Re: So Tired of Repeating Myself

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My advice--quit being a broken record. If you constantly repeat
the directions, you are enabling them. Say the instructions
once. Since, as you said, the instructions are also on their
work, there's no reason for you to constantly repeat them. If a
student raises their hand and asks a question about the
directions, turn it back to them, "What do the directions say?"
Make them read the directions to you. If, and only if, they
still don't understand, then reword the instructions for them.

If the question is something like, "Do we need to write out the
sentence?" or "How long does the response have to be?" the answer
changes if I'm repeating myself--the assignment becomes longer.
Trust me, they always learn this lesson quickly if it means more
work for them.

On 9/28/11, Bulldog wrote:
> What subject do you teach? How do you normally get their
> attention? What is your procedure for getting them to look at
> you? I just raise my hand and the kids immediately know this
> is the signal to quiet down. I established this procedure from
> day one. If even one student is not paying attention, I do
> not start giving the directions. You'd be suprised at how well
> this works. I teach 9th graders this semester, but this
> procedure works for all high schoolers. I seldom have to even
> raise my voice. This sounds like a classroom management
> problem that can be fixed, but it will take some effort on
> your part. Hope this helps!
>
> Bulldog!
>
> On 9/28/11, Broken Record wrote:
>> I have one class of high school sophomores that has a very
>> hard time listening to and following directions. I have to
>> repeat myself at least 3 times and even then I will have
>> some students ask me the same question that has been asked
>> and answered 3 times before. It is driving me crazy and I
>> do not know how to stop it.
>>
>> Do I say everything once and if they don't hear it too bad?
>>
>> Then they ask their neighbor what I said which causes them
>> and their neighbor to miss the next thing I say.
>>
>> Someone is doing homework for another class, reading a
>> book, trying to text under the table and doesn't hear what
>> I am saying. I even had a girl YELL at me because she said
>> I didn't tell her what she needed to be doing. I did, but
>> she was drawing on a piece of paper at the time.
>>
>> I have never had this problem with a class before, at least
>> not to this degree. HELP!

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