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Like many subs before me, I stand in the middle of a classroom, student behavior all askew, what am I to do? [scratching head] Do I scream and yell? No, it didn't work yesterday. Do I flick the lights on and off for their attention? No, that did not work last week. Do I rap the ruler on the front desk for the student's attention? No, the teacher locked them up in her/his closet. Do I get on my knees and beg for order? No, the students thrive on that. Do I phone for security? No, the phones do not work.
Oh, what am I to do??? A thought. A wonderful thought! A wonderful and delightful thought! An Inspiration! An 'AHA' moment!!!
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There is no need for me to reinvent behavior. The teacher (that's you) has already established it in the classroom. I draw on that authority. I lift into the air a sheet of stickers and ask the class, "What are these?" "STICKERS", they all yell out in one voice. "What are these stickers for?" "Oh, they are for us, because we are good." "Not quite, I answer. They are for your teacher." [Looks of puzzlement on many student's faces.] I explain this to them. As I walk around the classroom, and a student is behaving, and is not contributing to disorder, I put a sticker on that student's paper. It is a sign to the teacher to thank that student for good behavior. Students are also reminded that stickers can also come off. They are further reminded that when the teacher sees paperwork with NO stickers, that fact will tell the teacher that a student had bad behavior, and that a substitute (that's me) was disappointed in that student. At this point, the behavior as a group almost always improves. I will still put stickers on papers up to the last few moments of class, if I believe that a student has finally figured it out. When all else fails, I write a note to you, the teacher, explaining the good or poor behavior to the class. I read this note to the class and let them know that I am going to give this note to you. At this point, it is rare for a class not to improve. If they improve, I usually scratch the note off, or throw it away. The students fear your authority far more than mine. Thank you for a wonderful day!! Your sub, |
PS: I always leave a copy of this letter behind for the regular teacher. Middle school and high school students all respond to stickers. Try some today!!