Substitute Classroom Management Tips - Tips for Subs

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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?

[jakethiringer]

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!

[framistan]

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.

[graciesnyder]

I have been subbing for a couple weeks and I can’t get the students to stop talking long enough mention a game!

[jonathancauley]

Yeah, I’m feeling the struggle already and I haven’t even started yet

[marjiew]

Thank you!! I am beginning to sub next week and I have literally no idea what I'm doing! This video was SUPER helpful!

[cvyunpt]

Love your positive personality and all you do in the different areas of teaching.

[asrarjathbelashyalak]

I applied this job and I’m practicing to have idea I really thank you so much your video help me a lot

[abbadacedda]

Very impressive with such a quick turn around on a viewer request! I love it. 😊

[pinkkittymusic]

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.

[radvibes]

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.

[kelliecollet]

I just started subbing and am excited to try the tips mentioned in this video. Thank you!! 💜💕

[sondraswenson]

Thank you so much! I appreciate the video and the very good tips.

[sarahcohen]

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.

[XSocialMisfitX]

My backpack is so heavy. I bring my own everything. I dont want to go through teachers things.