My sympathies to you and all but two of your students—and even those two. Ninth-grade algebra is likely to be the roughest class you'll ever sub in, especially these days in Massachusetts (thanks to MCAS and No Child Left Behind). Add to that the usual sub curse that you don't know the class routine, and you've easily got today's situation on hand. You'll shortly be picking up some Sub Guts, also known as several One-Trick Ponies that you and only you will have coming in as a sub. In most cases this can easily be the following:
Start writing down on the board the names of students who are doing at least one thing right and say that you want to let the regular teacher know who helped you and the rest of the class.
Bring in one item of Really Cool Stuff to give out in a drawing each period, where only students in each period who help you out are eligible (and only if the class gets its assignment/routine done in time for the drawing to happen by the end of the period).
Bring in something that's obviously a Really Cool Demonstration (for math/science classes) that will only be completed if the class gets its assignment/routine done in time for you to do it. Demonstrated puzzles are likely to be the best. Colloidal substances (aka cornstarch "ooblek") is likely to work really well as a puzzle item (the first time you go to a school) because you can show them the essence of the puzzle at the beginning—it jiggles on a student's desk, but when you pound down on it (and everyone shrieks expecting splattering), ... well, you know. (Practice this first!) Angular-momentum demonstrations (aka bicycle wheels) will also likely be cool puzzles.
Of course, you should also ask at the office for each school if there's a schoolwide discipline policy (especially if there are common rewards for appropriate and helpful behavior). And if you're foolish enough to follow my suggestions, awful things are likely to happen, just because I proclaimed this to be interesting. But this might be useful to get you a reputation as a creative teacher (whatever you're teaching), and it might be useful to accumulate a list of demonstrations you can use if you do get a regular gig.
no subject
Of course, you should also ask at the office for each school if there's a schoolwide discipline policy (especially if there are common rewards for appropriate and helpful behavior). And if you're foolish enough to follow my suggestions, awful things are likely to happen, just because I proclaimed this to be interesting. But this might be useful to get you a reputation as a creative teacher (whatever you're teaching), and it might be useful to accumulate a list of demonstrations you can use if you do get a regular gig.
And good luck!