Any advice on quieting a class down when substituting?

Question

Hi,

I substituted for the first time yesterday. The gr. 9 class I had was pretty good, but the gr. 5 class was a disaster. Part of this was my fault - I went through a question on the chalkboard instead of photocopying it, and as a result the students were confused and the noise level got really loud. But once it started, I couldn't stop it! I told the students I would take down their names and report them to the real teacher if they persisted - and this worked for all of 5 seconds. I even followed through and took some names down, but nobody cared anymore. I tried hard to be the right balance of friendly and caring, but in control; still the class was chaos. I was stressed, and this was not the kind of teacher I hoped to be - I truly care for the students! I don't want to be a disciplinarian, but I know it's sometimes necessary for order. I need your help, i'm substituting tomorrow! How can I find the right balance and have both order and a pleasant environment?

Answer 1

Start out with clear expectations of the rules.  Next time, stick to book work or worksheets if class participation activities get out of hand.  

Some good ground rules are raise your hand to ask a question or to get permission to come to your desk/leave the class, etc.  Then just don't start any interactive lessons if they/you can't handle it without getting too loud.

You may have to make an example of someone and send them to the office or leave a note for the teacher if one or more students remains out of control.  Once you do this, the others will probably get back in line.  I wouldn't hesistate to call down to the office or remove a student from class if he/she can't get it under control after reasonable warnings.  Just say something like, "You have one chance to do this without too much noise, or I will have the principal remind you of the class/school rules.  It's not fair to the other students who are trying for some of you to disrupt the rest of the class."

You can also put it back on the regular teacher and the school administration so you aren't the "bad guy", by saying something like, "If I don't follow the same rules as your regular teacher, I won't be allowed to work as a sub, and the school will probably find somebody a lot meaner than me!"

You can also plan some sort of small incentive or award for the end of the period--if you have time and don't have too many disruptions.  It could be a fun trivia game (tie it to the curriculum if possible), or even just writing down the names of the BEST students for the teacher to reward appropriately later instead of tattling on the worst ones.

Answer 2

You know what they say: "Inch by inch everything is a cinch."? However, from inch to cinch is a journey. My suggestions:

-Because kids generally want to take thier lessons less seriously in the absence of the main teacher, it'd be a good idea for the main teacher to introduce the sub and empower her/him. It works, but only if you get to meet the main teacher.

-Give them candy

-Use positive words more like: Iam proud of your work. Besides, do not criticize the groups that are less serious. Rather 'pick' on the diligent group and say something like 'student A or group A is consistently on task; I appreciate that.'

-For the rowdy kids, make a positive remark about them each time they quiet down.

-If by any means you know where some of them come from, make a positive statement about the place.

-Did I mention candy? Allow the repitition.

-Sometimes, for the noisy kids, nicely call them (in a way that must come) and talk to them one on one, maybe at the door of the classroom.

-People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be. Take it one day at a time.

-Seriously, if you are Christian pray for them

-Try, also, to call them by name.

-Candy. It won't make the hyper, despite the sugar.

Answer 3

As a fellow substitute teacher, I can sympathize with your frustration.  The first days are always the hardest.  At the beginning of class, make sure that you let them know what work is to be done and that if they misbehave that you will report them to the regular teacher.  Let them know that you will be seeing them again so they will know that you are not some warm body who will disappear from their lives.  Get to know the names of the louder kids.  It freaks them out if you remember them and then they know that you can easily report them to the teacher.  

Most importantly remember that you are not their regular teacher and cannot treat them like they are your students.  Kids treat all subs differently than their "real" teachers since subs have little leverage.  Be stern- not mean-  initially so they know you are serious.

Also, do not be too quick to call an administrator.  You will not get called to sub if they feel that you cannot control the class.  

Just try to relax and realize that you can only do your best and some days the kids are out of control but that it will get better as you get more experience.  

Good luck!

Answer 4

You have to give up the idea that you can be the "cool" teacher or the teacher who the kids like. You are a teacher now and thus "the enemy", the one who makes them do work they don't want to do. It's always more fun to talk and yell with your friends than learn academics. The sooner you accept this, the better. All new teachers have this illusion that they are "different" than other teachers.

You have to give them easy worksheets that they can do without any frustration, make it due at the end of the hour, and make sure it counts toward their grade. Find out if the school has a detention and turn their names in for it. You have to figure out what threat you can hold over them. It's got to be something they care about. I don't know what it is for your situation, you've got to figure that out. Sometimes I tell my student they're getting a grade for the assignment and a grade for their "citizenship" and that both grades count equally. Would that work?