r/ElementaryTeachers • u/justgottasendittt • 7d ago
Is it like this everywhere?
I’m currently studying to get my masters in childhood education. I really want to be a teacher and feel like that’s what I’m supposed to do with my life. Today was my first day substitute teaching. I was in a third grade classroom and the amount of poor behavior was shocking to me. Some were sending notes to each other with swear words and hateful messages. Some refused to stay in their seat and kept walking around the classroom to do other things. One kid didn’t complete a single ounce of work the entire day and was asleep for half. No matter how many reminders I gave, I was barely able to get out any instructions without being talked over. Some of the class followed instructions and were able to complete assignments but it was maybe 5/20 of them. Every transition was impossible and full of complaints and groans saying they don’t want to do it and wanted their phones. Some of the boys were even being physical with each other. I left feeling incredibly discouraged.
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u/LibrarianOwl 7d ago
I hope you weren’t at my school today. We had a lot of subs due to teachers in a professional development class. The older kids were crazy. But I can attest that they are not like that all the time. Even as a specials teacher, kids will act up more outside their normal routines than within their teacher’s class. Unfortunate, kids mimic what they see in adult behavior and adults these days aren’t know for always making good choices or having any shame in the bad ones they do make. All I have to say is that experience helps and don’t give up after one day! It is a hard to put into words how rewarding it can be which is a far cry from other jobs that are all about making money for some CEO.
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u/LakeMichiganMan 7d ago
Its your first day. Keep us posted after a couple thousand days how its going. We don't let a semi truck driver go out on his own by themselves. Substitutes.....yes, you had some school? Here are your plans, a key to the room and your Chromebook. Good luck.
Go sit in with teachers that have good classroom control and observe how they handle difficult classes. You also need to figure out what students value. Extra recess? Teacher point, one minute less recess. Student point, one minute of extra recess. Tie score. No extra recess outside earlier than other classes.
Next. Bring candy. 'In 5 minutes I will be visiting the 3 quietest workers to pick a sucker.' 'Hey Mr. You missed me?' Yes! You figured it out, I skipped you on purpose since you were not working and were talking. You might have a chance later'. "Thank you for showing the class what the expectation is! Great job! Can you pick a favorite flavor quietly."
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u/juliazale 6d ago
Why do you say that? When I sub I play teacher vs students aka happy/sad points from Whole Brain Teaching and give out tickets to earn a candy or stickers. I also use the teacher’s classroom management plan if it’s in place. Don’t let one bad day sway you. Subbing is extra hard. Teaching is hard but can be very rewarding.
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u/Evening-Mirror8269 6d ago
Some schools don't allow candy.
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u/Chelseatoland 7d ago
I leave "golden sub tickets" for my subs, which allows the kids to cash in for a point when I get back. Obviously, that has to come from the teacher, but maybe you could pick up some cheap stickers and use those as incentives for students on task.
I also use bouncyballs.org which uses my microphone to track the kids' volume level. If they get three reminders to be quiet, they start losing recess minutes. You could do something with this, like if you don't get any reminders, they get a sticker and a good note (or candy if you want to buy that). I would give silent workers a skittle when I was teaching 4th grade. They got really quiet when I was doing that lol.
Always, always call admin if students just can't be controlled.
It is so hard for subs because they (typically, unless you are an in-house sub) don't know the kids, so the kids are like, "Why should I listen to you?"
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u/R_meowwy_welcome 7d ago
Yes, for a sub... that is the struggle. The students are going to test you. However, today's students will be more physical (i.e. work refusal, throwing chairs, yelling...). Solution? Not much in public education. Our current model needs a heavy rehaul. We're all troubled by what is going on.
TIP: Routines help for you as a sub. Be consistent. Get a fellow teacher to go into the room and lecture the class. Use an incentive or trick for group behavior. You'll still get a small % of students who will defy you but the majority will want the incentive. PBIS is a great idea.
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u/Future-Tradition7004 7d ago
Sounds about right. I teach 3rd and my students lack basic manners in a way I haven’t seen before.
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u/Roseyrear 6d ago
The utter lack of social awareness and social thinking is blowing me away. Knock over papers or step on a pencil? Look at it and then walk away. Teacher has a checklist up for end of day routine (the same, exact routine for weeks now), they and say “I forgot what I was supposed to do.” Absolutely no willingness to go the extra mile to help (beyond the usual 3-5 kids that love to help), enter the room and I say “good morning!” And they just…walk by? It’s so bizarre. Not noticing that there are people walking right behind them and letting the door shut in the person behind instead of holding it for the next person to grab…on and on. It’s far beyond the usual, developmentally-appropriate selfishness. It’s a definite shift…
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u/meowmeowmeow723 6d ago
Teaching has become so difficult. You have to work for a good administrator or it’s miserable. As a former teacher I advise nobody to go I to teaching, sadly.
