Dean Said:

My first day of substitute teaching - can you spell "DISASTER"?

We Answered:

Don't depend on a plan. Just have in mind what you expect from your students.

First never ask. You are in charge, you tell them what to do. Tell them, "We are going to read the story. And we will read it again."

Don't let the kids fool you. Third grade, they're cute aren't they? Think again. Don't feel sorry for the students, for the most part they're trying to buy your sympathy. It takes experience to truly know the sincere students and the ones trying to buy you in.

Don't be friendly with them. They are not your friends. You are merely in their way of having a party because their teacher is out.

Bathroom rules? You are in charge. Set ground rules from the start. Make it clear. Your classroom, your rules. Whatever the teacher has set isn't for you. The students need to know this. If they want to go to the restroom it is in your terms.

Do not be afraid to be firm with them. You are not hurting their feelings. If they start to get wild, put your foot down. Turn off the lights to gather attention and say "We need to put our heads down because we are not remembering to use our classroom voices."

Don't worry about making them feel bad, they're obviously making you feel bad. Tell them what they're doing wrong "It seems to me that we do not know how to behave as 3rd graders."

Don't mother the students. Again, they're trying to buy your sympathy. Show that you care by being that authoritive figure. The good students will like you for being a "strict sub" and keeping the naughty ones a bay.

All this takes time, so be patient. Teaching is one of those jobs that look easy from the outside with 24 students so quietly working as the teacher sits at her desk. nu-huh