Re: Help With Silly 6th Grade Boys!
Posted by Kerry in BC on 9/03/08
On 9/03/08, 6th Grade Teacher wrote:
>
> A few of my 6th grade boys are downright silly. They do
> things like sing in my classroom, dance as they walk back
> to their seat, make faces to make each other laugh, etc.
>
If this were me, I would start asking some reflective
questions which is part of the Discipline without Stress,
Punishments or Rewards approach. By asking questions
designed to make a child think, you can usually make some
headway. ASKING is a less confrontational-and therefore more
effective-approach than TELLING. It's especially
encouraging that you've already seen progress on that
afternoon when you had your private chat with them. That's a
very hopeful sign!
I would again meet privately and I would start on a positive
note by explaining how you noticed that after your last chat
they seemed to show a lot of maturity. Then describe what
you saw that afternoon. For example, "I noticed you were
able to walk through the classroom calmly, you were able to
pay attention to the lesson and learn, rather than being
focused on making someone giggle." Dignify them.
Then explain, that since that very positive afternoon, you've
noticed that they haven't quite been able to keep up the
level of self-control that you know they are capable of, and
which will pay off for them in school. Explain what you've
seen. For example, "Since that day though I've noticed a
slight slide in your maturity level.... a few silly faces,
giggles etc."
Then ASK a question or two such as: "What do you think?
Will you be able to raise the level of your behavior today
or will I have to start to take charge of you...which might
be rather embarrassing for you? In other words, are you
needing me to act like a babysitter for you... or can you
manage on your own as I expect you to do?"
Then if there is any more silliness, go over near the child,
state your expectations (I expect that everyone manage
themselves in a grown up way in our class so that we can all
stay focused on learning) and then quietly but respectfully
ask:
"Does what you just did show me that you are managing
yourself or does it show me that you need ME to take over
for you?" I find polite, pointed questions like these make
the child reflect (as they are designed to do) and often the
student will decide it's in his/her own best interest to take
control of their own behavior rather than turn over their
power to the teacher.
Below is a link to a list of reflective questions that might
serve as some examples. They come from my partner and I...
these are questions that have worked for us well in the
past. We share three jobs these days. We share a Grade one
classroom and also work one-on-one with alternate high school
students to improve literacy skills. This week we took on a
similar smaller part- time job at a regular middle school.
Good luck! Stick with your high expectations. As Marvin
Marshall, the developer of DWS says, "You can be rigorous
and a "demanding" teacher. Just don't do it in a demanding
way."
Kerry in B
Samples of reflective (DWS-inspired!) questions
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Help With Silly 6th Grade Boys!, 9/03/08, by 6th Grade Teacher.
- Re: Help With Silly 6th Grade Boys!, 9/03/08, by Kerry in BC.
- Re: Help With Silly 6th Grade Boys!, 9/04/08, by 6th Grade Teacher.
- Re: Help With Silly 6th Grade Boys!, 9/04/08, by Kerry in BC.
- Re: Help With Silly 6th Grade Boys! Asking VS Telling, 9/05/08, by ~connie .
- Re: Help With Silly 6th Grade Boys ... And Older Folks!, 9/05/08, by Tom.
- Re: Help With Silly 6th Grade Boys!, 9/06/08, by Lee.
1996 - 2008. All Rights Reserved. Please review our Terms of Use, Mission Statement, and Privacy Policy.
