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Classroom Discipline Chatboard

Too sensitive? Or not doing enough w/ classroom management

by Moose

Nov 4, 2012

I have been a high school teacher for 16 years. I don't know if I have regressed with my management or I am getting more sensitive. My issues are sometimes kids want to make noises in class like whistling, tapping pencils, making music with their hands on the desk. Sometimes I feel if I address every little noise, I am giving them the attention the...See More

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good luck On 11/04/12, Moose wrote: > I have been a high school teacher for 16 years. I don't > know if I have regressed with my management or I am getting > more sensitive. My issues are sometimes kids want to make > noises in class like whistling, tapping pencils, making > music with their hands on the desk. Sometimes I feel if I > addres...See MoreOn 11/04/12, Moose wrote: > I have been a high school teacher for 16 years. I don't > know if I have regressed with my management or I am getting > more sensitive. My issues are sometimes kids want to make > noises in class like whistling, tapping pencils, making > music with their hands on the desk. Sometimes I feel if I > address every little noise, I am giving them the attention > they want and then others chime in. Do you ignore it or > address it each time?

I ignore minor disruptions - I don't expect total silence. It's not easy to be a young person with tons of energy and basically spend the day sitting in hard chairs. They get restless. And modern kids are very fidgety particularly in the periods right before lunch, right after lunch and the last period of the day.

But I tell them which is now sadly true that I don't hear well - I don't and so the side noises need to be kept to a minimum. Whistling would be completely inappropriate even if I could hear well.

What is your class doing? If you're trying to conduct a discussion, then whistling is rude. My response to that is "We're discussing here, why are you whistling?"

Tapping pencils - I say "that makes it hard for me to hear what Susan is saying." I recommend to fidgety kids that they get a big gum eraser and they can tap that - it makes no sounds. I show them how to constantly wiggle a foot but silently - I have to do just that in every faculty meeting to keep myself sitting for the long length of a faculty meeting.

they don't want attention - they want some relief from the boredom of a long school day. They'd much rather talk to you about what you said to one of them than discuss the material and for that reason alone, I don't invite trouble and do ignore minor disruptions. Binders drop - get a rug on the floor. No whistling - give me a break. Tapping makes it hard to hear, shake your foot instead and if you want to drum your hands on the desk, don't. Get gum erasers for the room and tell them they can borrow one to hold in their hand for the class. That tactile reference helps to 'ground' some of them.

Good luck.

Nov 4, 2012

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Talking

by Substitute Teacher

Nov 5, 2012

I am a substitute teacher (many years experience) who is too nice. Some people just have a certain aura about them and command respect whether it's out of fear or whatever. Although the kids really seem to like me they don't listen to me. I come across qas too nice.....they are not afraid of me and don't respect me. I can't change my personality. W...See More

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Sara On 11/05/12, Substitute Teacher wrote:

Practice making faces in the mirror - no kidding. Practice an angry face - you need to learn to fake anger that you're too nice to feel. With little ones, you need to fake a shocked face - little ones are usually quite easy to scare.

For older ones when I sub - and I'm nice by nature too - I...See More

Nov 5, 2012

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Substitute Teacher Thank you, Sara.

On 11/05/12, Sara wrote: > On 11/05/12, Substitute Teacher wrote: > > Practice making faces in the mirror - no kidding. Practice an > angry face - you need to learn to fake anger that you're too > nice to feel. With little ones, you need to fake a shocked > face - little ones are usually quite easy to sca...See More

Nov 9, 2012

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Discipline

by Tracey

Dec 11, 2012

I am a SPED teacher of 5th grade students. Their disabilities are mostly learning disabilities with a couple being emotionally disturbed. My classroom started off with just two students, now it's grown to nine. Of course, when it's was just two everything was peaceful. Now, as more students have been added, the atmosphere of the room has changed. T...See MoreI am a SPED teacher of 5th grade students. Their disabilities are mostly learning disabilities with a couple being emotionally disturbed. My classroom started off with just two students, now it's grown to nine. Of course, when it's was just two everything was peaceful. Now, as more students have been added, the atmosphere of the room has changed. There are seven boys and 2 girls. The students want to talk all day long!. On top of that, their personalities often clash with each other. It doesn't matter if we're doing something fun or just doing a reading comprehension passage that they may find boring. I often include technology lessons in my room to keep them engaged (particularly in Math). I have an assistant in the room who consistently fusses. I do discipline by taking away privileges and calling parents when necessary. My assistant is sometimes like a drill sargeant and often stresses herself out fussing. I'm opposite because I don't think that constantly yelling and going back and forth with students is the answer. However, I feel she gets better results sometimes (but, still only temporarily). One student told me that two of the boys feel they can get away with things moreso with me than the assistant because I don't fuss like she does. I feel like I'm losing control of some of them and need to know how to get the control back. They all realize I'm the teacher because I do all of the instruction but when they get into trouble (for example in the cafeteria) although I have already fussed them out she jumps on them again but in a rougher tone. I don't know if age plays a part because she has been at the school for many years and they can see she is much older. That shouldn't have anything to do with respect, however. One kid asked her if she could ever be nice. Do I need to handle more of the discipline? I feel it's ok for both of us to discipline because there are times when I'm not in the room with them because I'm at IEP meetings or some other meeting. Please advise.

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Vet Teacher On 12/11/12, Tracey wrote:

Let's first say that in the army officers have their top sergeants and they work as a team. The sergeants have a special toughness. The officer gives the orders, the sergeants see that the order is carried out.

Why can't the two of work like that? Your post is confusing in that you say you don't want he...See MoreOn 12/11/12, Tracey wrote:

Let's first say that in the army officers have their top sergeants and they work as a team. The sergeants have a special toughness. The officer gives the orders, the sergeants see that the order is carried out.

