You need to make a connection with her. It sounds like you
already have some, but now is the real test. And she likely did
this as a test for you. She is used to other teachers not
"liking" her. Often students like this will test the teacher
they are "good" for to make sure that teacher will not abandon
them.

I do not think you should talk to her during class. Maybe after
class or during your prep, meet with her. Tell her you didn't
appreciate being called ignorant, and maybe discuss what
"ignorant" means. Tell her you like helping her, and discuss
what she could have done in that situation. And know that if
something is confusing or difficult, she will be more likely to
act out. I would not threaten her w/ a write up.

On 11/05/09, grade 8 teacher wanting opinions, advice, feedback
wrote:
> First of all, I have to say, this girl is a problem for 2
> other teachers on our team. For me, not so. She was, a few
> yrs ago, in a school for kids with troubled families (but
> kids who did not get into trouble in school, i.e.,
> suspensions, etc). She's been more and more
> outspoken/chatty during class as the weeks went on, but she
> is in an afternoon class (right after lunch) that is awake
> and rarin' to go--mostly, they do get their work done. She
> tries, mostly, to do her work--by mid-period, she is settled
> down and working hard. Today we were doing a lesson
> worksheet with which she was experiencing some confusion--as
> were many students. I was circulating as much as possible,
> helping out as many as I could. I helped her. Then she
> asked me a question (which I apparently did not hear), as I
> was helping others. She asked more adamantly--then stated
> that I was "ignorant" bc I "walked away." I looked at her,
> quietly mouthed she was out of line (do not talk to a
> teacher like that, is what i said), and told her she should
> apologize--which she did, though in a rather attitudinal
> voice. I let that go. She settled down quickly. So my
> question is: next class, should I call her out, and address
> it--as in, I wrote her up (didn't, but was thinking of it),
> but will not turn it in, should she not repeat her what I
> consider disrespect (though again, I did not write her up bc
> of the apology, and bc she seems to have minimal self
> control--blurts out things bf she thinks better of them);
> or, should I wait and see if she repeats her (mis)behavior,
> then call her out and call her on it; or what? Have to note
> her, I teach in a school of mainly disadvantaged kids;
> sometimes, I think, they have little concept of appropriate
> behavior bc they have learned very few parameters and live
> in mainly unstructured homes. Also, she was miffed (at
> herself, I believe), because she did not have an assignment
> ready to turn in (which we have worked on, in class, for 2
> weeks--and hers was almost completely done 2 days ago--she
> apparently did not take the hour at home to complete it).
> Opinions, feedback, advice: greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Share This Post | Report This Post

Next Post >>

Posts on this thread, including this one