I currently have a student who is very much like yours. I have also
had similar students in the past. Good luck! I'm glad she has someone
who cares.

On 11/05/09, OP concerning my goals and etc wrote:
> On 11/05/09, mrs.h wrote:
>> 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:
> Thank you both for responding. My goals concerning this student
> are to help her be successful--in academics and in other
> areas--let's call that "life." I actually have taken her under my
> wing, I think--I do look forward to her being in class--she's full
> of life and is one of those students who adds a "spark" to the
> class. At the same time, she is definitely a student who can be
> disruptive. I would not be surprised to find out that she is in a
> "gang" of some nature (as in most
> small-big-city-poverty-ridden-sd's, they are prevalent here, and
> many students, it is an unspoken 'given,' are in one.) Thus, may
> have a 'gang' mentality--conjoining with others of similiar
> nature/attitude, attempts to control a class by dominating a
> discussion...still, there is something about her that is
> salvageable. So what do I want? To reach her. To show her that
> not all teachers are in immediate "write-up" mode. I like your
> suggestions to meet with her during a prep. I will certainly
> suggest that next class, and will have a discussion with her about
> this matter. I do think she is rational enough to make some
> positive choices--at least I hope so. I'll keep you posted.
>
>
>>> 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