Plea of desperation to teachers.
Posted by KissMeKate on Sep 02, 2008 · Member since Aug 2007 · 7322 posts
Dear teachers of vegweb,
2 of my 3 classes (block schedule) suck, behaviorally. They are an absolute embarrassment. I can't even begin to tell you. Please tell me:
- That you sucked too when you started
- What kind of class procedure systems you like
- What kind of management systems you like
- Any other tricks you may have as far as investment, behavior, etc., are concerned.
Basically, being a teacher is grinding my soul into a bloody pulp.
Love,
Ms. KMK
7th Grade Math
I don't have a whole lot to offer but when I was substitute teaching I absolutely refused to teach at the middle school. I feel pagan veela is correct ..that they can sense your fear.
Have you had a chance to read their files? ISP's? At least the ones of the most disruptive/rude children. There could be something in there that might be really important. Exp 1: my son has aspergers and often seems to be not paying attention and fiddling with something...if the teacher tells him to stop fiddling and pay attention he would tell her that he was paying attention...it could turn into a battle because if she continued he would get angry and possibly storm out or yell at her. Point: How would she know any of this if she hadn't read his file. Exp 2: My son will not participate in classroom discussion and never raise his hand to offer information or ask for help. Point: The teacher will have no idea that he doesn't understand a word that she said therefore cannot do any of the homework... If she read his file she would know this about him and make a point to say "D...., would you like some help with this?" or some such thing.
Kmk, I am not going to say "don't give up" but if you know that you will hate yourself for giving up than maybe stick it out a bit longer. I can only imagine that you are a wonderful teacher. You are kind, smart and immensely caring. They are hormonally driven kids that know how to manipulate and push buttons...they have found yours. In our middle school we could send any child that was disruptive to the assistant principles office at any time...maybe discuss this with the ap...maybe if the same kids keep getting sent down something will be done...either by the child themselves in the form of good behavior or by the administration.
(((hugs))) and good luck.
What's a smart board?
What's a smart board?
I posted a picture of it! I don't really know anything about them, but this is what it says on their site:
"People choose the SMART Board interactive whiteboard because it helps energize presentations and motivate learners. In 1991, it was the world's first interactive whiteboard. Today, it is the world's leading interactive whiteboard. Combining the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer, the SMART Board interactive whiteboard engages students and audiences around the world.
The touch-sensitive display connects to your computer and digital projector to show your computer image. You can then control computer applications directly from the display, write notes in digital ink and save your work to share later.
Best of all, the full-featured SMART Board interactive whiteboard is incredibly easy to use. If you can use a computer, you can use a SMART Board interactive whiteboard."
I can't USE it yet though because I can't log onto my computer because of the GOD FORSAKEN clerical error which is preventing me from receiving emails, entering my grades, taking attendance, and getting my effing PAYCHECK. Seriously, is god effing with me for shits and giggles?
So.
I talked to my friend MaryAnn (second year corps member) on the phone today about my class. She teaches 7th grade and had my exact situation last year. In fact, she had a kid throw a desk. So, she took away desks until kids could earn them back. I am doing something similar.
I am going to hold my bad classes in the hallway. They will work silently for 83 minutes on a packet of decimal addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They can earn back a chair, and only a chair, by working silently for the whole class. I am going to have my cell phone in one hand and a list of phone numbers in the other. If students talk, I will call their parents. Right there in front of the whole class, and tell them that Johnny is not allowing me to teach him today. And that's it. When EVERY SINGLE PERSON shows me they can earn back a chair, we will hold class in the classroom again. With chairs ONLY. Because chairs are a privilege, and desks are a privilege.
MaryAnn actually did this exact thing with her class last week, so I'm going to try it too.
The end.
how much does that undercut your authority as a teacher to not be able to USE STUFF!? (that isn't a question, it is a statement which sounds like a question).
AKA rhetorical question. ^-^
That sounds like a great idea, KMK. And they get to do more fun (math) stuff, other than worksheets..when they are better, too? Double incentive. Yeah. I REALLY hope tomorrow is much smoother, and you get some relief. :iloveyou:
I can't wait to hear how it goes.
i can't fucking believe that they don't have your LOG IN FOR YOUR COURSES. what the hell!? i would be pissed if i was you. how much does that undercut your authority as a teacher to not be able to USE STUFF!? (that isn't a question, it is a statement which sounds like a question).
