Wisdom or Fear, how do you know the difference?

Hi B… I’ve never taught high schoolers, but I have a 21 yr old boy and a 16 yr old with high functioning autism, so I have some ideas.

First of all… OF COURSE YOU CAN DO THIS, B!!! THEY ARE JUST TEEN-AGERS! (I know… there IS no “Just” lol)

Although… granted, a substitute teacher is a bit tougher. Here are my suggestions.

Expect positive results. nothing worse than a teacher who goes in with a negative attitude. (no way this could ever be you, but just saying). Be in control. know what the lesson plan is… Do not ask them what they are doing or where they are in the curriculum?

they will make mincemeat outta you if you do that!

Do not be nervous. Trust me, they are 10 times more nervous and only thinking about their pimples, their tight braces, their lunch, their thinness/fatness/hair/make up/breath, if their period started and did they remember to put in a tampon? the girl/boy three seats away… their hard-on… (I mean, these are TEENS!)

be charming… be fun and you’re in!!!

Make them laugh. and smile a lot. 🙂

bring in a loud whistle, and use if they are noisy. I promise, they will stop talking and go wtf? and then start laughing and then laugh and smile along with them.

Be soft and warm. (autistic son two, who’s behavior is in the toilet, responds the very best to this type of teacher!)

print out a list of your expectations at the beginning of the class/term and hand it out. Express on the sheet, that you know that they are going to be wonderful students in every way, but if for some reason they can’t be, then they will be dismissed. no second chances. no questions. no excuses.

If you must, (for a badly behaved student) follow through, very quietly and calmly. Try not to embarrass the child, but go up and softly tell them, that they need to leave the classroom until they are ready to settle down and learn.

no second chances, excuses allowed.

If they refuse to leave, do not get into a threatening thing. Just pick up your phone/intercom and call the AP.

you are there to teach, not discipline or police.

give them large name tags at the beginning of class, so you can use their names

(optional, but worth a try.)

Bring in candy. (yes, candy) tell them that when the class is over, if they do not have their name written on the black board, (because they misbehaved) they may come up for a piece of candy. (just one) 😉

never shout. never confront and try not to single out and embarrass. ask EVERYONE to do what the offending person is not doing (such as– EVERYONE, OPEN YOUR BOOKS TO PAGE…)

If you need to grade anything, use Green ink– never RED.

no X’s for incorrect answers. A check mark, if its wrong. A plus if its right.

(the last two, were from an incredible elementary teacher that my older son had— best teacher evah!)

good luck!!! go for it sistah!

love,

Lexie

Thanks JoAnn, hope you know I was only kidding. You are awesome to create the employment post for me.

Lex, I will be writing those tips down! I love the green pen with a plus for correct answers! Thanks for all the suggestions and taking my request for help seriously.

Thanks Z! It is true. Middle schoolers are generally loud and talkative. High schoolers are generally more mature and quiet actually.

Hugs, B.

haha! Yes, there is such a thing and I think they are a little bit like counselors, but help people come up with practical solutions for life’s struggles without a lot of delving into the hows and whys of their struggles.

But, why would do you think you need one? I mean, I am the one who’s STUCK here… if anyone is… although, my husband really did hit rock bottom and swears that he does not want to be that person any longer. Although, the alternative of getting evicted from one’s life is not very attractive, now is it? particularly when there’s not enough money for either of us.

And I’m not really organized. Its my own ADD-NOS kinda thing…

I think that you are already a winner SL… you took your situation by the balls. You found out what the real deal was. You didn’t sweep it under the rug like the vast majority do. (not on SOS, but the general population, still do this, I think). and then… you took, swift, decisive, action to rid this vermin from your life.

that takes a lot of skill and organization that you probably never knew you possessed! xo ~ L

Thanks NAP,

I am in need of money, and I could start subbing late August or early September. My permanent teaching job, which may be only 4 days per week, is starting the end of Sept., or early October. So the subbing is a blessing. It is the highest paying district in my area. I checked other districts’ pay out, and went for the highest…$98 per day.

I am taking master’s classes in addiction counseling. I am finishing up an amazing class! I am postponing the next one to start mid-Sept. to accumulate the money for it, instead of starting it next week.

Thanks for the window analogy. I always forget that I can shut it…learned helplessness sets in sometimes probably. “The window, the window, close the window someone, help me; it is cold!!!” (Oh, I guess I could get up and the close the window for myself! Oops!) Hugs, B.