Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies.
Posted by Joy Jordan on 5/09/08
You know what, if they want broken crayons, let them break
'em. They seem to be doing this because they see how
important it is to you and that it will get to you. Try
keeping the four tables and have them compete to see who will
clean up, keep the noise level down, finish work in totality,
and take the best care of the supplies they are given. Change
seats if you need to. This way, the teams that care can earn
special art supplies and perhaps other incentives that don't
cost any money. Ask them to list some thing they would like
that doesn't cost any money. Let the kids that don't care use
the broken stuff. Let them earn the chance to use really cool
supplies, and new supplies that you don't usually have in the
art room. They can even earn a chance to do a special art
project. The seniors can work towards having free art time.
Give them a project where teams do research and help raise
money to help endangered animals, or orphans, etc.. Align
these projects with standards and your curriculum. The older
kids will like knowing they can impact the world in a positive
way. I tried this, and it works better than I thought it would. I
even made a chart using velcro and symbols to represent each
team. The winning team makes it to the finish line if they
are following all rules and procedures. I move team markers
to the next point on the chart every ten minute checks (for
forty-five minute classes). All the teams stop and watch
whether their team moves up. The one I use for the little
one's is even cuter. I even let the kids get a chance to move
the markers. They love it. Sometimes I forget and a kids
reminds me to do the chart! I understand your frustration. It really upsets me when kids
abuse materials, especially when I buy them with my own money.
I had a kid do that today. He showed no remorse and left the
mess for me to clean. There will always be at least one kid
that is going to be that way. Some people are born jerks and
grow up to be bigger jerks. Try not to let them get to you.
Concentrate on the kids that can be positively influenced by
incentives. Keep encouraging good habits.
On 5/08/08, Finishing Year One, Prepping for Year Two wrote:
> I teach at a small private school - 17 elementary classes
> once per week, and three secondary elective classes daily.
> Most classes have between 17-20 kids, whom I seat at four
> tables. This works all right for elem classes, but not well
> with secondary. Most of my secondary students do not like
> art. They never want to do any kind of art. They elected it
> because it's supposedly an easy A. =oP They talk, talk,
> talk, which is fine with me as long as they talk quietly
> and do some kind of art while they talk. @@ But some of
> them also like to just destroy materials, make messes...
> Also several elementary kids are careless with the
> supplies, too - leaving caps off of markers and glue
> sticks...
>
> Our principal does not want the students to have to bring
> their supplies with them from their classroom. We spend so
> much on a very limited budget - just buying pencils and
> crayons, etc. that get horribly abused. I know it sounds
> like I have poor classroom management skills, but I'm
> actually extremely organized and love Harry Wong, etc. I
> planned out careful rules and taught procedures, and use
> consequences for abusing materials, etc. It doesn't help! I
> walk around and monitor closely, but I still can't prevent
> them from breaking the crayons, etc. They don't care about
> the crayons. "It's just a crayon." And they don't care
> about grades. And detentions don't phase them, either,
> smirk smirk. I've had many days where I've sworn I won't
> teach art next year! My degree is in middle school English,
> Soc Stud.
>
> ANYWAY - sorry for my vent. If I do teach art next year, I
> would like to use desks. Is this crazy? I'd like to arrange
> them in rows, so everyone is facing the front of room, and
> has their own defined work space. And I want everyone to
> have and use their OWN supplies, so that if they break
> things or leave caps off, I can send a note to Mom and ask
> for replacements for them. And my "good kids" won't have to
> endure broken, used-up supplies. =o(
>
> I'm hoping my principal will let me add a $15 "art
> supplies" fee, and I can save everyone a LOT of money and
> time by ordering 300 sets of supplies for elementary
> students. I'm afraid she won't want me to use desks, but
> it's so hard to use the same set-up with kindergartners
> that I use with seniors every day. The seniors would be so
> much easier to manage/teach in desks, since we study art
> history, etc. as much as hands-on art.
>
> Am I just venting here? Does anyone have
> thoughts/experience to share? Or would you like to join my
> vent?? ;o)
Posts on this thread, including this one
- ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies..., 5/08/08, by Finishing Year One, Prepping for Year Two.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/08/08, by Cherie.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/09/08, by wadel.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/09/08, by khric.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/09/08, by an art teacher.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/09/08, by Joy Jordan.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/11/08, by dt in tn.
- Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies., 5/14/08, by aquarose.
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