Behavior Management Skills That Get You Requested in Elementary School Classrooms
The specific moves that make elementary school teachers and admins request you by name. 5 proven strategies, common pitfalls to avoid, and field-tested quick tips.
5
Strategies
3
Quick Tips
Elementary School
Grade Level
Why Behavior Management Matters for Elementary School Substitute Teachers
Behavior Management is the differentiator for substitutes in elementary school settings. You walk in with zero relationships. The subs who get requested repeatedly are the ones who establish calm authority and keep learning on track from the first minute using deliberate, repeatable techniques.
Practical Strategies
Use a class-wide incentive system like earning marbles in a jar toward a group reward
Give specific praise: 'Thank you for raising your hand, Jordan' instead of generic 'good job'
Implement logical consequences that connect to the behavior rather than blanket punishments
Use a private signal system — a tap on the desk or a hand gesture — to redirect without embarrassment
Allow students to take a self-regulation break before behavior escalates
Common Challenges in Elementary School
One student's behavior triggering a chain reaction in the class
Students tattling constantly on each other throughout the day
Managing behavior during unstructured times like lunch, recess, or transitions
Quick Tips
Catch students being good and make it a big deal — it shifts the entire room's energy
Never take away recess as a punishment; it makes afternoon behavior worse
Keep a calm tone even when frustrated — students mirror the teacher's energy
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
This is skills-based professional development training only. It does not constitute state certification, a teaching license, or a guarantee of employment or assignments. All substitute teaching authorization and certification is issued exclusively by government/state/provincial/district authorities.
This is skills-based professional development training only. It does not constitute state certification, a teaching license, or a guarantee of employment or assignments. All substitute teaching authorization and certification is issued exclusively by government/state/provincial/district authorities. Actual substitute teaching authorization, certification, and credentials are issued exclusively by state, provincial, and district government authorities — never by training providers.
Master Behavior Management and Get Called More as a Elementary School Sub
Practical techniques that turn one-off days into reliable work. All substitute teaching authorization is issued exclusively by state, provincial, and district authorities.
Substitute Teacher Training provides practical skills development and resources to help substitute teachers perform more effectively in the classroom. Actual substitute teaching authorization, certification, permits, and credentials are issued exclusively by government/state/provincial/district education authorities. Decisions about hiring, pay rates, assignments, and any required credentials are made solely by schools, districts, and state education authorities. Completion of our courses results in a Certificate of Completion for professional development purposes only. We do not issue, approve, or guarantee any form of certification or employment.