I've done a few days in high school. Haven't really started to like it yet. I'm so used to elementary that I feel like I'm starting all over.
So here's a question for those of yall who have subbed high school. How do you get these brats to get quiet??? I truly don't care if they're talking while doing their work. I just want them quiet so I can take roll and explain what they're supposed to be doing. Some are quiet but the ones that are talking make it impossible to be heard. I do not want to raise my voice, that tells them right at the beginning of the period that I have no control. While I've been taking roll, I've said "If I can't hear someone say that they're here, I'm marking them absent". I've been able to hear them so far.
The thing is I'm sure that my elementary tricks will get me laughed out of the room at high school. At elementary, I'll count to three and then say "OK who's still talking at three?". I would feel ridiculous doing this with teenagers.
I treat the high-schoolers just like I treat the grade ones. I use all the same tricks, and have even been known to use the same consequences (heads down). It has served me well enough that I keep getting calls. The high school kids have never laughed at any of my tricks.......
i usually try and get the class to look at me first by saying loudly..."OK CLASS! My name is Miss RadSub and I'm here for your teacher today." (The class will get quiet here...for the most part.)
If they keep talking, get nearer to the ppl who are still talking and continue to say, CLASS please get quiet, t hank you!) "Before I tell you what your teacher has in store for you today I want you to tell me who is absent."
"Thank you! Now I can tell you what the assignments are for today."
If there is a seating chart I just quietly go around and check off who is there as they come into the room. THEN I say what I wrote above....just in case i checked someone off who is in the wrong seat.
I try to be as laid back as possible...because if you make a big deal about roll and try to call names...the kids will just get louder.
You can also get them quited down and then go to each row, and ask the first person in each row to tell you who is absent in their row.
I'm certified elementary and I sub in the HS often.
and said, "I'll wait." and just look at the students still talking. The silent ones will "shush" the ones still talking.
There are some classes where it just doesn't work. Ever. And one of the high schools I work in was originally built for an "open classroom" design, and when the numnuts figured out that wouldn't work, they put in partitions which are paper thin. I can hear Everything in other classrooms around me and they can hear me. Whatever.
that's how I look at it. So I do not treat them like i do the 6th grade and unders. Also, expectations are different. In 6th and under our dist expects the kids completely quiet at nearly all times. Not the case w/ the olders. Much more group work, discussions, and general social talking are tolerated. I dont' try to fight this, b/c believe me it is the standard and I don't get paid enough to wage that war.
So, If I am provided seating charts w/ photos (which mostly I am) I let them know that is how I take roll. W/ some classes I can say "assigned seats" as I shake their hands when they enter. Other times I have to write it on the board when the bell rings - they usually quiet down to see what I am writing. Honestly, once I get to know a class I don't mind if they move around AFTER I take roll. However, sometimes I let them move BUT in especially jr. high or if special needs are in your room you HAVE to use the chart - it is there for a reason - find this out BEFORE you let them move!!!!! I have also had to move kids BACK into their chart if they can't handle it - that is hard to do but it works.
I am pretty tolerate in H.S. of the noise level. Especially if they really are doing their work. IF they are noisy AND not doing their work (which really is rare) I remind them several times then usually get out the referrals (which they all know gets them 3 days suspension if sent by a sub no matter what the reason) and start filling them out. Instantly they will come up to the desk and start pleading - to whcih I say - I am TRYING to treat you like adults. If you cannot do your work and save the social stuff for when you are done then I will send you with the baby notes to the office to be suspended. As a young adult it is your CHOICE in how your day is going to go. I have only had to do this 2x in the last 1.5 yrs.
Now, one things that was sad but worked was one teacher in jr. high had a HORRIBLE class. I only took the class b/c she is a personal friend and I love that subject. lololo She actually filled out the referrals for all the kids and taped them to the board. At the end of class I would remove those which behaved and put them intot he trash. All the others would be sent in when she returned the next day. So the kids came in and saw them and were of course, saying how unfair, etc. I explained their teacher did this b/c they had EARNED this reputation. HOWEVER, they had not EARNED anything w/ me yet. So we could do it two ways - they could do it her way and prove their innocence, or they could do it my way and start w/ a clean slate and EARN the referrals. They chose to have a clean slate and no one student earned a referral. It worked out nicely. I think if I had done it her way it would have been effective for ME but in the long run hurt her. I think this too actually helped her b/c they got to see from her point of view. Just a thought!!!
I'm also elementary certfied and seem to be getting a lot of HS calls this year too.
My big pet peeve is attention span. It seems like high school students can pay attention for about 15 minutes, just like primary. However, it is rare that I get a lesson plan that goes bell-to-bell. Students want the last 10-30 minutes (some HS's have block schedules) of class to do homework. But that's when it gets out of control - fast.
