On 5/15/08, CC wrote:
> I want to do a better job next year and I'm not sure how.
> I have a negative classroom as well. I try to be a
> positive person but I wonder if I didn't start off too
> nice.
It's not about nice - you can be 'nice' and still have
expectations. I find there are times when I have to look very
stern or very angry -even though I'm not. It's theater and
helpful crowd control. It's not ok to get very angry but it
is ok to quietly look it when you have to for effect.
I was in a very challenging school before and I
> made some enemies by starting off too harsh.
yes, that can happen. You make kids angry and they never
'come back to you.'
I really am
> basically new at teaching in public school and my
> management needs a lot of improvement. I have procedures
> in place and when the students do what they should they
> work fine. It has been very difficult because when the
> special education teacher or a V.P. is present they know
> what to do but when its just me they are rude and
> disrespectful.
Are you teaching inner city? Then all bets are off. If
you're not teaching inner city, why are they rude and
disrespectful? What do you mean by that? I'd need to know more.
Rude and disrespectful would cause me to stop in my tracks and
stop the class in its tracks. An occasional loss of temper by
a student can happen but calmly rude? It's not acceptable. I
am not rude to you - why are you being rude? You are being
rude, why?"
You should question that - you should try to figure out what's
going on that kid's mind that says 'it's ok to be rude.' It's
not. Why does he think that?
Sometimes though we define adolescent behavior as 'rude' when
it's not intended to be. So again -I'd need to know more
about what they're doing and what subject you're teaching
would help as well.
Read The Peaceable Classroom. Read anything by Alfie Kohn for
another opinion.
1996 - 2008. All Rights Reserved. Please review our