Dear Alexis,
I'm also a first year teacher. I didn't realize until about
half-way through the year during a random conversation with
a veteran colleague, that my class was the "dreaded class"
over the last few years.
Here are some ways that you can change the atmopshere in
your classroom (and kudos to you for not just blaming it on
the kids and saying that it is out of your hands - truly
reflective teachers like you are the best kind, I think!)
Tomorrow, walk in and praise, praise, praise. Even if it's
just about how their feet are on the floor or they have
paper out. Anything and everything, praise, praise, praise.
Here is a project I did on the first day of school that
really set the tone for my students.
Write on the board "What makes a good teacher?" Let the
students discuss with each other. This might be hard for
them because no one may have asked them this quesiton before
so you can prompt them with things like "does a good teacher
yell? Does a good teacher laugh?" You'll be amazed at how
insightful they are.
Record any and every thought that you're given. It will be
slow to start, but after two or three minutes, especially
with your prompting, you'll be getting ideas faster than you
can record them. After you get a list, have them do a
brownie-vote (head's down, eyes covered so that no one feels
pressured.) Ask students to vote for the quality (or two
qualities) that they feel is MOST important.
Write those on a piece of butcher paper and staple it to the
wall right then and there.
Next, ask them what makes a good student? Follow the same
steps, and staple that paper to the wall. Tell them that you
will do your best to be a good teacher and that you expect
them to do their best to be a good student.
Hm...as I'm writing this I'm wondering if I should swap
out "good," which has a judgment feel to it, to "successful."
....Hmm, food for thought.
Another idea is take about 5 minutes at the beginning of the
period to do simple, simple, SIMPLE review. This takes no
time at all and the students will feel successful. Little
successes often will build esteem. (This doesn't mean that
you ditch what you've got to teach - the glory of "and,"
keep up your awesome work AND give them little opportunities
for success often.)
Best of luck!
Jenna
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