“What If Students Don’t Listen to Me?”
A Substitute Teacher’s Guide to Staying in Control
If you’re new to substitute teaching — or even if you’ve been at it for a while — you’ve probably asked yourself the question that almost every sub worries about: “What if the students don’t listen to me?”
It’s one of the biggest fears substitutes carry into the classroom, and with good reason. You’re stepping into a room full of students who don’t know you, who may already be testing boundaries, and who instantly recognize that you’re not their regular teacher. But here’s the part most substitutes never get told: students not listening has very little to do with you being naturally strict, loud, or intimidating. It has everything to do with clarity and consistency — two things entirely within your control.
Why Students Don’t Listen to Substitute Teachers
Most of the time, students ignore a substitute simply because they don’t yet know your expectations. They’re used to routines, familiar voices, and predictable patterns. When a new adult walks in, the structure they rely on disappears unless you rebuild it immediately. In those first few minutes, students are simply gathering information: What are the rules today? What will this person allow? How much can we get away with? Their behavior isn’t personal—it’s a natural response to uncertainty.
This is why the beginning of class matters so much. Rather than starting with a casual “Hi everyone,” effective substitutes give clear direction right away. A simple statement like, “Good morning—before we get started, I need everyone seated, voices off, and eyes up here,” communicates leadership, structure, and confidence. Students take their cues from you, and when you begin with certainty, they feel more secure and more willing to comply.
How to Get Students to Listen: The Substitute Teacher Essentials
Once you’ve set the tone, your next job is to establish a few non-negotiables. Students don’t need a long list of rules; they need a short, clear framework they can follow right away. Whether it’s “When I talk, you don’t,” or “Phones stay put away during the lesson,” the key is to state your expectations upfront so students aren’t left guessing. And once you’ve said them, consistency is everything. If you ignore the first student who breaks a rule, you’ve unintentionally shown the class that you don’t mean what you say. You don’t have to be harsh—you just have to follow through.
When behavior slips, keep your responses short and calm. Long explanations tend to invite arguments or negotiations, while brief, neutral redirections help students quickly return to the task. Phrases like “Try that again,” “Not right now,” or “I need you back on track” communicate authority without confrontation. And when pushback does happen (because it will), the most effective response is simply staying steady. A calm, “I hear you, and my expectation stays the same,” is often enough to prevent a power struggle altogether.
Building Cooperation Without Being Strict or Harsh
Perhaps the most overlooked tool in a substitute’s classroom management system is positive attention. Students listen more when they feel noticed in the right ways. Acknowledging the students who are ready, respectful, or following directions not only reinforces the behavior you want—it shows the rest of the class what success looks like. Simple, genuine recognition builds cooperation faster than any consequence ever will.
The real secret is that you don’t need to be strict, intimidating, or naturally authoritative to get students to listen. You just need to be clear, consistent, and calm. Those three ingredients will carry you through any classroom, any grade level, and any school—whether you’re subbing once a month or every single day.
A Complete System for Substitutes Who Want Ready-to-Use Tools
Want a full, plug-and-play system that gives you the scripts, routines, behavior responses, expectations, and day-of strategies that make substitute teaching dramatically easier?
The Ultimate Classroom Management Toolkit for Substitute Teachers walks you through every step.
It’s the resource I wish I had on my very first day — and the one today’s substitutes rely on to build confidence, manage behavior, and create calm classrooms from the moment they walk in.