Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Teachers...help me with my unruly class
I teach music on a cart (although I would prefer to have a classroom) so I visit every teacher's classroom for music. I teach grades 1-4 in an inner city school. I have this first grade class that is very unruly. The classroom teacher is very disciplined (I should say a very firm hand) and as soon as she leaves the classroom her students act up. I have 20 students in there (6 girls and 14 boys). Out of those 20 students about 16 of them are considered troublemakers. I have sent students to the apple room (like a timeout room), but they think it is funny. I have assigned after school detentions (yes...to 1st graders!), but they still act up. I have had my principal come down when they are extremely unruly (which I never have had to do and it just killed me to do it), but they still act out of control. I have asked some of the other teachers in my building, but they only say that since their classroom teacher is so strict and I am not quite as strict they think they can do whatever. She yells at her students and I just do not want do that.
Any suggestions on how I might be able to get this class under control? I would appreciate any help!
Re: Teachers...help me with my unruly class
Well I teach fourth grade and I am a very strict teacher. I have rules and I expect them to follow. The only thing that you haven't mentioned and I have tried is to just stop when they start acting up. I had an unruly class before and when they started getting crazy I would just stop, not say a word, and just sit at my desk. It would take a while but then eventually some would catch on and then others would stop. It takes alot of patience but sooner or later they get that there is no music if it is crazy.
Another idea might be some behavior chart type of thing. I know our first grade does card changes with established consequences...sort of like a stop light... they all start on green each class and if they are warned it moves to yellow and then red. A red is a call home to parents.
Just some ideas....not sure what you can do in your school. Did the teacher try to talk to them about behavior? If she is that strict then she may have some pull. GL either way
I'm not a teacher, but I am a teacher's aide in a classroom with kids with emotional handicapps. Behavior is their specialty! It's what brought them to my program. Good kids they just need some extra practice!
I agree with PP. Does every one of them act out?? I would also add try reccognizing anyone who is doing the right thing. Even if it is staying seated. In the classroom I work in, as soon as I start doing that others follow suit! A Physical Education teacher I know gives out awards for star student. They get some type of a medal they wear for the day or week for being responsible, caring, and respectful. Could something like that work??
Definitely!
You could always beat them. Maybe that is why she is so strict - because anything less is mayhem. Can you separate the starters? (you know the ones who seem to stir the pot all the time?)
The nuns used to slap us and yell when I was in preschool. I was very very very good, but I cried a lot when I had to go to school. Since then I have met many kind caring nuns. But a black and white formal habit makes me cringe to this day.
Planning Bio
Married Blog (seriously lacking)
I know...but I really don't want to be that mean. She scares me and I'm an adult. She yells at them, makes them stand for long periods of time (she is old school), does not let them speak, etc. She is completely opposite of my style and I dislike having to be mean. It's not that I have a problem displining and laying down the law when I need to. I just prefer to do it my way and not have to follow her same style which I do not really agree with. Thanks for the advice
)
I would say resort to little prizes (candy, silly bandz-if they are allowed in your school). The problem with that is then all of your classes might expect it and that can be a burden.
Two years ago (in my 7th year of teaching) I had one period of science that was just out of control. I haven't really had discipline problems since my first year teaching. I tried EVERYTHING and at the end of that period each day I felt like I needed to pop a Xanax. Don't let it get you down, if this is your only bad class you are doing something right and are a fantastic teacher!! The fact that you recognize there is an issue shows that you are a caring teacher!