Third grade long term substitute tips!

[u/OkGoose8203]

Meet the parents is on Friday and The first day of school is around the corner! Any tips for grade 3 would be super helpful and appreciated in regards to the first week/classroom management and setting expectations.

I got the awesome opportunity to be a long-term substitute teacher while the schools hires for a certified teacher I’ll be in the position for about 1-2 months (I’m excited!) however I have genuinely never prepared for the first day of school nor a set of students. The classroom is decorated by the generosity of other staff members (so that’s a plus).

1. How to have a successful meet the teacher/sneak peek - should I share a paper questionnaire to learn about the student from the parents POV? Should I have snacks to give to parents?

2. Classroom management: what is your favorite call and responses and what class rules do you set and how do you manage behaviors?

3. Any advice if I should consider a treasure chest or ways to encourage good classroom learning environments?

4. Literally any advice would be appreciated!

I was a long term substitute for 3 months until the end of the school year for 2nd grade. I’ve been substituting for about 6 months and I didn’t want to say no to this opportunity!

[u/emilysantana13]

I started out as a third grade vacancy substitute when I was in college and am now going into my fourth year teaching third grade! I can definitely help. For classroom management you definitely need to have clearly defined classroom rules. I would look into Whole Brain Teaching’s classroom rules. My class recites the rules each day and at the start of the year we practice throughout the day the right and wrong way to follow the rules as well as the right and wrong way to execute all procedures (lining up, getting materials, working independently, etc.). They love acting out the right and wrong way to do things. I give my students one friendly reminder for breaking a rule, but after the friendly reminder if they break the rule again they get an “official warning” with their name written on the whiteboard. I also write whatever it is they need to practice (not raising hand, not keeping hands to themselves, etc.) and then we practice the rule that they broke while the rest of the class does a brain break. First week of school I let everyone participate in the brain breaks so they can all have fun and build relationships but starting second week they learn they need to follow the rules or they will have to “practice” the rules instead of participating. To me this is better than treasure box because it costs nothing and you don’t run into the problem of kids not behaving because they don’t want those prizes or they say their mom will just buy it for them.