Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY
Posted by Angie- 2nd Grade on 4/02/08

I have felt the exact same way too! I am also in my second year
of teaching, and I often feel annoyed by their interruptions.
Something that I have found that works is having them all
practice standing by me and waiting while I am talking to
someone. I did this at the beginning of the year, and it has
made a big difference. What I did, what I first demonstrated
what to do when you need to say something and the other person
is talking. Then I have one student demonstrate how to do it in
front of the whole class. Last, I have each of them come up to
me, wait until I aknowledge them, and then they can speak. It
may seem extreme, but it works. I did this at the beginning of
the year with almost everything. Try it and tell me if it
works, even if it isn't at the beginning of the year!

On 2/27/08, MMM 2nd grade teacher Florida wrote:
> I'm in my second YEAR of teaching (2nd grade this year) and
this
> EXACT situation fits me to a T.....I have kids that CONSTANTLY
> get out of their seat to interrupt me, EVEN WHEN i'm talking to
> an ADULT>..and i find myself snapping...explaining how
> inconsiderate and rude it is to interrupt ANYONE..let alone an
> ADULT..and how they are also breaking one of our class rules
and
> the AGREEMENT we signed at the beginning of the year...One of
> the consequences is to put their name on the board and if they
> end up with 2 checks they will miss our FUn friday celebration.
> I have tried so many things with this class..that Positive
> reinforcement is the closest thing to working that i've
> gotten...and we're already 3/4 of the way through the school
> year....and i'm seriously losing my mind too. I also pass out
> gold coins to reward positive behaiviors..and the students can
> cash in their coins at the end of hte week in the treasure box
> if they have a total of 10...otherwise htey have to be saved
for
> next week. (Sorry about the typos...i'm typing extremely fast
> right now)
>
> Anyway..just wanted to let you know that after 2 years...i'm
> going through the same thing...and it seems to differ from
class
> to class. My class last year was absolutely nothing like this.
> I actually thought their behavior was bad...but when I got
this
> class I realized it was nowhere near this...and that honestly
> last year I was being hard on myself! If anyone has
suggestions,
> I will GLADLY take ANY suggestions because I have been pulling
> my hair out ALL YEAR. I separated all of my groups today and
> made my students move their desks into straight rows..which
they
> will remain in until after Spring Break..until they can prove
> they can follow directions..and I told them we will not be
> playing fun games..just doing paper work ..so they can see how
> good they had it before..(I know it may sound harsh..but the
> students act so unappreciative all the time and very
> disrespectful to me and each other.) We did a lot of hands-on
> stuff before (that's the way I normally teach)- but they're
> probably going to be in for a lot more boredom over the next
> couple weeks...honestly.
>
> I'm a little frustrated because just when I have a system in
> place, I end up getting another new student...I've gotten like
6
> new students this school year...and lost like 2..now at a total
> of 21.which isn't bad compared to some states, but the
> inconsistency is just ridiculous! (The coming and going isn't
> helping the classroom management!)
>
> MMM-2nd grade teacher
>
> On 2/23/08, Kristy wrote:
>> Gayle,
>>
>> Many teahcers feel the same way you do. Why? Because your
>> situation happens to many teachers. I have a few
>> suggestions. 1. Clearly state what you do and do not
>> expect from the students. Say, "When I am the teacher...I
>> expect that you raise your hand while in your seat if you
>> have a qustion. 2. Write it down / make a little poster.
>> 3. When a student does not follow the rule, do not answer
>> their question or respond...just point to the poster. When
>> the student returns to their seat and does the expected
>> behavior kindly call on the student to answer their question
>> or tell them you will be with them in 1 minute. 4. You must
>> be consistent. I have even writen on my palm, "Raise Your
>> Hand". It works, but it takes patience.
>> "I don't get it?" - If it is the same five students every
>> time, make it a part of your lesson plan to pull them into a
>> small group right after everyone else is started to do a
>> more intensive guided practice. Remember to ask questions
>> about what they do not understand, sometimes they may not
>> even know. You can also do talk-throughs...as a small group
>> or have the student talk you through until they do not
>> understand. Express that you want to help them and it is ok
>> to not understand.
>> Have a group reward for everone completeing an assignment.
>> Look at positive behavior support articles for ideas.
>>
>> Kristy
>>
>> On 2/22/08, Gayle wrote:
>>> I need help!
>>>
>>> I just finished my fifth week student teaching in a 4th
>>> grade classroom and I'm losing my mind. I've worked with
>>> students K-2 and middle school before, and I feel like
>>> these 4th graders are the neediest kids I've ever met.
>>>
>>> During many lessons I walk students right through many of
>>> their homework problems as examples, and always ask if
>>> anyone has questions. Once they start working independently
>>> on questions, five kids in the class always raise their
>>> hand and say to me, "I don't get it!" very whiny needy
>>> sounding. Usually I give them a couple of prompts to get
>>> them started on the problems and they do fine, and then I
>>> encourage with "You knew it all along!" but day after day
>>> they will just sit and stare at their paper instead of
>>> trying it on their own because they "don't get it." There
>>> is no motivation to finish assignments, so if they don't
>>> get it, they just don't bother.
>>>
>>> The students also come up and interrupt me when I'm talking
>>> with other students. Today I was speaking with a student
>>> during independent work time and a boy came up to me and
>>> interrupted to tell me that when he went to the office they
>>> gave him a new icepack. I snapped at the student that his
>>> comment wasn't something he needed to interrupt me with,
>>> and then I felt terrible about being rude to him. I don't
>>> want to be a bad teacher who snaps at students. I
>>> understand that these students just want approval, but as a
>>> human being I cannot handle so many interruptions when I'm
>>> trying to work with students.
>>>
>>> I've spoken to my cooperating teacher about this, but I
>>> think she enjoys feeling needed because she always jumps in
>>> to help students even when they don't need it. What can I
>>> do to keep myself sane when my students are so needy in
>>> class?

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY, 2/22/08, by Gayle.
• Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY, 2/23/08, by Kristy .
• Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY, 2/27/08, by MMM 2nd grade teacher Florida.
• Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY, 4/02/08, by Angie- 2nd Grade.
• Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY, 4/21/08, by Joey.
• Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY, 4/22/08, by Darlene.
• Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY, 4/23/08, by Darlene you left no message NFM.
• Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY, 5/22/08, by Diana.
• Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY, 6/16/08, by Dani.

 
 
 

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