Students acting up REALLY bad for substitute

[Helix]

I've been out for 2 days and got sent home for a third due to health reasons...I found two letters and got multiple verbal reports from people in my hallway and from others the word got around to that my students were acting up HORRIFICALLY while I was out. The principal evidently was called at least 6 times.

I am humiliated and EXTREMELY pissed off with these kids. I have no idea how I want to even deal with them tomorrow. I can't bring any aggravation on myself because I am not 100% well yet. However I feel they need to be punished. Mind you, my high-performing seniors were beautifully behaved, but my freshmen and my "super-seniors" in the "remedial" course were acting so horrible they were told not to even come back to an alternate program I begged to have them sent to so they could complete their credits for graduation.

I am going to work them SO hard tomorrow, and for the rest of the year. One complaint I got is "I didn't leave enough work." I left the same amount of work as always...I have a feeling that they rushed through it and/or they copied off one or two people.

They're not exactly a great lot for me either, but I heard the past few days really took the cake. I can't describe how irritated I am right now...how would you proceed tomorrow?

I am starting to get that premature "oh my God I feel sabotaged and need to protect myself" feeling....

[seastarmath]

Acting up for a sub is really immature behavior. Your "trouble groups" are showing their emotional IQ here. Do you know who the sub was and what in particular the kids did? Was one of the notes you got from the sub?

I myself would not say anything to the kids at first. Make them sweat it. They figure you will be upset with them and it will throw them for a loop if you don't say anything. Are they the kind of group that you can ask for suggestions as to how they can atone for their behavior? (Something tells me no.) Sometimes you get a group that needs a drill sargeant for a sub. Next time you are out, arrange with the sub-getter to get you the "meanest one" they can find. (I find when the kids say a teacher or sub is mean, the adjective "mean" refers to the fact that said person "means" what they say and doesn't let the kids get away with anything.)

[Helix]

Acting up for a sub is really immature behavior. Your "trouble groups" are showing their emotional IQ here. Do you know who the sub was and what in particular the kids did? Was one of the notes you got from the sub?

I myself would not say anything to the kids at first. Make them sweat it. They figure you will be upset with them and it will throw them for a loop if you don't say anything. Are they the kind of group that you can ask for suggestions as to how they can atone for their behavior? (Something tells me no.) Sometimes you get a group that needs a drill sargeant for a sub. Next time you are out, arrange with the sub-getter to get you the "meanest one" they can find. (I find when the kids say a teacher or sub is mean, the adjective "mean" refers to the fact that said person "means" what they say and doesn't let the kids get away with anything.)

evidently, the sub today was of drill-sergeant proportions. this should be interesting tomorrow...they won't atone...the freshman think they're soooo cool and cute, and the "super seniors" arent much better.

the sub they had for 2 days is an awesome woman with tons of experience...both notes were from her but i got an earful from everyone else!!!!

[seastarmath]

Don't you wonder what gets into these kids? Where do they get the idea they can treat people like that? They give young people a bad name.

I don't really know WHAT to do in situations like this. If you do nothing at all, the kids feel free to torture the next sub. One of the reasons I go to school even when I am sick is that I don't want to deal with the extra lesson plans and the students on the bad list.

I can't think of another profession where a person has to work harder to take time off to recuperate than when they are at work. Most people can just get someone to cover for them. We have to write extra lesson plans, forsee circumstances to avert disaster, then deal with the aftermath when we return. Another reason why teachers should ALL have aides or secretaries, like other professionals. If you were sick, your aide would still be there and kids would be more inclined to behave. That would take money schools don't have, though.

I hope you are feeling better. Try not to worry about this. Maybe the answer will come to you when you are well rested and fully recovered. I will be watching to see what other people do in situations like this. I have the middle school kids who will respond to things like silent lunch or being isolated in class. I don't think you can enforce that in a high school.

[Boxcar]

Good luck tommorrow! I hope you are feeling better!

[Clix]

Call parents?

[Helix]

I haven't gone back yet. My fever came back, I went to the doctor. I haven't eaten a good meal in 4 days and I can't keep liquids in my body. I HAVE to go back tomorrow even though the doctor told me I could be out til next Monday. The anxiety and disgust of the situation I'm going back to is seriously hindering my ability to repair myself...my father is demanding I cut the $#@* and just think of myself right now and get better...my mom is right, I really take too much blame for other people's actions out of my control. :(

[seastarmath]

I think you should stay home until you are well. Yes, the kids are giving the subs a hard time. But trust the subs to be able to deal with it. IF they can't, then it is the ADMINISTRATION'S problem, not yours.

Note, I do not heed my own advice. But my kids are not the better for my coming to school ill. I only get sicker and I don't have the energy to be there for them. Take the time you need to heel.

[Brit]

how'd it go today?

