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Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do?
Posted by Tom on 9/05/08

DL,

Have you had the heart to heart talks? What's their take on
things? How do they suggest they can improve things? Why do they
propose they're making those choices? How do they perceive the
choices are impacting the Learning that goes on? What happens when
they get in small groups and brainstorm ways to remain focused and
supportive?

At this point, I would have the heart to heart, and see if you can
get buy-in and a sense of group solidarity. Then be the patient
and firm Alpha. And never talk over them, right? You start to
talk, they all chime in with questions, you hold up your hand for
quiet ... then start again. If you only get through one paragraph
of talking, so be it.

If THAT doesn't work (after several days of patient attempt), go
immediately to the 'Holding up my right hand for silence while
counting the seconds on my watch' routine. Without a word, post
the # of seconds you waited on the board. Let them know that they
will be staying after class the total amount of time... But like I
said last time, warn the rest of the school that you're going to
be doing this JUST IN CASE the kids test you and rack up the
minutes such that they'll be late for other classes. Let them know
that the other teachers will count that as a tardy (arrange that
beforehand).

Other option would be to seat them in groups of four, and have a
competition to see which group can be the MOST supportive. If
anyone in the group is unsupportive, EVERY OTHER GROUP GETS A
POINT (immediately noted on a chart). Now, if I were you I would
create a major incentive for each week's winning group. It could
be a Homework Pass (enabling the group's members to turn in one
homework assignment late), a Test Booster (giving each member 10%
higher grade on the next test or paper), a Grade Booster (giving
the winning group a one letter grade higher score ON THEIR REPORT
CARD (justified easily since Support is one of the primary
educational goals of the class).... You could also go for Ice
Cream coupons, Amusement Park passes, et cetera. Maybe arrange
something with the PTA??

I know another teacher who has everyone stand for a while if
ANYONE is out of line. That gets the peer pressure up quite a bit!

Sorry you're having such a tough time. I still firmly believe that
with Alpha energy and consistency the kids can change.

Thanks for the update. Keep us posted, and good luck!

Tom

On 9/05/08, DL wrote:
> So, things haven't improved for my seventh graders. Like I said
> before, I am on an A/B schedule and teach a total of 10
> classes. (Don't get me started on that). Eight out of
those ten
> classes are stress-free. My 6th graders are doing really well.
> My 8th graders put up some resistance at first, but once
they
> saw I wasn't backing down this year, they started to adapt to
> the changes.
>
> I see one group right after lunch and the other group is the
> last period of the day. It is not that they are disrespectful
> in the spiteful since. It is just that they are the socialites
> of all socialites and just cannot shut up. Every time I say
> something, 10 kids have to make comments about it. Chaos.
> Unlike my SIXTH graders doing the SAME assignments during the
> first two weeks of school, a segment of these 7th graders (who
> are honors students by the way) just don't have the ability to
> think on their own and must ask questions about everything.
> I've done the procedures thing, and they still don't follow
> them. I had them do an assignment where they write a brief
> description of their procedures and rate their performance of
> them (that I got from another poster on this board). I've set
> high expectations. I've consistently implemented consequences
> (need support/respect, move here, go to Ms. X's class until
> your ready to support us). Nothing works. The teacher who I flip
> classes with every other day is struggling just as much as me
> with these 7th graders while the other classes are nice.
>
> The new administrator that came into the class last week is now
> coming off as judging my whole classroom management abilities
> off the problems with these 2 out of my 10 classes. I hope I'm
> wrong about that. (I'll probably bring up my concerns about
> that in another post).


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Posts on this thread, including this one


• switching seats, 8/23/08, by zodea.
• Re: switching seats, 8/23/08, by Tom.
• Re: switching seats, 8/25/08, by twh.
• Re: switching seats, 8/25/08, by Tom.
• Re: Which name game?, 8/25/08, by twh.
• Re: This name game!, 8/25/08, by Tom.
• Re: switching seats, 8/25/08, by zodea.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/25/08, by oops...somehow posted the relpy on wrong thread.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/25/08, by Tom.
• Re: Let your students earn free seating, 8/26/08, by Darren B..
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/27/08, by DL to Tom and whoever else.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/27/08, by Tom.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/27/08, by DL.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/27/08, by Tom.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/27/08, by DL.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/27/08, by Tom.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/29/08, by DL to Tom .
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/29/08, by Tom.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/29/08, by DL.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/29/08, by zodea.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 8/29/08, by Tom.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 9/05/08, by DL.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 9/05/08, by Tom.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 9/06/08, by sav teach.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 9/06/08, by DL (sav teach and Tom).
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 9/06/08, by Tom.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 9/06/08, by DL.
• Re: Bad class on the first day of school: What to do? , 9/11/08, by DL.