KIds at that age are ALL about “fair.” You can be as demanding as you want, as long as you demand as much of the good kids as you do the troublemakers. Being perceived as “unfair” will leave you dead in the water.
Be sure to know the school rules and to enforce them. Whether you agree with a particular rule or not is absolutely NOT the issue. If you’re the one teacher in the building (or one of the few teachers in the building) who allows cell phones in class against school policy, 2 things will happen: it WILL become a problem as the kids abuse it. (why do you think they instituted the policy in the first place???) and administration will find out. You will effectively kill any chance of being hired there.
You have to develop a way of “asking” something that’s actually an order. All day long I’m “asking” kids to do things-- get rid of the gum (Catholic school) or start clean up as lunch is ending. I always say “please” but no one ever mistakes it for a request. Think of the way General Schwartzkopf would “ask” a private to do something. Get that very polite, but still very firm order tone into your voice.
Lots of good advice on this thread. Dressing conservatively for young teachers is very effective. Wearing a blazer conveys instant importance. Something I learned when I first started college teaching (although I was not young like you). Don’t worry about being liked or being a friend. Instead, strive to be a great teacher.
With kids specially, body language is important. Make sure you have good posture, fill your space, don’t smile inanely, (have a pleasant resting face but only smile when there is something worth smiling about), project confidence etc. Taking videos of yourself is good.
Thank you everybody! Great advice so far, also, just to address @thumper1 there wouldn’t be a “supporting position”
The way that the system works is my name goes onto a kind of “Call list” when a teacher is absent the system goes through the call list and calls them in order. If a teacher has a preferred list then those subs get called first- it is entirely up to the classroom teacher.
I’m retired and sub in any grade from K through 12, either as a teacher or as an aide. Sometimes the teacher is in the bldg for testing or meetings and will talk to you briefly. First thing to find is your schedule and when you will have free time to prepare and study the lesson plans. We are lucky here to have aides and team teachers to help us.
Try to keep everyone in their seats. A stern look even from a 19-year old can be as effective as a lecture. Learn who your helpers are and who you need to watch like a hawk. Everyone in the building wants you to be successful so ask questions.
You might be using google chrome laptops and hopefully you are familiar with educational technology. Some teachers have code words they use when they want the whole class to be quiet, and they have a system of warnings before they actually punish disruptive students. I hope you work in a good school system and good luck!