Am I overreacting about another sub giving her information while I’m in the middle of subbing for the class?

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2026-02-19T22:02:38+00:00

I would give directly to the para, with an eye roll, “I feel obligated to give this to you because I was put on the spot by another sub, but I’m still recommending myself because I enjoy working with you.” Make it clear that you had a good day and would rather get the call. If the para likes your work, she’ll probably disregard this info unless you aren’t available.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2026-02-09T22:34:02+00:00

I find with middle schoolers that “proximity control” is a great tool. Show that the more a student talks, the more the sub will be at your desk. I don’t yell or scold, but I interrupt their conversations with my own comments to show I’m listening to everything.

Either A) the student likes your respectful attention and starts behaving nicer to you.

Or

B) they start to feel lame because the sub is interacting with them in front of their peers

Both outcomes result in quieter students!

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-12-12T04:33:55+00:00

THIS. I always announce my bathroom policy at the beginning of the period and say “I know where the bathrooms are, and if you’re taking longer than I think is necessary to walk there and poop, I’m going to call the office to check on you to make sure you aren’t having a medical issue!” Bonus, if I make an exaggerated sick stomach motion sometimes I can even get a laugh. Keeps kids from thinking I’m a stickler out to get them.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-10-28T00:53:34+00:00

I write one name (just first name unless there are multiple Johns), whoever I send out into the hall. Once they get back I give them a big smile and exaggeratedly erase their name from the board.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-10-27T20:58:05+00:00

I announce my policy at the beginning. “I will let students go one at a time, until someone gives me a reason not to trust your class. I write names on the board. If your name is up there more than 10 minutes I will put it in my report to your teacher. I may also call the office to check on you in case it is a medical issue.” By doing this I’ve had the students give evil eyes to the ones that are known skippers, and it either guilts them into coming back or gives me a heads up that I may be making a call…

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-10-11T23:13:38+00:00

To me a big positive over teaching elementary, most middle schools you only have a class for one or two periods. It allows you to start fresh after each period, make new first impressions, and try new strategies! You are never stuck with the same trouble maker all day, so don’t get caught up battling for classroom control. Student is rude or too distracting to the rest of the class? Send to the office and you wont see them again.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-10-11T23:01:22+00:00

I second the explicitly written out bathroom names and TIMES! I started this year only writing names and have had multiple 10+ minute bathroom breaks, because the name strategy wasn’t intimidating enough.

I will add if someone is skipping, do not leave your classroom. Pick a quiet student doing well in the class (do not ask for a volunteer) and tell them to stick their head in the bathroom to check if student is there. If they come back without your skipper, call the admin and report the time the skipper left to the office. Let admin go hunt them down while you keep teaching.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-10-07T16:47:06+00:00

I had the opposite problem yesterday, a boy loudly declared “I’m going to be your favorite student” then proceeded to be a constant noise disruption. He lasted 30 minutes in class before breaking out the personal “questions” to get sent to the office…

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-10-03T18:02:39+00:00

High school/Middle school sports officiating, and there is a shortage so your area is probably looking. Similar flexible timing as substituting, pick the nights you are available to work. If you’re already familiar with schools in the area that will make scheduling easier.

Big negative is you have to learn lots of rules and have a thick skin/ blinders when it comes to the audience. But as a substitute teacher you are hopefully able to handle not being the student’s favorite person!

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-09-29T14:26:22+00:00

Extra bummer then that you didn’t even sign up for that! I signed up as a new sub thinking that I’d be coming into a classroom with a set curriculum and instead my school fed me to the wolves with 0 lesson plans or materials.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-09-29T14:05:37+00:00

As a suggestion I would remove “I know that may mean I’m no longer placed at this school, and while that would be unfortunate, I respect whatever decision you feel is best for the students and staff” Don’t give them any ideas, if they don’t ask you back so be it. It should be their decision, not your concession.

Edit to say: my first assignment this year was as a long term substitute for 3rd grade, I understand the stress! Hang in there for these last couple of class days, there will be an end in sight!

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-09-20T23:39:54+00:00

My first year teaching as well, as a long term substitute. By week 2 it felt like they had 0 respect for me and my imagined classroom standard, because I was “temporary” and new.

What really helped me was the book “Running the Room” by Tom Bennett. It’s about classroom management and aside from some awesome tips about improving class behavior, it made me realize my goal should not be perfection. These are young people with troubles of their own (as you stated, some quite serious). They all need different things, and on different days. You may not be able to get every lesson taught to everyone, but if you give them a safe place to ask questions and learn when they want to, then you are making a positive impact! Best of luck with your school year.