As a sub, I usually expect a certain amount of bad behaviour, but I recieved some good advice early on -- what you report on reflects more on you as a teacher than the kids. Teachers have told me that the subs they trust most leave notes that reflect how their class usually is.

As for what the other teachers say, well, good to be informed, but I've learned this year that you can't do much about what happens when you're not there. I teach primary, so it's a bit of a different story, but the fact is, when I'm not in the room, the teacher who is there is in charge, and needs to step up and manage the kids. If they can't but you can, either you're amazing, or they're not so good. If they're good managers but have a list of complaints, maybe they just need to suck it up. subs need to do a lot of that. they can't vent -- there's no outlet. the teachers in your hall are probably trying to be helpful, but I find that those sorts of comments about your kids just aren't helpful. I'd let them slide. after all, if the kids were out of hand, the other teachers could've stepped in. you weren't there, so why complain to you?

In your place, I'd probably go in storming mad, be grumpy for a day, possibly read out the note from the sub or quote the other teachers in the hall to the offending groups of kids so that they know why I'm pissy, and let them feel the bad vibes radiating from me until they shaped up. other than letting them know what was said about them and how displeased you are, what can you do?

oh -- and if they worked on any newer concepts with the sub, I'd likely test the sh*t outta them on that material in the next few days; maybe not for reporting purposes, but to scare them into paying attention to a sub next time. I might warn them the next time I leave there will be tests following as well. But that's just the vindictive side of me talking. you're probably a lot nicer and more even-handed than that.

[seastarmath]

Brit, you must be an awesome sub! I would LOVE to have a sub like you. Heck, I'd like to BE you!

You make some excellent points. I love reading your posts because they tell it like it is.

[lynn bambusch]

Acting up for a substitute is normal, but that doesn't make it acceptable. Did any of the teachers who heard the noise actually go IN and support the substitute, or did they just walk by and roll their eyes? I would go in and ask the students what happened...and keep asking them why...why do you think it is OK to be rude ..why is it OK to be disrespectful......why did they disrespect YOU by making your situation harder.....Talk about it with them....don't lecture them, they expect that and just tune out. I used to sub for a district that called us Guest Teachers, and the entire district expected the substitutes to be treated like guests in your home. It actually helped. It's frustrating but talk about it with them. And when you aren't there you need to leave more work than normal, or backup extra work.
good luck!

[MsCoffeeLover]

A few things I would like to contribute, but I haven't been here for awhile so bear with me if I am not up to speed on certain things:

Do you plan with the other teachers? We have three teams in 7th grade, and on our team, three of the four teachers have it together. The fourth one, the veteran one, is an alcoholic full of empty threats, and the kid are horrible for her. However, since I had a rough few first years, I make it a point to be super supportive to all the teachers. When the kids see a sub or another teacher on our team, they see me standing behind them even if I am not really there. They know Miss Coffee Lover has the backs of all the teachers on our team. Where are the other teachers on your team?

If a teacher is absent on our team, we make it a point to meet the sub or let them know who the other teachers are on the team, where they can go, if needed, or call us for help. They can send a student to us or whatever.

We also do our best to plan together as a team, so if I am out (which hasn't happened yet), and the kids claim to have done all of their science work (which we always leave more than they can finish), it is already in the plans to work on Math homework or study for stems quizzes or read and complete daily reading logs. No student can say they have nothing to work on. Even then, I have other things to work on. They will find something or something will find them.

Also, I have helpers and spies and have never lied about it. They know how to act and are trying to get away with whatever they can. It's sad we have to have spies, but I do. They never guess who it is, and I have more than one for each class, and even they don't know each other are spies. My kids know I am a plotter.

If I hear of horrible news, the first thing I do is look to the children that were excellent and praise them. Those moments are teachable moments. Make it the praise above all praise. Stop the class, call a parent in the middle of class, discuss the disruptive nature of many students, and specifically discuss the wonders of their child. Focus on the behaviors of the students that did the right thing whether it be a special inventive or a phone call home. It has to be visual, and no one ever calls parents with positive news as much any more. Then I reward those kids with something special.

Then I give the class a talking to. They have to write apology letters to the substitute, to me, and to their for being disrespectful. Even the good kids. Everyone has to write apology letters because it is a cooperative effort to run a classroom. We did this yesterday, and one of my sweetest kids ever--who never was nor will ever be a disruption--said his contribution to the class disruption was the fact that he laughed at people being silly and that encourages them to continue the unwanted behavior. He said he was going to work better on ignoring them. A 7th grader said this.

Then I also stand before them and claim to be far from perfect with a few things I need to work on too. Its a collaborative effort from everyone.

Hope that helps.

[Helix]

I went back, finally, although I was weak and still unwell. Funny thing is the REALLY bad class was impeccably behaved with me. I told them that I was aware of their poor behavior at first but I heard how much they improved. Additionally, I said for maintaining the correct behavior, they would receive a reward on Monday and that they should continue their current behavior. They smiled at me and thanked me for coming back and said they would do their best.

