The Demands

Ah, the joys of middle school... 

Before school started, the teachers all had this training about connecting with their students. One of the things they learned was about social contracts. The idea being that if the kiddos listed what they felt was appropriate behavior for the classroom, then they were more likely to buy in and behave appropriately in class. 

Or, at least that's the gist I got from the brief overview from the other teachers. I, of course, did not get to attend the training. (Not that I really wanted to. Besides, I got the gig too late to be included.) 

School administration told us that we were to go over social contracts and come up with the class "rules' by the end of the second week. 

So, in my second day's classes, I introduced the concept, and I had each group come up with five things that they'd agree to in class. For the most part, they listed things like "be kind" and "be responsible". Some repeated rules I went over with them. 

And then I looked over eighth period's lists... 

Some choice entries: 

• Use phones in class
• Have more time for lunch
• Longer snack time
• No dress code
• Start school at 11:00
• Pick our own seats

I mean, I'm totally down for starting school at 11 AM. But I don't think they get that school would then end at 6:30 PM. 

Yeah, some of them didn't quite understand the assignment. 

It should be an interesting conversation when we go over the full list and narrow it down. Because, yeah, they can wish for those things, but it's not like I have the power to change those things. 

(The school has a new cell phone policy this year. No phones. And they're giving us a spot where the phones can be locked away during class, although I haven't gotten the one for my class yet. Should be fun.)

Her Rules

As a sub, sometimes I have to explain to a class that as I am the one in charge for the day, the class may have to do something different than they are used to. But it's okay because I'm instructing them differently.

Sometimes the students try to turn this to their advantage.

Normally, if a class asks to listen to music (via their phones using earbuds), I say okay. If it's a general individual bookwork assignment, this is the quickest way to get them on task and focused (and not talking to a neighbor).

But, I know Ms. M's reputation. She is a fairly strict by-the-rules teacher. I know she doesn't permit her students listening to music. So, her room, her rules.

(Classes run better when the rules are consistent. For a sub to get the best behavior from a class, that class needs to run like it would normally if their teacher was there. So, I try to enforce the rules the teacher normally has. As long as I know what those rules are.)

"But this is your class today. You can let us."

Well, yeah. True. But I wasn't going to.