subbing in middle school and high school

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Home : 2001 : November : 10

subbing in middle school and high school
By Carolyn

I subbed more in middle school than I did in high school, but I did detect a difference.

Middle school kids are extremely mischievous. You will have to be on your guard for their trickery. My most memorable experience
was in a seventh grade classroom. One day the kids slammed their books down on their desks, all of a sudden, then began to laugh. Nothing funny had been said, and this was totally out of context. Of course, the first time they did this to me, I had no idea of what was happening. I was surprised to find this sudden laughter. After they left the classroom, I found the evidence. A student

had left behind a note which must have been passed around. It said: "At 1:37 slam your book down and laugh at the sub." I shared it with the regular teacher, along with my sub notes. I guess it was a month or so later I returned to sub in this classroom. They pulled it again. (I guess they had forgotten that I already knew about this. They must have tried this on all of the subs.) I just looked at them with a smirk on my face and said, "Really, guys, can't you think of something more original?" They just stopped what they were doing and we went back to work. They appeared to be disappointed that I had not fallen for their little trick.

Middle school kids throw things. Even high school kids do this. Sometimes they may even try to throw something at you.

They will definitely "try" you. They'll push and push to see what they can get away with. This applies to both levels.

High school kids have cars and drive, so that can present a problem. You may write a pass for a kid to go to the library, and he may just sneak out of the building and drive to Burger King. I checked with the librarian later on, and she never saw the kid I sent to the library. He had not returned by the end of the class period. I learned not to send kids anywhere unless they could be back in a short amount of time with a signed pass that said when they left.

Given a choice, I think high school is a lot easier than middle school to sub in. High school kids act more mature. The raging hormones stage is pretty much over, although you will see plenty of romance on a high school campus--kissing, etc. When the teachers are out for the day, they leave busywork for the kids, and they complete them on their own during the class period. The only thing I didn't like about that was the feeling that I was a moving fixture in the classroom and nothing else.

Girls in both levels tend to worry excessively about their personal appearance, even going to the extreme of putting makeup on, looking in a mirror, putting on lotion, perfume, combing the hair, and all of that during class time. Their regular teachers frown upon this, but they may try to get away with it with you.

Don't be surprised if your teacher's class seating chart shows a discrepancy with what you now see in the room. Kids will try to move for the day to sit with their friends. You may see a boy occupying Mary Smith's spot on the chart. I looked out at the classroom at the beginning of each class and noted that. I saw a girl sitting in a boy's space one day and commented on it. Hey, I think you're sitting in John's seat. The kids gave me a guilty look like "she's on to us." "Okay, everybody, get to your regular seats!" I'd announce. You'd see about six kids move. Then they'd tattle on anybody else who was out of their seat. "Julie is in the wrong seat, too." With that finished, you have established that you are all business. You're not going to take any nonsense. You are not a pushover sub.

I wish you luck in middle school. Depending upon what middle school or high school you intend to sub in, you experience can be different. A small-town middle school can be an entirely different one from that of the big city.

Let us know how things go for you.