Substitute Classroom Management Tips - Tips for Subs
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- #substituteteacher #substitute #teachertips #teaching #teachers #classroommanagement
In today's video I share with you some of my own personal tips for managing a class when you are a substitute, but also I crowd-sourced some tips from veteran teachers + substitute teachers.
Leave a comment below, which tip did you find the most helpful?
I have been offered many full-time teaching positions.I will never take them, I absolutely love being a sub!! Being in SO many schools and all classes is so fun and amazing, I love seeing all of the unique abilities in all students!!
More Sub tips I learned from my experience.
1 - Write your name on the board if you haven't subbed for those kids (in a while). It's hard for them to remember your name if you only say it once.
2 - Introduce yourself, tell them your career background, your connection to the school, if you know their regular teacher, etc. It helps the kids to know a little bit about who you are. I like to let each of the kids ask one question about myself I answer truthfully. (I set ground rules about what is appropriate to ask) As they do, they have to say their name.
3 - Keep the kids alive. Yes that is such a low bar, but honestly if it is just a one day sub job, making sure that nobody has their bodies or their feelings hurt is what the admin cares about the most, even if you are not able to get to a ton of the content.
4 - "Hip Hip" "Hooray" is a great simple call and response if you are only in the class for one day.
5 - Leave the classroom teacher a note and tell the class ahead of time that you will.
6 - Don't be shy about calling the office, ask neighboring teacher, or even the students if you have a question.
7 - Sprinkle in periodic games, it is a good motivation (do this worksheet for 15 minutes and then we will play a game)
8 - Arrive early. You want time to find/ read any sub plans/ turn on the computer, etc. before the kids arrive.
9 - Have fun! Subbing can be intimidating, especially for people who like routine and knowing what's going on (most teachers) but most kids will be respectful and enjoyable and subbing can be a great experience!
These are all awesome tips - Writing your name on the board is so good to remember. Such a simple thing but you're right, we often forget and it's easy to just throw your name up :). Thanks for commenting!
Thank you, this is helpful! I am starting my journey as a sub this week and I have literally no idea what I'm doing... but I was a flight attendant for quite some time, so I think that if I can handle adults at their worst, school aged children will be a piece of cake! :)
@@marjiewI hope it’s going well for you. 😊
I can’t get the kids quiet enough to do any of this 😢
@@livcaitbff Get yourself a small megaphone from Harbor Freight tools. It only costs about $18.00 and don't get the BIG ONE (bull-horn). The small one is sufficient. The big one is overkill and doesn't look "reasonable" to use in a classroom. The megaphone allows me to speak in a normal voice without YELLING. It is NOT REALLY LOUD but it ALWAYS gets the kids to be quiet. I usually say the word, "attention" but I mis-pronounce it like it is a SPANISH accent... I say "uh-ten-she-own." And the kids will stop their talking. Then while they are quiet... you've got your opportunity to say something like, "We are WAY TOO LOUD. We might disturb classes nearby, so please go back to your assigned seats and talk quietly please." Good luck to you.
I have subbed for about 7 years in 2 states (Missouri & Florida). Here are some of the things I have learned. 1. STAY CALM no matter what. Kids see that you are IN CHARGE and the ADULT in the room as long as you are not getting angry. 2. Be prepared for the worst by bringing a SMALL megaphone and a whistle. If kids get a bit loud and you don't need to SCREAM at them. Just speak normally into the megaphone. Once you get their attention, I tell the kids "This megaphone is kinda obnoxious isn't it! So I will just use my regular voice now." If the kids get OUT OF CONTROL, then blow the whistle! The kids will quiet down! The megaphone I use sparingly... the whistle I use RARELY. Explain to the kids that "we are getting WAY TOO LOUD and might disturb the classes nearby! so please go to your seats and if you talk, do it quietly." 3.... If one or 2 particular students are constantly causing trouble, I will talk to them one on one. I explain to them that I will put THEIR NAME in my daily report to the teacher because you did X.. Y... and Z bad behavior. HOWEVER... if you straighten out starting NOW... then I will let you watch me SCRATCH YOUR NAME OFF of that report!!! Later in the day... the kid is acting OK... and I keep my promise. If a lot of kids are misbehaving.... I will walk around the room and personally THANK the well behaved students for doing their assignment and ask them to please write your name on this list of students who are doing the assignment and NOT causing trouble! The "troublesome" kids see what is going on... and they want THEIR name on that list also!!! So I tell them, "Start doing your assignment and stop the misbehavior and YOUR NAME will go on this "good student list" also! 4.... No matter what strategies you do.... always remember that some kids will act up and you sometimes will not be able to stop them UNLESS you push that emergency button on the wall. When the administrator arrives, I give them a list of 5 or 10 MISBEHAVIORS that the student truthfully did! I try very much to NEVER push that button because administration is very busy and shouldn't be called for the minor battles. UNFORTUNATELY I cannot use some of your suggestions such as "learning kids names" because I am 69 years old and have some problems with remembering people's names. Thanks for this video, I am going to use some of your suggestions to improve my skills.
I have been subbing for a couple weeks and I can’t get the students to stop talking long enough mention a game!
Me today. High school. Idk what to do.
Same. I get them quiet for literally 3 seconds before they’re talking again. It’s exhausting
😆 I know. I watched videos and read things. But nothing prepared me
I feel like I’m going to be feeling the same thing! 😩
I know I’m a little late but I’ve found that a reward system works great with the elementary level. I have a cup and poker chips that allows them to earn free time at the end of the day or a small prize.