The other two classes were thrilled to have me back but they were as badly behaved as usual. They're not even intentionally mean or bad, they're just so hyper. I have no idea how to harness it, sometimes. I'd love to take them outside for studies but I don't know how they would behave.

Of course I got all the whining and moaning about the substitute. I refused to hear it and just got them to work.

I don't really have anyone to plan with. The school is short on science teachers. My sections have 10 or 15 more kids in each section than they really should as a result. The other guy is across the building and we made an agreement we'd cover the same material by the same time frame, just not necessarily in the same order. He teaches more in chapter progression, whereas I jump around and do a lot of thematic units. The other 3 teachers are totally in a different range of science topics and are in a different building. I am the only science teacher in this area of the building.

[MsCoffeeLover]

I am talking about the other members on your team. Are you on a team? Where are the ELA teachers? Math teachers? Are y'all grouped by teams at that level?

We have three science teachers on the 7th grade team. Two are in the building, and I am in the trailers. THere is one science teacher on each team. I am on the third team. The ELA and Math teachers have my back, and I have theirs.

Try plotting. It is fun. The newbie teacher on our team was asking about management in one of her classes. We sat down and plotted a seating chart--knowing the personalities the way we know them. We turned it into a game for us. She actually said, "This is fun!" The kids know she was planning with me.

We also sat down and discussed who worked well with whom, who needed to be left alone, who can't be next to others, etc. Then we discussed discipline. Some parents are on email, some can be contacted by phone, and some detentions are sent home with the siblings that happen to be in the same class.

Come together and unite and get them!

[Helix]

I am talking about the other members on your team. Are you on a team? Where are the ELA teachers? Math teachers? Are y'all grouped by teams at that level?

We have three science teachers on the 7th grade team. Two are in the building, and I am in the trailers. THere is one science teacher on each team. I am on the third team. The ELA and Math teachers have my back, and I have theirs.

Try plotting. It is fun. The newbie teacher on our team was asking about management in one of her classes. We sat down and plotted a seating chart--knowing the personalities the way we know them. We turned it into a game for us. She actually said, "This is fun!" The kids know she was planning with me.

We also sat down and discussed who worked well with whom, who needed to be left alone, who can't be next to others, etc. Then we discussed discipline. Some parents are on email, some can be contacted by phone, and some detentions are sent home with the siblings that happen to be in the same class.

Come together and unite and get them!

I don't have a team, really... :( The kids are spread out among several different teachers for their other subjects, so if I try to ask about kids I get a ???? kind of look.

[AtoZ]

Hello..

I realize that it's been a while since you posted and the problems you encountered have probably been dealt with.

However, I thought I'd share one teacher's strategy to encourage her students to treat substitutes respectfully. (I subbed in that teacher's classroom.)

1) We were referred to as guest teachers (someone mentioned it already: it really encourages students to see the sub as a guest in their home)

2) This particular teacher "trained" her kids for her absences: she promised the best-behaved class a reward (I think on the day I was there, the reward was a "homework coupon"..one day without homework or something). She left a note for me informing me of the deal she made with her students, and my job was to remind them of it and write down which class, in my opinion, was the best-behaved one (best-behaved not being limited to noise; it included the amount of engagement in class activities).

The day I spent in that class was the best I ever had. I'm not sure if it was the set of kids..it may be, but I did have both remedial and regular classes, both lost freshmen and checked-out seniors. Also, I'm sure you know that rewards have their positive and negative sides...but hey, this worked!

One more thing: after subbing, in my notes to teachers I would generally leave the names of the best-behaved students, completely ignoring the "rebels" (unless they did something that required extreme actions, such as a student who threatened to cut another student's throat)...I hoped that with this, the permanent teachers would praise (and thus encourage) the desired behavior and ignore the other kind (because they did not know who misbehaved).

I hope you were able to deal with your classes successfully :)

[David]

My initial sympathies are with subs( we call them casual teachers) here. It is a very difficult job, I wouldn't want to be doing it. Even though I am an experienced teacher I know if i went into a school where the kids didn't know me I would have a difficult time. It is hard for a sub to establish a relationship with the kids in a short amount of time, especially when the kids know the sub may not be back tomorrow.
If I was the classroom teacher I would go back the next day and read out the note that the sub left. I would leave the class in no doubt about my feelings and the consequences next time the same behavour happened. One consequence could be that the badly behaved students would not be allowed to stay in the class the next time a sub came. It is also the adminstration's responsibility to follow up on badly behaved classes when their teacher is away. The admistration should be supporting the sub.

[Maoman1]

If we act up for our subs, its three days of ISD (In School Detention) and that sucks. I've never had it, but you miss so much that you can get in trouble at home, with the rest of the teachers, and with the administrators. From what I've seen, it works really well...