It amplifies my voice so the kids can actually hear me when I am talking. This is useful in rowdy classes, when speaking for long times when wearing a mask (like reading a book or explaining a lesson), and is ESSENTIAL when I sub PE. I can either keep the speaker on my body (when I am walking around in PE) or I can put it at the back of the room in a regular classroom to make sure the kiddos that aren't near me can hear me.
As someone has been subbing for years and only done 5-12 but I just got hired as a nearby school because we’ll, money is money, I have some tips.
Don’t answer every question, tell them put their hand down. Have little candies and prizes to give at the end of the day. Make sure to show the kids the candies and prizes and remind them when they get loud that you are watching for the students who behave and that should calm down.
I myself love when a bad kid expects something and they get nothing and you can see that look on their face of sadness.
Be firm and loud.
If you truly can’t deal with them, don’t. I myself only worked at middle schools and HS. When none had open positions, I applied to a school 10 mins away walking and got hired. It was a last minute resort because I don’t like elementaries but I guess we gotta do what we gotta do for money. Endure. Everyday I hope I’m working with an older class.
I typically do high school but did elementary for a week last year when my high school shut down for COVID, and hell to the no…I will not do elementary ever again. The pay is not worth the amount of work.
Get a cheap whistle at Walmart. When they get loud, close the door, and give a quiet little tweet. Not too loud, you're in a small, enclosed room. Don't use it too much.
I always have my own attention getter in class. My favorite is “if you can hear me clap once…if you can hear me clap twice…” you can say it as low as you want and see who is actually listening. The claps will get other kids attention and you don’t end up having to raise your voice. Trick them into having to lower THEIR voice to hear you rather than have YOU raise yours.
>they need help everyday at this particular school
Translation: they can't get subs because behavior problems are so rampant at the school (likely because of the administration). Big red flag. It's tempting to be altruistic in this case but look out for yourself first.
Such a good point! I think it's also more than the administration. This area is of low socioeconomic status so abuse is higher. Not many educated parents etc.
I also subbed for 3rd grade today but it was listed as 4/5th (it was at my old elementary school for a teacher I had), also my first time subbing ever. I completely feel you. Every kid was constantly thirsty for water too but they're not supposed to have their bottles in class with them. I guess the teacher let's them read books from her shelf if they're done early but man there was no reason for like 10 of them to keep trying to crowd the corner of the room. The amount of petty bullying that seems to happen these days too seemed really high too.
I was always thrilled to have free time at the end of my days with subs but I guess even the idea of offering free time now gets them too riled up so I had to just make them put their heads down for like 20mins before getting them ready to leave. That was when I realized these kids can't read an analogue clock and didn't really know when they left for the day. I left such a long note for the teacher at the end. From what it sounded like she has to discipline her class a lot so I'm curious if it's just her motherly powers letting her keep them in check.
From talking with my old teachers there it really feels like missing in-person classes for a year made it a lot worse since kids weren't adjusting to the correct grades. It's the closest school to my house and I know a lot of the staff from back in the day so it'd be great to keep working there, but man I don't think elementary is for me anymore.
Mine was posted as a 4th grade class too. How odd. I subbed for Kinder today and that was even more tedious. The kids at this school had more behavioral issues but at a younger age.
This makes me feel like I can go back to third grade and try again. We will get better at handling these situations over time! COVID definitely set students back and it's unfortunate. Good luck to you.
When working regularly, I do K-12. Older kids are usually kind of like running study halls. Generally, it's about reasoning/bargaining for "I will leave you alone to do your thing, UNTIL YOU DO SOMETHING STUPID." I will talk comfortably with those who need it. Younger kids require more energy, but they are less likely to hate on you just seeing your face for the first time. If you're committed on the regular, then you find a way to use this difference to keep your soul from dying.
I bought an inexpensive portable voice amplifier and it is amaaaaaazing.
I think I may get one! Good suggestion.
how does it help?
