Colleagues and friends have asked me often: “How do you do it?” I, too, question myself that sometimes. Pondering on it, I believe the worst experience I ever had was when I subbed for a 4th grade class. I had a lot of firsts that day. First time I cried because I was so upset and was at a loss. First time I sent a student home while both the student and his mom were staring daggers at me. First time I had a principal come down to the classroom because it was crazy. First time I ever became a sub or as my employer puts it: a ‘guest teacher’.
To this date, I am thankful nothing else has topped that day. Subbing in local public schools is a challenge. I constantly have to remind myself to be patient and not take things personally. Even when I am fuming inside, I have to give brief and simple instructions that they would be able to understand. I also have to watch out when singling out a person from a group of female friends. I got to be wary of smart alecks who will find a way to twist your own words. Sometimes, the only solution is to send the students out for awhile until you regain your thoughts and start the class with your calmer students. I think it is a smart move not to argue with them in class. Opting to talk with them outside the class where no one else but you and your student/s can hear is better. There will always be those who are rude, disrespectful and my pet peeve is when they are so, SO LOUD. What do I do? I stop talking and silently count to five with my fingers. I walk around asking students to take a seat and show them the number on my fingers. Sometimes, I also wait it out until everyone has calmed down. Usually that works. If it doesn’t then good luck! LOL
I have mostly good days but there will be a few classes where the kids refuse to respect the sub and even the regular co-teacher. Today, it even came to a point where the security could no longer take the rowdiness in our classroom that she had to come in. I did not call her but she said she could hear our class all the way to her office (around 50 meters away). It’s funny because they all became silent so quickly. Five minutes later, they went back to doing whatever they want to do. It frustrated me to the point that all I can do is laugh and shake my head. All I can do is write about it and contemplate like I am doing now. I have noticed other classes send their students and talk to them when the rest of the class has figured out what to do. As a guest teacher, I think the most I can do is keep my sanity and remain calm. I often do not see the same kids everyday. It is quite hard to establish rapport so that I can come to an understanding with my students. It would have been good to remind them of the classroom rules they established. However, what can you really do if they would not even bother listening?
I believe it helps to have a visual schedule/objectives for the class period. It keeps them busy and you don’t have to explain everything as it is already written on the board. A lot of the kids don’t know what to do while waiting for everyone to finish. Two boys got sent out because they were playing around. Their excuse: “We were bored because the teacher didn’t give us further instructions.” On that note, KEEP them BUSY. As they say, “an idle mind is the devil’s playground.”
Any ideas or suggestions? Feel free to comment or message me.
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Anna Canto I read. I reflect. I write. I learn.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.