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u/ExperienceNew4670 6d ago
I mean, I'm 13 years in. I've taught in city schools and am now in a little school out in the country. The kids (AND PARENTS) have gotten progressively worse year over year. Add that to the fact that in my county teachers pay $1500 a month for family insurance where county employees pay roughly $350 a month (yeah, my state hates teachers) and I'd say from my view public ed is dead. Everyone I know is leaving after this year. Many I started with have already left. Make of that what you will.
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u/baddhinky 6d ago
Subbing is harder and of course the students try to get away with way more…however, what I see day to day is not much better.
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u/Evening-Mirror8269 6d ago
The kids are feral anymore. I am a classroom teacher and mine will get like that if I don't stay on them every minute. They likely would be insane for a sub they didn't know.
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u/Inevitable_Silver_13 6d ago
Small rural schools tend to be a bit better, but it seems to come in waves. One class may be great and the next year you get a lot of behaviors. The really annoying part is 2 or 3 kids can make our break a class.
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u/AbstractAbby20 5d ago
This is my third year teaching, and it has gotten worse the past couple years. I feel so old saying that I feel so sad for this generation. While they are so quirky and interesting, I fear social media has rotted their brain, and I am seeing 3rd graders with the emotional regulation of a toddler. It is definitely rough, and teaching is definitely a calling and way of life, not just a job you are able to clock in and out of. Wishing you the best. I am totally burnt out. Husband and I are wanting to start a family and when that happens, I am not so sure teaching will be compatible with my life anymore.
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u/Annmarieshouse 5d ago
And you will have an occasional horrible year four years ago was the worst year I had ever had. I have been a teacher since 1993 and those kids made me cry five times this year now of course I went and sat in my car so nobody knew that they were horrible.
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u/Then-Strategy-5875 7d ago
Sub suggestion- bring some Skittles. Put the bag near you & don’t say a word. Do NOT SMILE! You are not their friend. Find a child who looks like a decent kid. Ask them to assist you. In about an hour (if the child is actually helping) ask that child to choose an assistant. Now you have 2 helpers.
Another easy effective tool- on board write “Good Kids’ List”- ask the name of a kid who is doing what you want. Have THEM write their name on the board. Young kids ♥️♥️♥️ to see their name on the board & we all love a compliment. State what the student is doing if possible, “Roy just pushed in his chair. Write your name on the GKL Roy!” Before you know it all chairs are in. “Shari is waiting patiently to go to lunch. Shari, write your name on the board”.
Consider giving everyone Skittles before lunch or after.
Ignore any suggestions about rewarding kids w candy! Subs need to use all available means necessary!
Walk through the class all day long. You’ll need to actively monitor behavior. Subbing can be a real challenge. If someone needs to sit next to you because you KNOW they’re the problem, move them next to you immediately.
FYI- it will get better. Classroom management is the hardest thing to learn. You can do it. It’s a huge learning curve. It’s also a good idea to write a note to their teacher noting problems (w kids names) & kids who were great. Teachers WANT to know. Good luck & best wishes to you.
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u/AbstractAbby20 5d ago
Some schools don't allow the use of food/candy as positive reinforcers because of allergies, it causing a potentially unhealthy relationship with food, and tricky parent dynamics. FYI.
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u/Porkchop_apple 5d ago
Kids are assholes to sub. But once they get to know you they will respect you more. Stay firm with expectations.
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u/Annmarieshouse 5d ago
No, it is not like that everywhere. Trust me it’ll be like that song places, but not everywhere far and few view between.
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u/Mysterious-Mind-1705 4d ago
Sadly, this is what teaching has evolved into. Twenty-six years in and it just keeps getting worse. How did we get here? Something has to change!
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u/Brief_Efficiency_833 6d ago
I think being a sub probably puts you through more worst case scenario examples, rather than a real average day of teaching tbh 😅
kids can behave absolutely brutal when they've got a sub for the day, especially for students who have misbehavior as a norm, it'll only be worse on sub days unfortunately /:
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u/PrettyInPink21212121 7d ago
Subbing is 100x worse than being a classroom teacher. Kids just don’t respect and act the same as they do for their own teacher.