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Questions to Ask the Office Personnel
Arrive at least 15 minutes before
class starts. Check with the office. Smile and introduce yourself.
Ask the following:
• Will I be responsible for bus duty, playground or lunch
duty?
• Do any of my students have medical problems I should be
aware of?
• How do I report absences and tardies?
• In the case of an emergency, how do I contact the office?
Who do I contact?
• Is the classroom locked? Do I
get a key?
• Where are restrooms, media center, and cafeteria?
(You may already know the locations because during your school interviews,
you
took a quick tour of the campus.)
Before the First Bell
Introduce yourself to the teachers
next door. Be sure to ask about the school wide
discipline plan. Ask for suggestions for handling disruptive students.
Read through the lesson plans and gather up the books, handouts
and papers that you will need. Locate a seating chart or make your
own. To make your own, as students enter, give each a stick-on note.
Then arrange the stick-on notes in the same order as the desks in
the classroom. Remember — the very best thing you can do for
classroom discipline is to stand at the door and greet students
as they enter. Angle your position at the doorway so that you also
monitor what’s going on in the classroom.
Classroom Management Tips: 10 Savvy
Strategies
1. Get Eye Contact
To get students focused on you,
say any one of the following statements. Allow time for students
to comply.
“Front and center with your
eyes.”
“Eyes on me.”
“I’ll wait until I see your eyes.”
“I teach each and every one of you. I need you to look at
me.”
2. Scan the Class
When you work with a group of kids,
every minute or two, look up to check on the
class. Scanning keeps you informed of what is happening. You can
divert a potential problem.
3. Handle Shouting Out
When you’ve asked a question,
a student shouts out the answer. Don’t respond to the
interrupter. Look at the students with hands raised and call on
one of them to respond. Say, “Thank you for raising your hand,”
and then allow them to answer your question.
4. Handle phrases like,
“You can’t make me do it.”
Another version of this is, “You’re
not my real teacher.” It’s a power struggle. The best
way to deal with this type of confrontation is to disarm the student
by first agreeing with him/her. Speak quietly. Proximity is important.
Stand next to the student and use his/her name if possible. You
don’t beg or plead but simply state the facts. Phrases like
“You’re right about that.” Or “I understand,”
are empowering. A student will have difficulty arguing. Follow-up
with, “I expect you to have this completed before you leave
today. If you choose not to do that, then at least remain silent
so others around you can work. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Another version is: “I understand.
Now, what is your next right choice?” said more as a statement
than a question in a firm, quiet voice.
5. Make Transitions Smooth
To make a smooth transition from
one activity to another, students need to know the
answers to five specific questions.
1. What happens to the activity
I’m working on?
2. Where do I put materials I’m using?
3. What new materials will I need?
4. How do I begin the new assignment?
5. What is the time frame?
You say:
“Check to see that your name
is at the top of your paper. Hand your papers to the front of the
row. Open your math books to page 107.”
“Who can repeat back the instructions?”
Get students to repeat back what you’ve
asked them to do. This may take a few minutes but will clear up
confusion. Then say, “You have
30 seconds to ask your neighbor a question. Time is up. Start work
now.”
6. Watch out for Ben!
Many times a veteran teacher will
give you the “heads up” on one of his/her problem students.
Be proactive by engaging this student in a casual conversion and/or
providing this student with jobs to help you. This strategy diffuses
the problem before it becomes one.
7. Get Students’ Attention:
3 Easy Ways
The class is just finishing an activity
and you need to close the activity and get their
attention focused. Chose one of the following ways to get the class
quiet.
Lights Out
Walk to the light switch and flip
the lights off then on again. Speak immediately in the
moment of silence to redirect students to what you want them to
do next.
Whisper
Move to the front of the room and
give instructions very quietly. The quieter the room becomes the
quieter your voice should become. This is an effective tool with
any age group. I often use it with the teachers and principals I
train.
Raise One Finger
This is also an effective way to
get a group quiet. It helps if the permanent teacher uses this method.
Before you begin a group activity, teach your students that when
your index finger is raised you expect quiet. It works. Try it!
8. Manage Switched Seats
State the truth. Tell students that
you realize some of them may have switched name
tags and/or seats. Explain to them that knowing their right names
is essential. Add that you plan to write a report to the permanent
teacher at the end of class and you don’t want the wrong student
getting in trouble.
9. Get Beyond: You vs.Them
Students hear they have a substitute
teacher and they begin rubbing their hands
together in glee. To avoid a miserable day, interact with students
by letting them see you have a sense of humor. You might try one
of the filler activities in this book. The beginning of class can
be a tense time so breaking that stress/tension cycle will win them
over.
10. Handle Profanity/ Derogatory
Remarks
Sometimes it helps to be hard of
hearing. I have been known to completely ignore the remark. Don’t
take the remarks personally. What if the situation can’t be
ignored? Tell the student you will see him/her right after class,
before physical education or before lunch.
Don’t stop the teaching to
deal with this incident or you will have 30 kids focused on this
power struggle. It is quite effective to detain a student for one
minute from physical education, lunch, recess, etc. Have the student
sit and then ask, “What’s a better word choice? As soon
as you come up with one, you can leave.”
Summary
1. Get eye contact and scan.
2. Handle power struggles.
3. Make transitions smooth.
4. Use attention getters: lights out, whisper, raise a finger.
5. Confront switched seats/profanity with honesty.
6. Detain a misbehaving student for one minute.
Table of Contents
1. Welcome to Class
2. Wedge Your Foot in the Door
3. The Substitute's Backpack of Savvy Tricks and Tips
4. Powerful Secrets of Successful Substitutes
5. Classroom Management for Reluctant Learners
6. Are You the Sheriff in Your Classroom
7. Dressing with Style and Authority
8. Discipline Strategies
9. Don't Send Them to the Office, Redirect Behavior
10. Winning Strategies for Kids' Games
11. No Lesson Plans? Quick Remedies and Learning Fillers
12. Your Professional Ethics
13. Substitute Teacher's Checklist: Morning and Afternoon
14. A Note to the Substitute Teacher
Afterword
Index |
