Thursday, March 09, 2006
Teachers Need Advice Too!
Dear Guidance Guy,
I'm a new teacher who would like some help with students with behavior problems. I teach eigth grade, and most of my kids are great. But there are a couple who are very hard to control and they make life miserable for me and most of the other students in the class.
I'm not the type of teacher who yells at kids but I'm getting close to my boiling point. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Michigan Rookie Teacher
*****
Dear Michigan,
I have sympathy for you, since I was a young educator once also. A couple of your students have a behavior problem. (Actually, you have the problem – the students are just fine.) You don’t want to embarrass the young men/women and you don’t want to disrupt learning or poison the class environment. At the same time you need to provide instruction and allow all students to learn without your attention being divided.
Here's my suggestion: Meet with these students separately before or after class. Explain how the behavior impacts the entire class, including their chances for success in the course. Create a private signal between you and the students that lets the student know they're going off course. This is something that’s obvious to you and them but won’t be picked up by other students. One signal reminder is all that’s given. After the signal, if anything else goes wrong, send them to the office. result in removal and office referral. Examples of codes could be gentle tap on desk as you are circulating, or a certain code word that only you and them know.
Doing this has several benefits. You control the class quickly and efficiently without creating an emotionally hostile environment. Your students' behavior will probably improve because you're giving them individual attention with respect. You feel better because you have more control over the situation.
And another bonus: the students just may tell their friends you are cool because you’re trying to help without public embarrassment, so you have better relationships with with many students.
Try this out and see how it works!
Best of Luck,
The Guidance Guy
I'm a new teacher who would like some help with students with behavior problems. I teach eigth grade, and most of my kids are great. But there are a couple who are very hard to control and they make life miserable for me and most of the other students in the class.
I'm not the type of teacher who yells at kids but I'm getting close to my boiling point. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Michigan Rookie Teacher
*****
Dear Michigan,
I have sympathy for you, since I was a young educator once also. A couple of your students have a behavior problem. (Actually, you have the problem – the students are just fine.) You don’t want to embarrass the young men/women and you don’t want to disrupt learning or poison the class environment. At the same time you need to provide instruction and allow all students to learn without your attention being divided.
Here's my suggestion: Meet with these students separately before or after class. Explain how the behavior impacts the entire class, including their chances for success in the course. Create a private signal between you and the students that lets the student know they're going off course. This is something that’s obvious to you and them but won’t be picked up by other students. One signal reminder is all that’s given. After the signal, if anything else goes wrong, send them to the office. result in removal and office referral. Examples of codes could be gentle tap on desk as you are circulating, or a certain code word that only you and them know.
Doing this has several benefits. You control the class quickly and efficiently without creating an emotionally hostile environment. Your students' behavior will probably improve because you're giving them individual attention with respect. You feel better because you have more control over the situation.
And another bonus: the students just may tell their friends you are cool because you’re trying to help without public embarrassment, so you have better relationships with with many students.
Try this out and see how it works!
Best of Luck,
The Guidance Guy
