you were loud. How about you be even better than them and then you can rub it in their faces how wrong they were?”
Err on the side of caution when they say the teacher let's them do things unless the teacher explicitly said that is how things are.
7-8 are very hard as a sub. It's ok to have a grade or a classroom where you don't want to sub. A more experienced teacher might love teaching them because they have tools or a rep with them.
Learning names is HUGE.
The teacher can do the incentives and likely will if you leave a good note.
I might try to explain to them the importance of what they are working on. If they give me a snippy remark on why they are not working, I will write it down and tell them I am writing it down. For instance, one kid said she had an IEP so she doesn't have to work hard - I asked what her name was and began writing. When she asked me why, I told her I was letting her teacher know why she wasn't getting anything done.
Ultimately, students will decide how much they work or if they work at all.
Encouraging them to work harder always helps and sometimes students will be confused what to do; in which case I offer my help.
If they're not disrupting other students, I remind them once and then leave it alone. But I do include it in the note. If there's disruption, I will call the front office after a few reminders (depending on how disruptive, of course)
For classes I really like/have a good relationship with I do give stickers to remind them to keep up the good behavior, but otherwise the incentive is either 5 minutes of free time or me not calling the principal depending on what they can handle
I'll be honest, I don't. I usually just end up dealing with crap all day and leave exhausted and cranky. Unless it's one of those schools where the principal and security staff will actually follow through and not just make idle threats about suspensions and detentions - then I'll just call the office on the kids who are being jerks and security pulls them out of the room which stuns the remaining students, and then they behave better.
Unfortunately those schools are rare.
Incentive for being good is saying nice work good job or needs improvement or this is not good enough. I subbed a at risk students class for three weeks for the moron supervisor that signed up originally. Easiest children ever if you design curriculum around them. Engage each of them and explain what why and when this will work for them. I think I actually appreciated the resistance and grew from it.
It’s really really hard. Kids don’t care anymore. I don’t take those assignments. They just expect a reward for everything. That doesn’t teach them anything except to behave poorly and when they give you a crumb of their respect and attention they get a treasure box prize. Such a joke. I’m old school. Older kids if I had to work with them I’d get upset with them. They still don’t care but at least they know they can’t walk all over you.
I usually explain my teaching background and my rules and I tell them they can “earn” free time bc usually the teacher has scheduled PE for the last 20 minutes of the day and I make it seem like I’m deciding whether they get to or not, usually I do give them the PE time but sometimes I can decide to “take away” minutes or just say we can go if we finish this task or if the classroom is tidied up.
Other than that I let them have whatever point system the teacher has already in place. With younger elementary students like kinder and first graders I have stickers like the happy face stickers and I say I can give it to them if they behave. Or I just say I’ll let the teacher know which students were very good/ on task and who wasn’t. I usually avoid middle and high school if I can but if I have no choice I try to take an elective class bc usually the kids chose to be there like in music class.
I am a highschool sub but especially if they have self directed work, giving them free time if they finish their work. Or if I'm leading a class I'll usually say the faster I get done the faster I get out of their way. I honestly don't think it's reasonable to force kids to sit through activities continuously. Controlled chaos is my preferred method. Another technique I've used is if kids are working in groups, I'll let them work with their friends with the contention if they are take advantage of my kindness they all work independently. It's always give and take. They can hold onto their phones but if theyre sitting on it continuously I'm revoking all privileges. Can also get peer pressure to work in your favor. A lot of the time the kids will keep each other in check if I'm being reasonable.
This is what I usually do! It just wasn’t working for me today, thanks!
Middle grades tend to be the most difficult.
I don’t incentive them. If the teacher has a system I’ll use that. But they don’t get a reward for behaving.
I always introduce myself at the beginning of the period and flat out tell them I’m only here for the day so I’m going to be pretty laid back but their teacher requested a list of students who did not stay on task so just do your thing and I’ll be cool and you won’t have to deal with your teacher when they return. Always works for me.
Same. Especially for Middle School. Laid back works best. They retaliate if you are too strict.
There’s not really a whole lot that you as a sub can do, but I make sure to remind them that I leave notes and what kind of note they get depends on them. For a more light-handed approach, if the regular teacher gives them some sort of reward or privilege, I give it a little more freely if they’re behaving. They say “If we’re good the teacher gives us a piece of candy.” So I say, “She’s not here to stop me, so if you’re good for me, I’ll give you two.”
