Is it inappropriate to let high school students just have fun when substituting?

Question

I really enjoy sub teaching at a local high school - the kids are great and totally respectful. If the teacher has left a lesson plan, of course I give it to them and help when needed. But if it's a study hall, I just let them chat - I figure that they're young adults and I am not going to be grading them. Is there anything wrong with that or am I too laid back? By the way, the students are so appreciative to have a little "break" when I do this.

Answer 1

I would say keep doing it, or maybe have a game like jeopardy, something fun they can play that is educational.

Answer 2

Yes it's inappropriate and I will tell you why. We teachers have to slave our butts off to earn out kids' cooperation and respect. It's not easily won. Then a sub. comes in and lets the kids goof off and have fun. When I (the regular teacher) comes back, they act resentful towards me because I "make" them do their work and actually teach something. You get to be the "good guy/friend" and get all the glory while the regular teacher is seen as the bad guy. You are messing up this teacher's classroom management.

Right now I have a high school student helping out in my class. The kids are crazy about her but, of course, she is not teaching. She buddies up with the little girls she likes and doesn't help the struggling students. She takes their side and acts all sympathetic when the mean old "me" tells them to get busy. You may think you're doing a good thing by letting the kids have fun but examine your motives. Do you just want to be seen as the fun teacher? Don't we all wish we could befriend our students! You are making real teachers' jobs harder. I feel sorry for teachers who get you as their sub!

Answer 3

As long as you are following lesson plans, a little goof off time is okay. But, I would say..if you guys do a good job studying and being quiet, the last 15 minutes you can talk as long as you are in control.  

Make them earn it.

Answer 4

If its study hall and theres a sub I hate when they tell us not to talk.. especially when they bring their own work in or whatever.. My study has maybe 8 girls and honestly we dont make that much noise and this one sub came in and flipped out because it was two days.. friday last period before a vacation and monday first period and our normal teacher let us talked so anywyas let them do what they want.

Answer 5

i use to be in high school and i love substitute teachers! haha. well, only the laid back ones.

how i think about it is....

if a teacher left an assignment, yeah make the kids do it and if it's study hall, why not let the kids talk? kids really do like the little break sometimes because...you're just the SUBSTITUTE teacher! not their actual teacher.

you be the way you want to be...

if the teacher's a mean teacher, then let the teacher be mean. but if you're cool and laid back, then that's who you are.

don't change that, just because all of a sudden you're the teacher of the day...

but if i was still in high school, i would have love teachers like you more!!

Answer 6

No, they need a little fun time, just dont let them get too out of hand.

Answer 7

it is deffinatly appropriate there just teenagers. wouldent you be excited if when you were in high school your grumpy teacher left? just let them hang loose and be free but if gets out of hand justt tell them you want them to have fun but you cant go crazy.

Answer 8

NO!!!  As a high school student, it drives me NUTS when the substitute teacher doesn't reign control over her classroom, whether there are lesson plans or not.  School is for studying, socialization is for after the last bell rings.

Answer 9

Well, I for one am a parent of adult children, who believes thaty kids are pushed TOO hard, these days!  I agree...they can use the break!  

Also, study halls are generally time to catch up on missed work or homework, use the schools computers and other resources, etc...so since they are supposed to be treated as young adults, it is showing them respect when you leave it to their discretion to use the time wisely, or to just take a needed break.  Since others may be needing to utilize the time to work, I would limit the talking to whispers or notes.  :)

It's awesome to see a teacher who does not treat the kids as if they are in prison!  :O)  Keep on, keeping on in your noble profession!  And...THANK YOU.  :O)

Answer 10

I would not ask you to cover for me.

There is absolutely something wrong with that. You have been entrusted with the care of a classroom - its not a social gathering. You are expected to do the job in place of the teacher. That thinking is why some subs have a negative perception.

rethink why you are teaching - is it to have an easy day? or are you trying to make a difference?

Answer 11

Remember that there is a line that needs to be drawn.   You are not to be the children's friend.   You are their authority that the administration has put trust in to carry on the duties of the teacher that you are taking place of.    Of course the students are appreciative, they know you are easy.    When I was a sub, I always tried to conduct that class as if the teacher was still there.

Answer 12

if their being adults and chatting, then no problem, just let them know if a supervisor comes around act like thier working

Answer 13

Take a look from a different perspective.  Your are subbing for a teacher who has monitor that study hall on a regular basis.  If you just let the kids talk when you are there, they will become accostumed to using that time to chat and not work.  After all it is 'study' hall, a time for students to study and work on school related work.  

Why don't you try having the students work the majority of the period and then designate the last couple of minutes to conversation or free time.  This way the students will be motivated to get there work done so they can have time to chat later in the period.

Answer 14

In a study hall situation, I think a little chatting is fine, but I think it would be beneficial if you found kids having the same classes to get into groups and work on homework or something constructive.

I don't think it is "inappropriate" for kids to have fun while learning.  And if it were for 10-15 minutes of the study hall time that you allowed chatting, I think that is fine.  Students are under a lot of pressure to succeed and not have lots of downtime between classes.  

Far better if you interacted with them though.  I hated having substitute teachers that were boring, ignored the class altogether or were downright mean.

Answer 15

Actually that is great to do that, as a kid myself I enjoy days like that because as long as my class can be respectful, the substitute can treat us fairly and give us an oppurtunity to relax and talk.

Answer 16

Since you are being paid to TEACH, if you are not doing so and accepting money, it is inappropriate.  If your first priority is the students having fun, then volunteer your time and let them have a ball!  

When I would substitute teach, I found it difficult to jump into the curriculum for just a period or a couple of days, even with lesson plans.  I always carried a list of commonly misspelled words and I would give the students a pop quiz with 10 of them.  The students agreed to write each misspelled word 5 times each.  Make it  interesting and enjoyable!  The same can be done with the multiplication table, science facts, parts of speech, grammar rules, etc..  I suspect that what is expected by parents, administration, the public, other teachers, and even students themselves, is that at least some type of learning activity takes place in a SCHOOL setting.  Having met that OBLIGATION at least minimally, then proceed to have "fun".  Substitute teachers who allow ALL fun perpetuate disrespect for other subs and teachers in general. Keep in mind the PURPOSE for both teachers and students being in the classroom, otherwise, become a camp counselor.

Answer 17

keep doing it for sure. the regular teachers don't care in study hall either.