Thank you!! I am beginning to sub next week and I have literally no idea what I'm doing! This video was SUPER helpful!
same!
Same here!
Same!
Same
Yep me too
Thanks for the tips! Starting subbing this week! You also have very pretty eyes!
I just watched like 7 of these tips for subs videos and yours has been the most helpful by far!! I took notes and I will absolutely be implementing some of these tips into my work :)
@@softmossdog that’s so great to hear! Thanks for watching and for commenting!
Very impressive with such a quick turn around on a viewer request! I love it. 😊
Love your positive personality and all you do in the different areas of teaching.
You are so kind! Thanks for being here and leaving a lovely comment :)
I'm scared every day what will come, but I just try to remind myself that some kids there are scared of being at school too
Thank you for the informative video. There were a lot of ideas you shared, and you put in different perspectives on things. I'm still a nervous wreck I start subbing possibly next week and I feel like I can't afford to make any mistakes. Thanks again!
I just started subbing and am excited to try the tips mentioned in this video. Thank you!! 💜💕
That’s amazing! I’m going to be supply for just 3 months and it’s so different from having your own class. There were lots of super helpful tips! I’m really excited to try them
Thanks so much 💫💫💫💫💫
Thank you so much! I appreciate the video and the very good tips.
Thanks for the video suggestion and loyalty! Anytime :)
Thanks for the tips!
I am new to subbing so thank you for the tips. I always bring books, write notes and my rule is simply whatever your teacher says, goes for me too. Unfortunately, learning the students names quickly and building a relationship though conversation is difficult for me as I am deaf (in mainstream classrooms) so I cannot hear how a student names are pronounced and I rely visual information to get information from the students. Because of this, I tend to be more focused and strict on following the day plan left and the academic content.
Thank you so much for leaving a comment - I really appreciate your perspective! I agree with you, being strict on the rules is definitely going to be the best way to manage the class - this is something I cover in my tips for class management episode as well ❤️ thanks for being here ❤️
If you are subbing for elementary classes then seating charts are a very useful way of learning names. Before the students arrive I will make a very rough diagram of the classroom and if names are on desks write them in on my seating chart or when the students arrive and are eating breakfast or working on a warm up walk around the classroom and ask each student their name to write on my seating chart. I then often use my seating chart to jot down notes through the day, check off students who have participated in class or have had a turn at helping you etc.
For relationship building and depending on the age of the students I would have them write down then answer questions about themselves e.g. What is your favourite food? Who is your favourite tv character? and also draw a picture of what they want to be when they grow up. You would write your own answers on the board or display using a doc cam.
@suzanneedmonds1566 Thank you so much for all the tips. I will draw out a seating chart if the teacher hasn't left one already. I always note the students who help out or participate in class.
@@suzanneedmonds1566a❤
where did you get the star wand?? i love it!!
I'd like to know, too!
thank you for your tips as I am a sub teacher now.
Yeah, I’m feeling the struggle already and I haven’t even started yet
Thank you for all you do
I subbed a couple days ago for middle school and nearly broke down once the day was over and everyone left. Absolutely no respect and everyone talked over me. It’s so different from elementary. Even high schoolers treated me with more respect
I’ve been subbing at a middle school and it’s a really good school, however, I have a problem with getting the kids to settle down the last hour before school lets out.
@@davids12511 end of the day is always so tricky. I would have an activity planned in your pocket that gets them out of their seats but can still cover curriculum somehow. My favourite is for them to sit on their desk tops and I’ll toss a ball to them with a simple knowledge outcome. If they can answer it, they stay in the game. If they can’t, they sit in the chair. Last kid standing wins :)
This was great thank you
@@kimberlychancellor1678 thank you for watching and commenting 🤗
I am feeling apprehensive about accepting substitute teaching positions within the district, particularly in elementary schools, as I am unfamiliar with this environment. While I understand there is usually a lesson plan to follow, I am unsure about many of the day-to-day responsibilities, such as managing recess and lunch breaks, as well as general protocols. The district provided only a packet with PowerPoint slides, and there hasn't been an orientation or class to help ease these concerns.
I want to take on these jobs, but I find myself feeling anxious about what to expect and what to do once I accept an assignment through Frontline. Do you have any advice on how I can overcome this anxiety and better prepare for these situations?
Usually teachers will leave detailed lesson plans for subbing elementary school, which includes where you should pick students up, what time, all the day-to-day procedures. It's not in the district's slides because each school has their own procedures, the teacher's sub plans will help you.
I just started subbing. I seem to get worse with every gig. The last time, I was teaching art, and I made the mistake of using scissors, construction paper, glue and markers. It was a disaster.
😂😂
It’s incredibly hard. So I feel you
That's OK! You're learning, too. Have a game plan next time ❤
Yeah I try to learn their names but they really need to spend the entire classtime doing the assigments the teacher left for them to do.
😂
You need to have the names of the students and use their names to address them for any and every thing!
Have a SEATING CHART IDEALLY!!
My backpack is so heavy. I bring my own everything. I dont want to go through teachers things.
Okay having a chair thrown at you sounds more terrifying than cringe...
@@davey456 haha just a bit!
Where can I get this wand?
I grabbed mine from Scholastic Book Order - The Teacher Supplies section
I found some on Etsy, different designs too including a treble clef