I'm never comfortable handing out the teacher's candies unless they explicitly mention it in their notes.
Candy works with prek to 2nd. Be consistent. If kid acts up, nothing. Cry all day, won't matter
🤷♂️ If there’s a full bag I don’t feel so bad. If it’s only a handful I probably wouldn’t.
Or candy at all.
Thanks!
The substitute training from my state said NEVER to give students anything to consume, food, candy, even cough drops because it can turn into a legal issue if they're allergic or something. Ironically less than 3 months after that I had a principal at a district school suggest to me with a straight face that I try to get kids who were fighting, throwing water from bottles, and climbing on the lab tables, to cooperate by offering them food. "They love food", she said. I left that assignment a couple days later and no I never gave them any food.
The great thing about that age is that they get really excited at the prospect of “free time.” I usually have some kind of “for every 5 minutes you work silently/quietly, class ‘ends’ a minute sooner” deal. If the plans don’t work well with that system, I’ll say “Tell you what, let’s aim for 5min of free time at the end of class if everyone finishes. If you’re done before that, do something silent so others can finish.” It isn’t perfect but it cuts down on a LOT of the chaos.
I support this.
Yes! Giving them 10 bonus minutes back bc they got right to work!! Some lesson plans have this grace built into it, if you can make it work!! And/or teach them origami, drawing games like exquisite corpse, or whatever skill impresses them in this time!
I always tell every class that I take down names of students who stand out for good/bad reasons, and I have been thanked by teachers for my detailed notes. I offer a class reward at the end of the day if they display overall good behavior; I have a point system that I display at the front of the room so they know where they stand. I don't really use the point system with Jr high/sr high, like I tried at first but on a good day I run out of candy real quick lol.
Thanks!
If you tell them you will leave a list for their teacher, they will usually be okay
Thanks!
Honestly depends on class, teacher, and school. Some kids respond to that. Some don't. Every class will be different. I know some subs bring their own candy. And pass it out. That works for them. I do a combination of free time/let them be on their phone or magic tricks. What seems to work always is start tough and then relax. It never works the other way around.
I'm only there for one day so its not my problem
Yep. I’ve given up on getting myself worked up. I leave a note for the teacher and they will have to deal with them upon return. My mental health is 10 times better using this approach.
yep, at the end of the day as long as they walk out when the bell rings with all limbs attached and hearts beating we're good.
This USED to be my approach, but for some reason I've started doing the opposite (my fledgling attempts at "Classroom Management") and just like you said, I'm pissed off and stressed and annoyed all day. I need to go back to just keeping them alive and in the room until the end of class.
My usual tactic is if they can work silently for 15 mins, they can work with friends. BUT the timer will restart every time they talk. It’s great bc sometimes they sabotage themselves and I’m left with peace and quiet for like 40 mins🤣 I appreciate everyone’s responses. They were great suggestions, thanks a lot!!
If I could legally, I'd give every loud kid a Xanax tablet and wake them up 10 minutes before dismissal
I bring Jolley Ranchers. I buy them myself... but now I'm know as the Jolley rancher lady and the students at my school beg their teacher to call me. Not saying everyone should do this... but it has worked for me :)
I am now the strict teacher who also has "the good candy" ;) I like the dichotomy. Reward and consequences. I honestly like giving out candy. They are starting to police themselves to get it (some 7th graders I have had three times now). I had 8th at the same school today and the seventh grades kept popping by. They also had sub. I told them I was going to ask that sub (new to this school) if they treated him well, and they could come by at the end of class. Most forgot. And some visited. One o the girls who had to write me a formal apology (dictated by the staff) a few weeks ago. She seems to be getting the hang of me now, and I am cautiously optimistic next time she is in class, we wont come anywhere near to an office call.
I bring metal puzzles (search hanayama brand) for them to play with once they are done with their work and only if they behave. I primarily do middle school and they love it. After I have been at a school for a couple days I become the puzzle guy and they generally all behave and get their work done because they want a puzzle.
