I am right there with you. The third grade classes in my area are absolutely horrible also. One thing I have noticed is that many of them are not caught up in math and English since they were out of school for a year or so. I think this really plays a big part in this grade. I don’t know of any answers to this problem though.

Hi Laura. I am an older substitute teacher — 2nd career. I have taught multiple grades and employ different strategies. With 5th graders and below, I use kindness but am authoritative. In middle school, I feel these kids are old enough to “behave”. I hate to do it, but if a class gets too unruly, and you’ve tried and tried to quiet them down and it just doesn’t work, just tell the “class” not an individual child to “shut up” and that gets their attention. You can also tell the good students you were not shouting at them. You are proud of them. It may be crude and you don’t ever want to do it repeatedly, but they must have your kindness AND your respect. That’s all there is to it. If you are really firm with them once they will respect you. In middle and high school, kindness AND respect go hand in hand

Please don’t feel like a failure…though it is very easy to say this. If you are a sub this is easier to do…just go home…relax and try again on another day. Our western culture is nurturing behaviors in the classroom that are not necessarily correlated with catch phrases like “classroom management”, “strictness”…The administration and/or college teacher prep programs will never admit this. The students might have been silent because they think the other teacher is cool or in some cases kisses the students — (and the teaching profession calls this relating with/connecting with the kids) …Don’t let children’s behaviors make you feel inadequate…like I said that is easy to say. It is no wonder fewer people want to teach.

The first thing I do when I enter the class is making a ‘map’ of the desks, them I take attendance by going desk by desk asking the students to write, last name and first name. This, takes a little bit of extra time BUT now I know who is sitting were, English is my second language, this little map; help me a lot; they are always amazed of how I know their names, also if I have to leave a good or bad note, I do it next to their names. I have substitute for more than 20 years, middle and high school

How long have you been subbing?? I often get candy, waters and feedback from regular teachers. But it took a few years to build a small and steady following. Don’t loose faith. Although I’m about to do student teaching and get certified…Still I have classroom management questions…

I entered a 5th grade room once, the teacher had sparkling water and trivia for me to do whilst the kids did a work packet. I thanked him for the trivia and water but said I came to work with the kids and help them learn while he was in a meeting. He never left me trivia again, but always offered me the sparkling water. 😉

I often put the finger over my lips to get them to settle down, then if they don’t catch on I say “I’ll wait”…That signals to more students that I mean business. It works more times than not.

I’ve experienced all the the mentioned scenarios. Although I have never mastered the noise level dilemma, the reason I continue subbing is for the flexibility it allows. There is no other job with breaks throughout the year. There is no other job where you don’t need permission to take a day off. I manage my money to cover bills over the summer payments. I’m hoping to sub for five more years until my truck is paid off.

I do bring prizes and try to work with the groups that fit me best. On the days I have tough groups, I do the best I can and don’t stress over it.

I love this thank you for sharing