Hi I am a substitute for the high school for a year now and lately I am having a problem with the Freshman class. The class I did Thursday was for a Spanish teacher and her 1st period went great since it was paperwork and no computers. The other 4 periods progressively got worse. They were Freshman. The assignment was on computer, and she wanted me to keep them on track since there were 3 assignments for this lesson. There was a set of 3-4 students who when I walked by there pages quickly jumped back to the assignment, but their actions showed they were watching videos because I have not seen enthusiasm for an assignment, and I could tell they were watching videos. Out of all of them only 1 student who was playing around with those videos actually got the assignment done and he showed me and I almost fainted. So during the lunch break and after class was done I talked with both the assistant principal and the teachers husband who also teaches there on what to do and they both didnt know. It wasnt till I got home that I did think of an idea and I remembered the 1st period that the students did the work and no computers were used and my thought was to take these distraction devices away and go back to book and paper and one Senior student did tell me he prefers the book and paper and he had trouble with computer. So any ideas on how to encourage students to do the work while a sub is there? I am just looking for ways to improve and not be a "babysitter". Thank You
Students track the teacher. The fact students shaped up when you walked by shows the value of “proximity” as a discipline technique. Your physical presence (body language) said “no” to goofing off. One of the easiest and cost effective discipline “techniques” that prevents students from taking a vacation from work is moving and monitoring as they are working. Teachers that move a lot rarely have to redirect students. They are constantly cruising next to students in a way that doesn’t allow any time for students to be off task. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s computers or pencil and paper.
I will keep doing the walking by. I did have one who did not click back to the page and kept on the game page and said he is more interested in the silly game than the work. I left him alone. I found no sense wasting my time on him since he made up his mind. I see your reasoning on the computer or paper but I still think taking the toys away till after class. The next day I worked at a different high school and for the first time I got to administer a test. The students either put the cell phones in the box or in their pockets. It was the easiest day and I enjoyed it. I am a retired nurses aide so I am used to following work orders. Thank you for the ideas
That is because you understand what is at stake when work orders aren't followed, and how dire the consequences may be. Most students lack that kind of life experience, and you may also have to deal with SPED and ESL students who will not be identified, for the most part, on any sub plans I ever read, so you may not know who simply needs minimal effort to watch versus those students who would likely be struggling to stay on task despite their regular teacher being in the room in the place of a sub. With that in mind, you hone the skills, like proximity, that will at least give you a chance at success. As for a student who is blatant about ignoring the lesson to play a computer game, well, when I subbed, I would identify the student by name in a communication with the teacher, written or face to face, just so that they understand what happened and why. A student that would say that to you is probably a frequent flyer as far as "poor student behaviors" are concerned. A written note to the teacher you are subbing for isn't going get you or, for the most part, the student "in trouble" - it is simply pertinent information meant for that teacher's eyes only.
