Re: After School Class Management

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Wendy: I guess I am confused as to what your role actually is in
this. If you are the assistant, then where is your lead teacher in
this? I have always had clear guidelines for my assistants in my
classrooms and there is no way that I would expect her/him to be
supervising that many children without a set plan and materials to
implement them. That is my responsibility as the lead and I do not
understand exactly what it is that you are trying to implement.

First, I would decide what is needed material wise for the room.I
see Materials Requested in our local paper all the time for after
care programs. I use a small portable CD player(you could borrow
one I am sure somewhere) and the public library has a vast
selection of CDs for children that would be appropriate(and free)

I think children that age who have been in class all day which is
common now a days for full day K(versus the previous "play"
approach)are not in need of "learning the routines of school life"
and then simply expected to "settle down" and work again. My
question is, why does this program have to resemble "school life"?
Children "misbehave" because their needs are not being met for any
variety of reasons. Is your lead not experienced either? I still
think that is her place to be giving you guidance instead of just
expecting you to do crowd control. Either the people who are
running the program want a quality program that meets the needs of
the children, or they just want someone to do crowd control.

I would look into what other programs are doing and garner some
ideas as to what works there.

I am sorry I can not help any more then this as I am having
difficulty visualizing what is actually supposed to be happening
and why the people in charge are not giving you more guidance in
what your role really is. Good luck!

On 9/23/10, Wendy wrote:
> There is another teacher - she is the teacher and I am her
> assistant. I have about 20-25 kids depending on who is/is not
> picked up before (or during) this homework time. I generally do
> expect the kids to seat down immediately... they are required to
> wash their hands before sitting down. I realize they need a few
> minutes to comprehend that they are indoors now and need to use
> "indoor voices". The classroom I'm using is borrowed... another
> teacher uses it during the day for a Spanish class, so my options
> are limited as to what I can/cannot do. I also realize that the
> Kindergartners will have to get used to the routines of school
> life (they seem to give the most trouble). There is a cabinet in
> the room that is for AS care only but there is not much to work
> with in it. I appreciate and like the advice on CDs but I don't
> think we have any equipment available to us for that.
>
> On 9/22/10, montmo wrote:
>> wendy: Are you by yourself and how many children do you have
>> in your group? Does the group come in from outside and then
>> expected to immediately "do homework" or seatwork?
>>
>> You need some transitional activity to settle them in. That
>> can be a fun CD song followed by a quieting, calming activity
>> using movement that can be as simple as stretching or
>> playing "mirror" (Watch what I am doing and copy my movements)
>> Then give the children a choice of whatever one needs to do.
>> My first grader only has 10 minutes of homework once a week
>> and she doesn't enjoy coloring coloring books. She does like
>> free drawing with paper and colored pencils. Some children
>> enjoy playdoh, others cutting out shapes or gluing. It is
>> important that you model your expectations. It should be a
>> privilege to be able to choose whatever activity one wants to
>> do. Maybe the older children can choose to read to the
>> younger ones. Most children enjoy music and movement so I
>> would collect some good CD's with learning type songs that
>> they can at least be learning something while having fun. I
>> would think 30 minutes can be used up pretty quickly just
>> with the transitional activity and then reading a good story.
>> That age can handle chapter books well if the same children
>> come each day(Look at Jim Trelease Read Aloud Handbooks for
>> suggested titles) And shame on your co teachers.
>>
>>
>> 9/22/10, Wendy wrote:
>>> I recently started working in the AS program at my local
>>> elementary school. I am also working toward my teaching
>>> degree through an accredited online college. After we enjoy
>>> outdoor time, we go inside to split up into two groups, K-2
>>> and 3-5 for 30 minutes of homework time. I have been blessed
>>> with the K-2 class, which is exceptionally unruly,
>>> boisterous and messy. I realize that my weakness is
>>> classroom management but I have no earthly idea how to get
>>> these guys to listen much less follow a routine. It is
>>> supposed to be homework but most do not have homework or
>>> prefer to do it at home. I give them coloring and activity
>>> pages and crayons to occupy their time but they often fight
>>> over pages and crayons then become loud. I am very green at
>>> all this and could really use some guidance on how to manage
>>> these little guys. I have no support from the other "more
>>> seasoned" teachers - as a matter of fact they are counting
>>> down the days until I quit. I would appreciate some
>>> management techniques that work!
 

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