Tips and Techniques

I have not be a substitute teacher for very long, but I have learned a thing or two about how to manage a classroom.  I should start off by saying that I am not the "fun" sub.  I am strict until I see that the students are doing what is expected of them. Also, I rarely sub elementary; if given the option I will always take the upper level classes. So, here are a few things that I have learned along the way (and still learning and will continue to be learning until I can't remember what I am learning).

• I live in an area where many of the students speak another language (Spanish). More often than not the students will ask me right away "Mrs. Shelton do you speak Spanish?" for the first few weeks when I would reply "no" then the students would start speaking in Spanish (now there is nothing wrong with that but in the context it is not appropriate) so here's what I did to guide the conversation into a different direction TIP: I know a little bit of German so when the students ask me if I speak Spanish I say "I speak German" (in German but I don't want to butcher the spelling) then the students go "hu" every time and it changes the tone from trying to make fun of the sub to "oh she knows a language that I don't, that's pretty cool". It works every time! 
• ALWAYS TELL THE STUDENTS WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM THEM (Behavior/Work)
• I like to write the agenda on the board and then go over it so the students know exactly what we are doing for that day
• Don't show any signs of frustration in your body language or facial expressions (this one is hard for me)
• Do what the teacher has asked you to do! I have already met so many subs that just do what they want. Not a good idea
• I don't give out candy or stickers but I do acknowledge the students that are on task with either a smile or saying out loud that I appreciate the work that they are doing
• Here is a website that has a lot of other help hints:http://www.supersubstituteteachers.com/classmgt.htm