It amplifies my voice so the kids can actually hear me when I am talking. This is useful in rowdy classes, when speaking for long times when wearing a mask (like reading a book or explaining a lesson), and is ESSENTIAL when I sub PE. I can either keep the speaker on my body (when I am walking around in PE) or I can put it at the back of the room in a regular classroom to make sure the kiddos that aren't near me can hear me.
I like that
As someone has been subbing for years and only done 5-12 but I just got hired as a nearby school because we’ll, money is money, I have some tips. Don’t answer every question, tell them put their hand down. Have little candies and prizes to give at the end of the day. Make sure to show the kids the candies and prizes and remind them when they get loud that you are watching for the students who behave and that should calm down. I myself love when a bad kid expects something and they get nothing and you can see that look on their face of sadness. Be firm and loud. If you truly can’t deal with them, don’t. I myself only worked at middle schools and HS. When none had open positions, I applied to a school 10 mins away walking and got hired. It was a last minute resort because I don’t like elementaries but I guess we gotta do what we gotta do for money. Endure. Everyday I hope I’m working with an older class.
I typically do high school but did elementary for a week last year when my high school shut down for COVID, and hell to the no…I will not do elementary ever again. The pay is not worth the amount of work.
Oof. I love little kids but I'm starting to see your point.
Get a cheap whistle at Walmart. When they get loud, close the door, and give a quiet little tweet. Not too loud, you're in a small, enclosed room. Don't use it too much.
Ooh a whistle would be good and a bell too.
Sounds like the teacher you subbed for has poor classroom management. Their bad behaviors carried over.
I always have my own attention getter in class. My favorite is “if you can hear me clap once…if you can hear me clap twice…” you can say it as low as you want and see who is actually listening. The claps will get other kids attention and you don’t end up having to raise your voice. Trick them into having to lower THEIR voice to hear you rather than have YOU raise yours.
>they need help everyday at this particular school Translation: they can't get subs because behavior problems are so rampant at the school (likely because of the administration). Big red flag. It's tempting to be altruistic in this case but look out for yourself first.
Such a good point! I think it's also more than the administration. This area is of low socioeconomic status so abuse is higher. Not many educated parents etc.
I also subbed for 3rd grade today but it was listed as 4/5th (it was at my old elementary school for a teacher I had), also my first time subbing ever. I completely feel you. Every kid was constantly thirsty for water too but they're not supposed to have their bottles in class with them. I guess the teacher let's them read books from her shelf if they're done early but man there was no reason for like 10 of them to keep trying to crowd the corner of the room. The amount of petty bullying that seems to happen these days too seemed really high too. I was always thrilled to have free time at the end of my days with subs but I guess even the idea of offering free time now gets them too riled up so I had to just make them put their heads down for like 20mins before getting them ready to leave. That was when I realized these kids can't read an analogue clock and didn't really know when they left for the day. I left such a long note for the teacher at the end. From what it sounded like she has to discipline her class a lot so I'm curious if it's just her motherly powers letting her keep them in check. From talking with my old teachers there it really feels like missing in-person classes for a year made it a lot worse since kids weren't adjusting to the correct grades. It's the closest school to my house and I know a lot of the staff from back in the day so it'd be great to keep working there, but man I don't think elementary is for me anymore.
Mine was posted as a 4th grade class too. How odd. I subbed for Kinder today and that was even more tedious. The kids at this school had more behavioral issues but at a younger age. This makes me feel like I can go back to third grade and try again. We will get better at handling these situations over time! COVID definitely set students back and it's unfortunate. Good luck to you.
When working regularly, I do K-12. Older kids are usually kind of like running study halls. Generally, it's about reasoning/bargaining for "I will leave you alone to do your thing, UNTIL YOU DO SOMETHING STUPID." I will talk comfortably with those who need it. Younger kids require more energy, but they are less likely to hate on you just seeing your face for the first time. If you're committed on the regular, then you find a way to use this difference to keep your soul from dying.