1. Be patient – the students don’t know the routines yet and it will take them longer to do everything. They aren’t purposely trying to annoy you (usually)!

2. Have fun – the students will be nervous about a new teacher, a new room and now they have a substitute teacher. Have some fun with them to break the ice and reassure them (and you) that it will be ok.

3. Be prepared – you still need to exercise good classroom management or things will fall apart even more quickly than normal. Teachers don’t take days in the first week off except for emergency – so be prepared to stay more than one day.