I'd like to think that if I had more high school experience and a bigger bag of high school tricks this would get easier. But some days I just don't know....
HS is my favorite. I greet them as they come in and chat or strike up conversations. I've already sketched a rough "seating chart" Then I call names for roll and jot down names on my chart, letting them know that this is how I begin to match names with faces. I act like I want to know them, want to match names and faces. When they raise their hands, I consult my chart, call them by name with a big smile, acting like it's the most fun in my life to know their names and faces.
At the 2 HS that I go to most the students are beginning to be familiar with me. All it takes is for one or two students to be happy to see me and to say "she's the best sub ever" and the mob swings my way.... that is, when things go well.
I try to cajole them into paying attention. I act like we're in this together. Sometimes I say memorizing their names gives me something to do so I'm not bored silly.... I circulate around the room, between the desks, up and down the aisles and talk individually to students. That breaks up or divides the "mob".
I think of them as young adults rather than kids. That might be a bit optimistic, but it gives me a different attitude toward them and I think it shows in how I relate to them.
Oh, I am getting tired just talking about it! I've had few horrible experiences in HS and they have been with the youngest kids who are still in MS mode. The older kids/young adults WANT to be treated like adults. That's something I can offer them.
Thanks everyone for all the replies! I'm printing them out to refer to in the future.
Lilybook: I'm glad to hear that you're not laughed out of the room for making them lay their heads down on the desk! I don't know if I'm brave enough for that yet.
Radsub: Thanks for the detailed reply! I can really see myself doing this.
Lovetosub: I see other subs use the "I'll wait" idea in elementary. I just don't have the patience for it. I can't imagine having thin partitions for walls! One thing I've been glad of at our high school is that most of the buildings are old and the walls are brick!
Subczy: I haven't seen seating charts with photos yet! I wonder if anybody at our high school has them. I like your suggestion of warnings and then pulling out the referrals and telling them that you're trying to treat them like adults.
Hcaett: Attention span looks like it'll be a problem for me too. I have each class for 1 1/2 hours!
thordau: I'll be glad when the students start getting familiar with me. I guess I've taken that for granted at the elementary!
Thanks again for all the posts!
Edited to say: Please keep replying...I can use all the help I can get!
Tammy
Last edited by googiebump; 11-06-2009 at 04:58 AM..
Reason: Added to post
I've subbed in the HS's a lot. It *is* harder to get them settled b/c they just blow you off in many cases. Here is what I've found to be helpful (for whatever it's worth):
1) Greet students at the door and be calm and serious. I learned not to smile. It actually goes against my nature b/c I'm a friendly person. However, students see that and sense weakness. Save the smiles for the end of class.
2) Dress professionally. This sounds silly, but it sets a tone of respect. Won't work for all of the kids, but it is all a part of the package of things that you'll do to get respect.
3) Have a Do Now. If the teacher doesn't leave one, make one up. When I don't structure the class to work bell-to-bell, I almost always have problems. This shows that *you* are running the show, not the kids.
4) Set expectations. I do this from the start. I tell them I need quiet to take attendance and ask them to work on the Do Now. If kids won't settle, I move them. If you set the tone early on that you are in charge, they will respond. I keep it short, but I also say No Disrespectful language, No Cell phones, No iPods.
But after the day I had yesterday....I've decided to tell the high school's sub caller to take me off her call list. They don't pay me enough to deal with these kids.
I feel funny complaining because they're better about finishing their work on their own than elementary kids are and it's a lot less hands on. But when a teacher leaves 10-20 minutes worth of obvious busy work for classes that last 1 1/2 hours....I just can't stand it.
Elementary is more my speed. The problem is, the elementary that I mainly sub at has started calling new subs instead of me. I'm just called for the nurse's office and for teachers who request me. Teachers don't generally request me because I end up getting switched out to the nurse's office. But when they hired a new library/nurse aide....was it me? Nope.
There are two other elementaries in this district but to sub at them would mean dropping my youngest off at middle school very early. Which is unfair to him. And the reason I started subbing was to be on his schedule. I believe I may be at a turning point of sorts in my life.
I want to work and I like subbing. But in the middle of the day yesterday at high school, I thought "My husband and I decided last minute last night to go out to eat. We spent more on that meal than my take-home pay will be for today". It's just not worth it.
There is that truth that we migrate toward our own niche. There are some posters here who love working at middle school. I am not one of those.
I think another thing in operation here is that we improve with experience. I've even gotten better with middle schoolers - I just don't want to!! I can if I have to, if nothing else is available and I can't find a good reason to stay home!
I'm sure the sub coordinator is glad we all have different preferences!
11-05-2009, 12:47 PM
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