Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY
Posted by Diana on 5/22/08

Don't feel bad. They do not stop with the "I don't get it" nor
the rude interruptions even in high school. Think hard about
what you are about to do. You can do it with much persistence
and firmness.
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.
• Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY, 7/19/08, by Susan.
• Re: Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY (long), 7/23/08, by Kim in CA 4th grade.