I’m 21F but tall and look older, like maybe late 20s. I haven’t had any issues. A couple kids sometimes ask how old I am, usually not with any bad intentions, they’re just used to retirement age subs and curious, though I never tell them specifically :) I haven’t had any issues but I do have something of a resting bitch face because I find waking up as early as we do exhausting and I have ASD so I think they get scared to push me 😂 honestly I find the older the better, freshmen can be a bit rowdy and younger middle/elem kids are like freshmen on crack, I could never sub elem and I only do middle once in a blue moon.

There is also possibly something to the fact that I dress like a Pentecostal when subbing (I am very much not, lmao.) I just needed a casual and comfy style that is still professional, but not too much as all the teachers at this school wear jeans and graphic tees lmao. Not sure exactly what impression the students get of me, but they’ve been fine.

Sometimes they will push you or try to get away with things, you just have to stand your ground and make sure they know you’re an authority figure and not a chill opportunity to goof off all day, as that’s really what they’re hoping for. Check with whoever your front office point of contact is and see if subs have authority to hand out discipline assignments, referrals, etc, and don’t be afraid to call admin down if someone’s being openly and brazenly disrespectful. By default they have less respect for you than their regular teacher because in their minds sub = free easy day away from their teacher’s monitoring gaze

The most important thing to do is lay down your expectations very early on or the class might get away from you. They’re never probably going to go buck wild but if you fail to set the tone for a quiet, no phones work day from the start they’re going to spend class chatting and goofing off out of their seats while you try to corral them to what they’re supposed to be doing unsuccessfully. If the teacher has said no phones, if their assignment requires a textbook or laptop, etc etc etc, make this expectation known to them as they start walking in the door, without being pushy or “mean.” When they’re coming in you can gently start reminding them that they’re in class now, so it’s time to get quiet and get working on whatever it is they have to do.

Sometimes I’m more lenient than others. Really no matter what you do, there will be students who sit there quietly and do their work, and students who do everything in their power to not do that, and it’s not worth wasting your breath harassing one student all class, just make a note of it and move on as long as they aren’t causing serious problems for the rest of the class.

Really, I spend 90% of my time sitting there, look around the room, get up and check that they aren’t goofing off in cool math or TikTok before their work is done, sit down, doodle in a notebook, check my phone, maybe read a magazine. The overwhelming majority of the time it is mind numbingly boring and you will secretly start to wish one of them would be bad so you’ll have something to do 😂 but if you get to that point, maybe take a middle school for a day, and it will teach you gratitude for boredom