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Classroom management is a huge problem for new teachers. Here are some tips that helped me with problem classes.

FIRST GIVE THE CHILDREN THE RULES - If they don't know what you want, they won't know how to act. Tell them that raising a quiet hand is how they can participate.

TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT, NOT WHAT YOU DON'T - Using negative rules gives children ideas! For instance...if you tell a child not to jump on the sofa, guess what? Rather, tell him that you want him to sit on the sofa.

NEVER RESPOND TO TALKING OUT - If a student talks out in class, replying to him will reinforce that this behaviour is okay. Ignore the child and select a child with his hand up.

PICK VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE EXHIBITING THE BEHAVIOUR YOU WANT - Tell the children that you will pick volunteers based on their behaviour. When you need helpers (and be sure to need them a lot!), say, "Sally raised her hand each time she wanted to give an answer. She can be my special helper."

USE TIME OUT EFFECTIVELY - Remove a child from the group and have him sit away from the fun activities. Never put a child into the hall where you can't see him! Tell the child he can re-join the group when he tells you what rule he broke and how his behaviour will change.

BE CONSISTENT! If you enforce the rules only some of the time, the children will be unsure of when the rules apply and when they don't.

KNOW YOUR STUFF - If you are struggling with the material, the children will see this. Be prepared. Don't read from the book. Practice your lesson before so you're polished.

BE ENTERTAINING - Have the children want to listen to you. If your lesson is dry, they will make their own fun.

VARY YOUR VOICE LEVEL - If you shout, the children will just shout over you! Although shouting never works, there are times when using a different voice pattern can grab the children's attention. Use a "stage" whisper sometimes. Other times you can speak slowly. Use a funny voice when you're doing something boring (like math).

NEVER, EVER TURN YOUR BACK TO THE CLASS - Need I say more?

Now, as far as going back to the problem school, I would give it another try. You don't want to appear scared of a class. That's the wrong message to send to the staff, and then they'll talk!

If there is a teacher with good classroom management at the school, see if he or she will let you watch a class to see their techniques. Borrowing good teaching ideas is not stealing...it's good practice.

Good luck with your teaching career. You can make this work. Just give it time.

Substitute teaching is VERY different from regular teaching, because you have to follow the teacher's system and there is no follow through unless you're there for an extended period of time. Hopefully the teacher left you with his/her rules and consequences.

If not, get a timer and set it for 15 minutes. For every 15 minutes that the class behaves, give them a star on the board. If they get so many stars, reward them with extra recess time or something they enjoy doing. For younger kids, you can tell them you are watching them and when they are good they can come up and put a smiley face on the board.

You can also get round circles green and yellow and red. When the class is doing poorly with behavior, put the yellow circle on the board with magnets. When they do well, put the green circle. If the class gets a red circle, you leave a bad report for their teacher.

When you speak to a student look them straight in the eyes, lower your voice and speak sternly without smiling. Do not lose eye contact with them. They will know you are business.

Also, do not talk over the class. I stand there sternly and quietly with "the look" and the class usually shushes each other and gets quiet right away. I only speak when I have their attention.

Body position is also very important. Move around the classroom and if a child is being disruptive while you are talking, get in their space by standing very close to them while you talk. Sometimes I snap my fingers in front of them or tap lightly on their desk to get them to be quiet while I am still addressing the class.

When the class enters the room for the first time in the morning, they are immediately judging your tolerance. If you greet them with smiles but speak with a steady tone, telling them what you expect from them from the beginning, they may respect you more and see that you mean business. Many teachers don't smile and the unwritten "rule" is not to smile until November. I don't know how many people actually follow this, but I believe that as long as you are authoritative you can smile all you want.

Give plenty of positive compliments. Ex. If Johnny is the worst of the bunch, next time you see him doing something nice-even if you have to stretch to find something-say "Good for you Johnny for_____." or "I'm proud of you for_______." Often you can get the worst to change their behavior this way.

Another thing that works is to teach the class without speaking. It's difficult at first to get used to, but my class is always quiet and attentive because it makes them pay attention to what I'm miming or pointing to. I hope these give you some ideas. Good luck!

Check out the kids when you see them in the hallways and playground. Make a note of which ones can push the others with impunity. Pick out two or three of the biggest at the start of your first class and tell them they can do what they like and you will give them a good report. Only one condition - they must make the others shut up because the others are not allowed to talk. Not one bit. Also the prefects can leave early or come in late in turns, but they have to make sure the other kids don't start passing notes or looking out of the window or whatever. If they catch anyone they can punish them as they see fit and you won't object. They can take them out the toilets and shove their heads down the pan or whatever they feel like. You will have a really quiet class, the principal will be impressed, and some of the kids may pass enough tests and things to make you look like a very talented teacher.

Well, unless you are tougher, then they will rule you....its what these kids are use to today....sad....but true....you either have to make sure they listen or they pay the price...if you can't rule them...get out of the business

WELL 1ST YOU SHOULD PLAY A GAME WITH THEM

AND THEN TELL THEM YOU WILL PLAY LOTS OGF GAMES IF THEY LISTEN