I have been a school counselor for 4 years and have never had any trouble with classroom management when it comes to guidance lessons.
However, I am in a brand new inner city charter school this year and behavior is a concern overall for our school but there are a couple classes that I can not get a handle on. The one I am struggling with most is a 6th grade class. I never yell or belittle them but they are the most rude, disrespectful group of students I have every worked with. We can never even get through an entire 30 minute guidance lesson. They yell across the room, throw things at eachother, say horrible things to me (not so much at me but so that they know I can hear it), they do whatever they want. They simply do not care. I have mixed up the types of lessons I do, offered incentives, given prizes and candy, and of course all the other "normal" classroom management strategies.
DOes anyone have any ideas of how to get this class under control. I have to go in there once a week so I figure I better get a handle on it now. If anyone can provide any insight or suggestions that would be great!!!
...See MoreWhat are you teaching? Are they like this with their classroom teacher?
If they are like this with their classroom teacher, then it doesn't bode well that they'll settle for anyone else. Are they like this with their other special teachers?
I'd need answers to those three questions before even trying to make suggestions.
I am in the same situation, and I am feeling very hopeless! I have tried everything you have, from candy to every kind of motivational activity I can think of, and nothing's working. And yes, they are this way with all other teachers. They have gone so far as to have actual physical fights during this time, and have hit me as well. The only thing that seems to keep them relatively quiet is reading books. And anything that gives them a chance to shine. I did an activity where we passed around notecards and wrote compliments on them. I had each student write nice things about themselves and present it to the classroom, but to be honest with you, I'm looking for a career change!
Role playing with such young ones can help. The blurting out make take a while... the bad language can be more quickly curtailed. Some children hear such language at home and have no idea that it's 'bad' and those same children go home every night and hear it again. They need to hear and at school, there are 'home ways' and 'school ways' and sometimes they're the same and sometimes they're not. For example, we sleep at home but not at school. We wear pajamas at home but not at school. We watch tv at home but rarely at school. In the same way, there are expressions and words that might be used at home but are NOT used at school. And usually not used in public either because there are 'private ways' and 'public ways'. In private, we have our own ways but in public, we don't use 'bad words'. And school is public - does Teacher use bad words? No. Why? Because school is public and school ways and public ways mean 'no bad words'. Having explained that, then enforce it and on the playground especially but there's a rub. Many schools let their classroom teachers have breaks at playground time and put the kids in the hands of part-time aides who have NO training and low expectations. You won't teach children better ways if your classroom teachers aren't out on the playground too or at least someone has to be - someone higher up and who's really committed to the kids and the school. Chastising for the 'bad language' as in "Say that again and leave the bad words out, Tommy".
The impulse control takes longer too but there role-playing helps. Model it in a skit- these kids have NO idea there's another way to be other than pulsating, immediate emotional reaction. Teach them "Respond don't react" and show them the difference. Teach them how to resolve problems and how to discuss. All they know is to have an outburst, fight, and be angry - we're an increasingly angry society.
And have your teachers use the phrase especially when a child has angered or annoyed them. "Tommy, I'm upset but I'm going to respond and not react and ask you to sit down quietly until I'm not as upset as I am right now that you threw John's science project on the ground."
Make it a motto - Respond don't react. And help them to know they can not only survive but can prevail even if their every emotional whim is not immediately satisfied. We lives in time of immediate gratification - bored? Turn the channel with a flick of the button. The most valuable lesson we could teach in school is to deal with our feelings and learn that we can live through discomfort and work out ways to be be comfortable and live comfortably with each other.
School counselors are required to respond students who have experienced such situations as community and family violence, disaster, injury, and/or death to loved ones. Such situations often lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, hostility, and posttraumatic stress in students. However, school counselors are often not formally trained to respond to these issues.
I am a doctoral candidate, writing to ask for your participation in a survey study of trauma training in school counseling programs. This study is being conducted in order to determine how professional school counselors feel about this issue. My interest in this area stems from my nine years of experience as a school counselor responding to various types of student trauma and crises as well as consulting with colleagues having to address these issues.
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On 10/21/10, L...See MoreI'm looking for something to teach basic social and behavioral skills - conflict resolution, sharing, etc. I've seen a few programs that utilize a book and puppet, amongst other tools in a kit. I wanted to see if there was a specific kit or program that others have used.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
On 10/21/10, Lacey wrote: > I'm not sure what you mean by guidance system...can you > explain? Are you looking for canned programs? > > On 10/21/10, Arlene wrote: >> Hi all, I am looking into a new guidance system for my >> elementary school kids. Please let me know what you've found >> most useful. THANKS!
I've been searching for a good counseling kit for K-2 students. Something that will teach basic social and problem solving skills. Has anyone used or heard about this program?
On ...See MoreKelso's Choice is a great counseling tool. We use it on a district-wide level. I introduce it in Kindergarten and then we review the concepts in 1st grade. As the kids get older we teach Second Step and Steps to Respect. All the tools that come with the Kelso kit are useful, the kids love it when Kelso visits their classroom each week!
On 10/29/10, Tracy wrote: > Please do not use this forum as an advertising tool. > > On 10/29/10, Leah wrote: >> For more information on Kelly Bear than a catalog has, click below
On 11/02/10, Margo wrote: > Kelso's Choice is a great counseling tool. We use it on a district-wide > level. I introduce it in Kindergarten and then we review the concepts in > 1st grade. As the kids get older we teach Second Step and Steps to > Respect. All the tools that come with the Kelso kit are useful, the kids > love it when Kelso visits their classroom each week! > > On 10/29/10, Tracy wrote: >> Please do not use this forum as an advertising tool. >> >> On 10/29/10, Leah wrote: >>> For more information on Kelly Bear than a catalog has, click below
If they are like this with their classroom teacher, then it doesn't bode well that they'll settle for anyone else. Are they like this with their other special teachers?
I'd need answers to those three questions before even trying to make suggestions.
...See More