I know. BELIEVE ME, I know. This is total bullshit, and no one can help me with it. I AM pissed, trust me. Oh, trust me.
So yeah, we'll see! It should be fun times. They're gonna be all, WTF?!?!
I think the desk thing is a great plan. They are going to laugh at first until they realize you are serious some will challenge you but then they will realize you won't budge and they will respect you for standing your ground even if they don't show it. I think by the time you move back into the classroom things will improve. I really like this idea and need to file it away for my own use at some point.
Please let us know how it goes!
I will let you know!
And thank you all for your long, heart-felt responses. I do appreciate them! :)
Good idea!!! I hope that after this they can show you the respect you deserve!!
Wow! That is such an interesting idea. I can't wait to hear how it works out! It reminds me of what we have to do with our toddlers sometimes. When they are throwing a really awful tantrum we take them out of the classroom and we say, "I know you are upset, but this is not acceptable behavior and we cannot go back into the classroom until you can show me you know how to behave." I guess you just have to treat these 7th graders like 2 year olds! Ha!
How'd it go today?
#1, I just got home. It is 8:13 pm. Weeeeee!!
#2, We won't really see how it goes until tomorrow, I guess. I called many, many parents right there in the hallway, which was neat. Most were VERY upset with their kids. I did get one grandmother calling me afterward and saying, "My granddaughter is NOT a city kid, she is from the suburbs, and she does NOT deserve to sit on the floor." And yes, she's a good kid, but I had to keep myself from becoming infuriated at the insinuation that it was OK for Hartford kids to sit on the floor but not hers. I was like, "Yes ma'am, I agree, she IS a good student..." etc., and I explained to her the situation. She said she would pray for me and these out of hand kids. So it ended OK. And then my buddy Jonathan came after school to help me make art for the classroom. I also taught him how to multiply and divide by powers of ten. Not sure how he never learned that.
ANYWAY, the kids have been equally bad in science, I've learned. They lost their lab privileges. So. We'll see. All the people who happened through the hallway during third and fourth block were like, "wtf?" and I told them we are earning back the privileges of desks and chairs. Most loved the idea. So with the exception of the granddaughter, hopefully it will work out.
I have a new behavior tracking system set up on the board with EVERYONE'S name so they can see strikes against themselves as well.
be sure you are rewarding/recognizing good behavior as well. you dont just want to call attention to the bad....by their names they should also be able to get "good" marks. you are probably doing this already but i just thought id say so just in case.
i still think you should try the dice thing....every class i have ever done it with loves it. hand out numbers to good listeners/workers 1-6
roll at end of class-winner gets whatever
Nice idea, l2a! And yes, good behavior gets its own mark on the board. Very important!
Hmmm, I'll have to find a die! I don't have any board games. *think think think*
Nice idea, l2a! And yes, good behavior gets its own mark on the board. Very important!
Hmmm, I'll have to find a die! I don't have any board games. *think think think*
I got a giant one from the dollar store. Or you could make one with a square box!
Glad your day went better. You can DO IT!
ooo, to add to l2a's idea and your idea of having names on the board, you could make (i'm all about tactile things, can't you tell i teach little kids?!?! AHHH!) but you could have one side of the board be "bad" and the other side "good", but not those words, maybe one side could be "call home to parents" and the other side be "awesome!" or something. put all the kids names on papers with magnets behind them, put them all in the middle of the board and as they do good/bad things, just slide it up and down a little bit. ok. i know you're trying to stop doing so much work. but. anyways. yeah.
i'm glad the chair thing worked today! thats so funny that the girls grandmother said she shouldnt be sitting on the floor. I had a parent say that her child (kindergarten) was not going to sit on the floor at all because it was dirty!! crazy.
I had a parent say that her child (kindergarten) was not going to sit on the floor at all because it was dirty!! crazy.
I know, right? Seriously. The child is 12. She'll live. Do you want her to learn or not?
Nice idea, l2a! And yes, good behavior gets its own mark on the board. Very important!
Hmmm, I'll have to find a die! I don't have any board games. *think think think*
mine is made out of a carboard box...big so all can see, but a regular size will do until you have time to make one. you roll and have another student call it out. and of course talk about probability....
i actually had a student make mine for me!
;)
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