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Substitue Training Materials to Order: The Substitute Teaching Division of STEDI distributes resources for substitute teachers including the Substitute Teacher Handbook, Classroom Management audio CDs, and the SubInstructor eTraining program. You can order these materials online at stedi.org

Quote of the Month

"The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you."

This month's tips

(provided by:Sub Suggestions -- A Free E-Newsletter from the Substitute Teaching Division of STEDI -- November 2009):

Being a substitute teacher is not easy. But keeping a few things in mind will make your life much easier. The way you handle the first few moments are important and almost define how the rest of the class or day will go. Follow these few tips and to get your class started on the right  foot.

Write your name and important information on the board:

Writing your name on the board is essential. Names are sometimes hard to remember, and the kids can easily refer to the board when they need to call you. If you are subbing for younger grades where the students may not be able to read, use your first initial. Even kids in kindergarten can recognize letters. Especially for older grades, the teacher might have left a page in the textbook to work on. Write this on the board even before the students arrive. That way the students can refer to the board if they miss it when you announce it.

Observe the students as they walk into the room:

You can tell a lot about the students on how they walk into the room. Are they really noisy? Do they come in and sit down quietly? Are there any particularly loud kids? When I subbed, I would watch the students carefully and just by observing how they came in and sat down, I could sometimes already pinpoint who are the troublemakers. They tend to be louder, and sit down last. They might even be late. The easy ones to spot are those who pull a few antics with their last few moments of "freedom" before the bell rings. Make mental notes on who these particular kids are and keep an eye on them.

Introduce yourself: reet the class and tell them about yourself. The students are sizing you up and some students are already judging how much they can get away with. Be confident when you speak and try to make eye contact with everyone in the room. Keep it short and add a few interesting points to make you  seem a little more human. Ask if they have any questions. Don't feel offended or surprised if they ask you personal questions such as your love life, or if you are pregnant even if you don't look it, etc. They are testing you. If you handle their questions with grace, composure and a little humor the kids will respect you. Most times I subbed though, the kids didn't ask questions.

Take roll:

This is probably one of the most important jobs you have as a sub that you are actually kept accountable for. It is also one of your most powerful tools. Make sure you don't rush through it and do it accurately. Sometimes the teacher suggests using the seating chart, but I find it much better to call name by name. It's good to make eye contact with each student. Remember those faces you made mental notes on who could possibly be bad kids? Here is your chance to discover their first names. Names are powerful especially when students misbehave. The kids think you don't know their names but with this little trick it gives you a fighting chance. I have shocked some kids so much when I called out their name that it quickly changed their behavior. It is also useful if you need to leave names with the teacher. Sometimes you need to turn in the roll sheet right away so keep an extra sheet of paper handy to jot down notes that you can keep.

Lay down ground rules:

Next is your chance to lay down some basic rules. Let them know you have just a few rules that you need them to follow for the peace and prosperity of us all.

Rule #1: The number one rule I always laid down was absolutely no violence whatsoever. That includes throwing things.

Rule #2: No getting out of your seat. This prevents violent behavior (but don't tell them that).

Rule #3: Use kind and loving language. The kids might laugh but it really is important. You don't know how many times fights start by someone saying racial slurs or other rude remarks.

Rule #4: Throw your trash in the trashcan only. Not on the floor, not on your neighbor, etc.

Notice how the rules don't have anything to do with doing academic work. That is because your main goal is to keep the class in order. If the class has order then the academics will follow.

Always remember its okay to keep a sense of humor and laugh a little. It's all about timing. There is a time to be serious and a time to laugh. Don't worry too much if academically they don't get every single thing done or they are talking to their neighbor. You aren't the real teacher and as long as you maintain a certain level of order it's fine.

If you start your class with these few tips you will be laying a strong foundation for a good day. Have fun!