What to Say When Students Push Back Student pushback is a common classroom behavior and is not a reflection of a substitute teacher’s competence or authority. When a substitute teacher enters a classroom, students naturally test boundaries. They are attempting…
“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…
Quote of the Week: “Be gentle with yourself — you’re doing the best you can.” This Week’s Thought: Teaching — especially substitute teaching — takes grit. But it also takes grace. Grace for yourself when lessons go sideways, when names…
Struggling With Classroom Management? Start Here A simple approach that works for new substitute teachers If you’re a substitute teacher — whether brand-new or still finding your footing — you already know that the hardest part of the job isn’t…
How to Deal With Class Clowns: A Substitute Teacher’s Guide Real strategies substitute teachers can use to redirect goofy, attention-seeking students. If you’ve spent more than five minutes in a classroom, you’ve probably already met that student—the one who has a joke…
How to Handle Chronic Talkers and Blurters as a Substitute Teacher Simple, stress-free strategies that work even if you’re brand new. If you spend any time substitute teaching, you’ll meet them fast: the chronic talkers, the blurters, and the students…
Quote of the Week: “You may be temporary in the classroom, but your impact can be lasting.” —Unknown This Week’s Thought: It’s easy to feel like an outsider when you’re the “sub,” but never forget — students remember how you…
Classroom Management Differences by Grade What Every K–12 Substitute Needs to Know If you’re a substitute teacher who works across multiple grade levels, you already know: no two classrooms—and no two age groups—are the same. What works beautifully with a…
The Power of Micro-Routines: How Small Habits Make Substitute Days Smoother, Calmer and More Successful Substitute teaching often feels unpredictable. You walk into a new school, new classroom, and new group of students—sometimes with only a few minutes to prepare.…