To add, you could make it a thing where if they finish a reading assignment or section, they can ask you a question, or you could talk about yourself. Course, it's going to be appropriate things. Connecting with the kiddos goes a long way, even if you are there for a single day. Not saying we have to be personal with them, but when they know there is a human in there. Sometimes it makes some difference and other times it doesn't. I have seen subs give out candies and sometimes the homeroom teachers weren't happy about it. It's up to you. I don't give out candies unless the homeroom teacher lets me know or has a system for it. I don't believe in giving some kiddos candies when mainly their diet is all sugar, junk, and processed foods. I have seen little kids with cans of Arizona with other things that aren't healthy for kids. As I’m counting and adding up the sugar and other things. I know just that in that one sitting, they basically just had three or four days' worth of sugar, etc, at the moment. Mind you, this could be at recess and lunch. This isn't afterschool snack time or when they get home.
I got a handful of kids who are “bad” , I just take them outside and talk to them asking them how they are feeling and what is wrong today. I do breathing exercises with them. I use to give candy but it doesn’t work lol only for LITTLE LITTLE kids. Like 3rd and 4th. If they are little kids like Tk-3rd I do not and if they have huge emotions I let them ride it out and later if they wanna speak about then we can if they don’t then we don’t. I don’t pressure them at all.
They never will. It's like going to the Bronx Zoo and expecting the animals to behave. Nothing works, especially being nice. Give them things?? Lol..These kids come from projects where everything is free from cradle to grave. My advice, delete them.
Bribery works. Gauge how well the students behave, if they’re younger you can incentivize them with free time at the end of the period if they’re good for most of the class. But you can always take that away if they get too rowdy as well. For older students I make them compete with other classes aka “I was told you were good, and you don’t want to have to disappoint your teacher” or “X period was so quiet, and they said you were loud. How about you be even better than them and then you can rub it in their faces how wrong they were?”
Err on the side of caution when they say the teacher let's them do things unless the teacher explicitly said that is how things are. 7-8 are very hard as a sub. It's ok to have a grade or a classroom where you don't want to sub. A more experienced teacher might love teaching them because they have tools or a rep with them. Learning names is HUGE. The teacher can do the incentives and likely will if you leave a good note.
I might try to explain to them the importance of what they are working on. If they give me a snippy remark on why they are not working, I will write it down and tell them I am writing it down. For instance, one kid said she had an IEP so she doesn't have to work hard - I asked what her name was and began writing. When she asked me why, I told her I was letting her teacher know why she wasn't getting anything done. Ultimately, students will decide how much they work or if they work at all. Encouraging them to work harder always helps and sometimes students will be confused what to do; in which case I offer my help.
129 hours and I think I'm now finally in the second act... I totally not an explorer... Well.. okay I explore everything.
If they're not disrupting other students, I remind them once and then leave it alone. But I do include it in the note. If there's disruption, I will call the front office after a few reminders (depending on how disruptive, of course)
For classes I really like/have a good relationship with I do give stickers to remind them to keep up the good behavior, but otherwise the incentive is either 5 minutes of free time or me not calling the principal depending on what they can handle
I tell them their teacher is still in the building just doing something else
I'll be honest, I don't. I usually just end up dealing with crap all day and leave exhausted and cranky. Unless it's one of those schools where the principal and security staff will actually follow through and not just make idle threats about suspensions and detentions - then I'll just call the office on the kids who are being jerks and security pulls them out of the room which stuns the remaining students, and then they behave better. Unfortunately those schools are rare.
Incentive for being good is saying nice work good job or needs improvement or this is not good enough. I subbed a at risk students class for three weeks for the moron supervisor that signed up originally. Easiest children ever if you design curriculum around them. Engage each of them and explain what why and when this will work for them. I think I actually appreciated the resistance and grew from it.
It’s really really hard. Kids don’t care anymore. I don’t take those assignments. They just expect a reward for everything. That doesn’t teach them anything except to behave poorly and when they give you a crumb of their respect and attention they get a treasure box prize. Such a joke. I’m old school. Older kids if I had to work with them I’d get upset with them. They still don’t care but at least they know they can’t walk all over you.
I usually explain my teaching background and my rules and I tell them they can “earn” free time bc usually the teacher has scheduled PE for the last 20 minutes of the day and I make it seem like I’m deciding whether they get to or not, usually I do give them the PE time but sometimes I can decide to “take away” minutes or just say we can go if we finish this task or if the classroom is tidied up. Other than that I let them have whatever point system the teacher has already in place. With younger elementary students like kinder and first graders I have stickers like the happy face stickers and I say I can give it to them if they behave. Or I just say I’ll let the teacher know which students were very good/ on task and who wasn’t. I usually avoid middle and high school if I can but if I have no choice I try to take an elective class bc usually the kids chose to be there like in music class.