Doing the work

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Doing the work

by Gwen

May 14, 2015

I sub in a lot of high schools and I have a hard time getting all the students to do the work. I have tried being nice, making threats that they will fail, but they don't listen either way.

Some students do the work, but others just want to chat, and when they turn something in it's half done not even complete sentences. I go around getting them back on task, but then they go back to chatting or go on their phones a couple of minutes later. I worry like I won't be asked back if students don't get their work done. I've found that being nasty and overbearing doesn't work with high school students as they are not intimidated by adults. What has worked for you? Or do you just let it go.

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Ze Povinho It depends where you are.

Is the school site run like a military dictatorship, where the substitute teacher is blamed for everything no matter the circumstances? Or are you working for a district or school that actually has some sanity in its procedures?

At times, the teacher has posted the grades of everyone in all periods. Look ...See MoreIt depends where you are.

Is the school site run like a military dictatorship, where the substitute teacher is blamed for everything no matter the circumstances? Or are you working for a district or school that actually has some sanity in its procedures?

At times, the teacher has posted the grades of everyone in all periods. Look at them (these are usually on the walls for all to see). Do you see mostly Ds and Fs? Do you see mostly mediocre grades, with just a few Bs and As? This will tell you the amount and quality of work that the class produces. If you see mediocre work turned in to the regular teacher, don't expect things to magically improve when you are in command of the class for just a day. You cannot change 17 years of bad habits, alienation, and addiction to their smartphones, among other things. For these students, their smartphones are more valuable than you can imagine.

All you can do is to just walk around the room to monitor the students and to make sure that they are working. Remind them about what the regular teacher expects of them...although if this regular teacher is a decent human being and has common sense, s/he will know who the problem students are and the kind of work that they are likely to turn in. If the regular teacher is a decent human being who practices what s/he preaches regarding the six pillars of character and other propaganda, s/he will understand that you are not a magician who will miraculously make those who don't care about the class suddenly care and turn in super work.

But if yo find yourself in a school that resembles a totalitarian dictatorship, guess who will be blamed for the students' deficiencies and lack of effort? You guessed correctly. What to do in this case? Again, walk around, monitor the students, document, document, document, document. The more detailed the report to the teacher, the better for you. At least you can say that you did your best to make sure the students were on task. In these places, it is a matter of luck if you are not written up for "poor classroom management" or other baloney and summarily excluded from the site.

In these places, you are not just not asked back. What they do is to ensure that you never return. The teacher fills out one of those evaluation forms where s/he can invent whatever s/he wants even if nothing on the form is true. That form is rubber stamped by the principal who is always "too busy" to investigate facts. That form in turn goes to the district office, where it is read and then the person who is in charge of substitutes programs the computer to ban you from the site. It is only after this has been done that you are made aware of what has happened-IF indeed they bother to inform you (in many cases, you are not even notified. So, it is not just "not being asked back" where the school secretary simply does not calls you back. It is at the district level where the ones in charge make sure you never return and you get a bad mark on your record).

If you work for a site that actually resembles normalcy, you are in luck. The students will be held accountable for their behavior and any unfinished work, and you can relax.

But whatever you do, please don't try to imitate Pertinax. If you do, you will quickly become hated by the students for trying to enforce discipline to a class that is not used to following the school or teacher rules. In many places, the cell phone rule is dead letter, as is the "no eating in class" one. You will find that there are many instructors who allow music in class and cell phones "if it is part of the class" or "for note taking."

Ze

May 15, 2015

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Emma K I start out making it clear to them (you'd be surprised how many don't quite realize this) that this is work their REGULAR TEACHER assigned and that I didn't come in at 7 am to make up this "make work" assignment for them. So I'm clear with them that the expectation from their regular teacher is that they will do this work. These are youn...See More

May 15, 2015

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pixie; Ze and Emma gave great answers As Ze and Emma pointed out, you have no magic powers and cannot make the students do the classwork; some of them have little work ethic or emotional investment in their education. I have gotten to the point where I tell them that I and their teacher expect them to do the assignment, and I will collect it for a grade, but if they refuse, they need t...See MoreAs Ze and Emma pointed out, you have no magic powers and cannot make the students do the classwork; some of them have little work ethic or emotional investment in their education. I have gotten to the point where I tell them that I and their teacher expect them to do the assignment, and I will collect it for a grade, but if they refuse, they need to turn in a paper with just their name on it so the teacher can see who made an effort, and I stress that they cannot disrupt others who are trying to work. This means not saying anything about the phones as long as they are quiet, but I do take down their names. I document to the teacher what I told the students, and leave notes on who disrupted others. I may tell a student to move to a different seat. If the disruption gets extremely loud, I speak to the kid a couple of times and if he persists, I then call the office and ask for the kid to be removed. I don't have to do this very often so I have not had any negative repercussions so far.

On 5/15/15, Emma K wrote: > I start out making it clear to them (you'd be surprised how many > don't quite realize this) that this is work their REGULAR > TEACHER assigned and that I didn't come in at 7 am to make up > this "make work" assignment for them. So I'm clear with them > that the expectation from their regular teacher is that they > will do this work. These are young adults and they need to take > responsibility for their own learning so, short of doing the > work for them, I leave it up to them. I make it clear that I'm > there to help, I encourage them to ask questions about anything > they're not clear about (and remind them that if they ask the > question, at least 3 other students will be relieved because > they, too, will be unclear on that particular question or > aspect). I walk around and try to encourage those not working, > check to see if they have a problem or if they need paper, a > pencil, etc. All you can do is your best - it truly IS up to the > students to do the work.

May 15, 2015

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subtastic Even if the teacher says it isn't due until tomorrow, I tell them it is due at the end of the hour.Then if you get to the end of the hour, and they are still not done, then you can say you will write a note to let the teacher know they needed more time. This works great if they actually got to work, because you can be "the good guy" and t...See More

May 20, 2015

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