Re: Reflecting on Bad Behavior With a Sub

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Punishment for Bad Behavior With a Sub

by ms.diaz

Apr 25, 2010

Hello,

This is my first year teaching and I have not been out too many times this year. Last week, however, I returned to a bad report from the sub when I was out on a field trip. I have about fifteen names left. Filling out the paperwork for 15 detentions and making these phone calls home, only to repeat again if the kids do not show up seems like too much work.

Does anyone have any good ideas for rewarding the good kids instead? Or should I do something to directly punish the names left? I need ideas for ensuring students act right with a sub in the future.

Thanks!

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kelli I've been teaching for 17 years and was a sub for 3 while I finished up a certification. I do not punish for behavior with a sub. 1. The sub should be able to handle a class. 2. I always leave work that needs to be completed and handed in. 3. I talk with the kids at the beginning of the year and essentially say,"Look, just do what you're supposed t...See More

Apr 29, 2010

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vet teacher I'd ask some questions like - when you spoke with your students about this, what did they have to say?

I'd ask that in part because human behavior has its complexities and if your kids are old enough to serve detentions, they're certainly old enough to productively reflect on their behavior. So- what went wrong??

Telling people a...See MoreI'd ask some questions like - when you spoke with your students about this, what did they have to say?

I'd ask that in part because human behavior has its complexities and if your kids are old enough to serve detentions, they're certainly old enough to productively reflect on their behavior. So- what went wrong??

Telling people and kids not to do something is but one small thing in the chain of events that can still lead to an outcome other than the one we want. I'm sure you told your kids to cooperate for a sub.

I remind mind that subs are unpredictable - some have a way with kids and others don't. Some subs almost invite bad behavior from the kids. Some subs come in with a chip on their shoulder that sets kids off and kids are still kids - they're not yet adults. And they have their whole interesting subculture of 'don't dis me', 'she 'dissed me', and well, John started it.

We both know their parents aren't likely to have indepth discussions with them about how it all went down and what their personal failing in it was and the detention supervisor usually just sits there. If you really want your kids to learn from this, and to learn how best to not let this happen again this year or any other year in their school career, you'd ask them why they did this?

But you can likely tell I'm not a big fan of the rewarding the good kids - I don't think kids should behave for a reward other than the reward that it is to do the right thing and to have you their teacher be pleased that they did the right thing. Your beaming approval is a reward.

Thank the kids who did the right thing - tell them that next time you're out, it will be a relief and comfort to you to know that you can leave them with a sub and the sub won't be eaten alive. Tell them how important that is to you - teachers are people too, we get sick and it's very helpful on the rare occasions that we have to be out of the room that we don't have to be worried about the classes we leave behind and the students in them.

But if we're really going to teach the ones who didn't do the right thing, they need to be helped to figure out how and why they did the wrong thing and how not to do it again.

I'd add too not only is the paperwork for detention too much work, there's not a shred of evidence that sitting detention curbs the behavior they were sent there for. Detention's a time-honored practice in schools but like crossing your fingers to bring good luck detention hasn't been proven to be any more effective than crossing your fingers for luck.

Nevertheless,I've got mine crossed for you that the next time you're out, John won't start up with the sub.

> Hello, > > This is my first year teaching and I have not been out too > many times this year. Last week, however, I returned to a > bad report from the sub when I was out on a field trip. I > have about fifteen names left. Filling out the paperwork for > 15 detentions and making these phone calls home, only to > repeat again if the kids do not show up seems like too much > work. > > Does anyone have any good ideas for rewarding the good kids > instead? Or should I do something to directly punish the > names left? I need ideas for ensuring students act right > with a sub in the future. > > Thanks!

May 1, 2010

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