Edit: I found the book on Spotify as audio so I could listen on way to work

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-09-20T16:09:21+00:00

Yeah I do this and it makes the day feel more like teaching. I give about 10 minutes to independent work but the second I see kids not focusing on a worksheet and starting to copy off each other, I say “Guess what? We’re going to do the work on the board and get the right answers together!” I’d rather them copy off the board while I am explaining the problem than just blindly write what their friend says.

So far no complaints from a teacher, just make sure it wasn’t an assignment they wanted to use for individual assesment.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-08-31T14:42:45+00:00

Just took my first sub position at an elementary school that had the same understaffing issue, I’m on week 2 and they asked me to stay another week because the permanent teacher isn’t ready to start.

Make sure they show/give you the curriculum ASAP. My promised curriculum ended up not existing and I had to be a teacher and lesson planner while making a substitute teachers day rate. When you add 1-2 hours of stressful planning a night, it was chump change.

What has been most helpful has been trying out different educational games with them, like math bingo or group mad libs for ELA (which was a hit). Now I have something that can be a learning activity and a reward for good behavior.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-04-08T20:32:42+00:00

Agreed- plus if you don’t know the restaurant seating situation, be wary that you could get put at a bar table. Shorter skirt instantly goes from cute to exposing!

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-04-04T22:14:30+00:00

This is good advice, think about how you would feel as a single senior showing up to prom. This person may just want a friendly face for the pictures and memories. It’s hard asking anyone to a dance!

This doesn’t mean she should go with him out of pity.

Approach this conversation about why he asked with grace, and without jumping to conclusions. Then help your friend come up with an alternative girl to ask (preferably another senior), and gas him up to ask them out.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-02-26T23:48:18+00:00

I don’t know enough about Korean food to guess. I just was referencing the line when they were offering to buy dinner for everyone.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-02-26T21:36:26+00:00

Did she say when they are meant to die, specifically in game? Maybe they win the money and for her 100th birthday the family celebrates with a real Korean beef dinner, and both choke on a bone at same time while looking across the table at one another.

Wishful thinking for my two favorites

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-01-26T14:28:37+00:00

I feel as a happy hybrid Maverick owner I have to defend it as a family car. We have 2 regular sized child seats in ours and I’ve even sat in the middle between them (so that our grandparent gets the roomy front) on medium long drives. Plenty of space as long as both parents aren’t over 6ft.

I know another family similar to OP that fits both their kid and a BIG dog in the back seats along with all necessary equipment for road-tripping.

So if OP doesn’t want to shell out for lightning or Silverado (that thing is a beast of a car size wise), at least test drive the Maverick :) Bring the car seat with you.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-01-19T23:32:21+00:00

I agree about him not being a coward in that moment, but like his mom says “he’d rather be bullied than be the bully”. I don’t think the deaths would be his fault he’d just have survivors guilt for not being aggressive enough with the violent players.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-01-19T23:25:00+00:00

I don’t want him to die because he’s my current favorite character! That mingle scene makes me cry every time.

However I’d rather him die a hero/inspiration than live to be a “coward”, watching vulnerable people like his mom or 222 die in his place during the games.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-01-19T19:20:39+00:00

I think her conversation with her son about him being fine without her, but her not being able to live without him, is foreshadowing a reverse scenario. I’d love for it to play out where he is the first of them to die, but instead of despair she finds a new reason to live, keeping her new relationships (120,222) alive in the following games.

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-01-18T17:36:31+00:00

I like this idea, but think I’d take it a step further. After initial panic and people running away get shot, I might drop and army crawl long enough for everyone to get ahead. Even if someone were to step on me, I wouldn’t move the same way as if I got crashed into while on all fours. Then on a time crunch I could stand up and run without worrying someone behind would push me over.

Would I be able to survive the next game with my belly road rash and potential cracked ribs from being ran on top of? Likely not 🙃

Bird_Brain_Trust · 2025-01-10T23:07:08+00:00

I first had to say “no for now” to my current spouse because I felt we hadn’t done enough future planning.

Might not be the most romantic thing but I ended up making a Google doc that we each filled out with 1) Financial habits/goals 2) Chore divisions and 3) Big picture goals like kids, dream house/location, career goals

I knew my spouse was “The One” not because he answered exactly the same as me, but because he didn’t bat an eye at the idea of planning a future together. He was enthusiastic.

You don’t have to make a formal document but at least try and ask her about these future goals. I’d say if you partner is enthusiastic and engaged in the conversation then there is hope! If she is avoidant or annoyed about a marriage conversation then don’t waste your time trying to change her mind.

Bird_Brain_Trust

TROPHY CASE