Why can't the two of work like that? Your post is confusing in that you say you don't want her being rough on the kids but then you go on to say you feel like you yourself are losing control of the class.

What is your goal? The reason you're given an aide in a SPED classroom is because it's thought that there should be an aide in the room to help with classroom management. She doesn't plan curriculum, does she? Classroom management is exactly what she's supposed to help with.

You say you do discipline by taking away privileges and calling parents - is that working or not? Do you feel like she's got control and you don't?

I'd agree that constantly scolding children causes them to disregard the constant scolding and it's wearing on the spirits. But - is the constant scolding she does working or not?

Do you have a building principal? I have a great one and I could take exactly this kind of problem to him. Is there a mentor teacher in your building? I think you'd get best advice from a building colleague. Good luck. > I am a SPED teacher of 5th grade students. Their > disabilities are mostly learning disabilities with a couple > being emotionally disturbed. My classroom started off with > just two students, now it's grown to nine. Of course, when > it's was just two everything was peaceful. Now, as more > students have been added, the atmosphere of the room has > changed. There are seven boys and 2 girls. The students > want to talk all day long!. On top of that, their > personalities often clash with each other. It doesn't > matter if we're doing something fun or just doing a reading > comprehension passage that they may find boring. I often > include technology lessons in my room to keep them engaged > (particularly in Math). I have an assistant in the room who > consistently fusses. I do discipline by taking away > privileges and calling parents when necessary. My assistant > is sometimes like a drill sargeant and often stresses > herself out fussing. I'm opposite because I don't think > that constantly yelling and going back and forth with > students is the answer. However, I feel she gets better > results sometimes (but, still only temporarily). One > student told me that two of the boys feel they can get away > with things moreso with me than the assistant because I > don't fuss like she does. I feel like I'm losing control of > some of them and need to know how to get the control back. > They all realize I'm the teacher because I do all of the > instruction but when they get into trouble (for example in > the cafeteria) although I have already fussed them out she > jumps on them again but in a rougher tone. I don't know if > age plays a part because she has been at the school for many > years and they can see she is much older. That shouldn't > have anything to do with respect, however. One kid asked > her if she could ever be nice. Do I need to handle more of > the discipline? I feel it's ok for both of us to discipline > because there are times when I'm not in the room with them > because I'm at IEP meetings or some other meeting. Please > advise. > > > > >

Dec 12, 2012

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pixie Tracey, you keep talking about negative responses to the misbehavior, but what about creating more incentives and rewards for good behavior? This can be anything from praising them any time they are doing what they should be doing, to creating a formal reward system. Research shows that positive rewards are much more motivating than negative conseq...See MoreTracey, you keep talking about negative responses to the misbehavior, but what about creating more incentives and rewards for good behavior? This can be anything from praising them any time they are doing what they should be doing, to creating a formal reward system. Research shows that positive rewards are much more motivating than negative consequences, and that praise itself is very powerful.

[link removed]

On 12/12/12, Vet Teacher wrote: > On 12/11/12, Tracey wrote: > > Let's first say that in the army officers have their top > sergeants and they work as a team. The sergeants have a > special toughness. The officer gives the orders, the sergeants > see that the order is carried out. > > Why can't the two of work like that? Your post is confusing in > that you say you don't want her being rough on the kids but > then you go on to say you feel like you yourself are losing > control of the class. > > What is your goal? The reason you're given an aide in a SPED > classroom is because it's thought that there should be an aide > in the room to help with classroom management. She doesn't > plan curriculum, does she? Classroom management is exactly > what she's supposed to help with. > > You say you do discipline by taking away privileges and > calling parents - is that working or not? Do you feel like > she's got control and you don't? > > I'd agree that constantly scolding children causes them to > disregard the constant scolding and it's wearing on the > spirits. But - is the constant scolding she does working or > not? > > Do you have a building principal? I have a great one and I > could take exactly this kind of problem to him. Is there a > mentor teacher in your building? I think you'd get best advice > from a building colleague. > Good luck. >> I am a SPED teacher of 5th grade students. Their >> disabilities are mostly learning disabilities with a couple >> being emotionally disturbed. My classroom started off with >> just two students, now it's grown to nine. Of course, when >> it's was just two everything was peaceful. Now, as more >> students have been added, the atmosphere of the room has >> changed. There are seven boys and 2 girls. The students >> want to talk all day long!. On top of that, their >> personalities often clash with each other. It doesn't >> matter if we're doing something fun or just doing a reading >> comprehension passage that they may find boring. I often >> include technology lessons in my room to keep them engaged >> (particularly in Math). I have an assistant in the room who >> consistently fusses. I do discipline by taking away >> privileges and calling parents when necessary. My assistant >> is sometimes like a drill sargeant and often stresses >> herself out fussing. I'm opposite because I don't think >> that constantly yelling and going back and forth with >> students is the answer. However, I feel she gets better >> results sometimes (but, still only temporarily). One >> student told me that two of the boys feel they can get away >> with things moreso with me than the assistant because I >> don't fuss like she does. I feel like I'm losing control of >> some of them and need to know how to get the control back. >> They all realize I'm the teacher because I do all of the >> instruction but when they get into trouble (for example in >> the cafeteria) although I have already fussed them out she >> jumps on them again but in a rougher tone. I don't know if >> age plays a part because she has been at the school for many >> years and they can see she is much older. That shouldn't >> have anything to do with respect, however. One kid asked >> her if she could ever be nice. Do I need to handle more of >> the discipline? I feel it's ok for both of us to discipline >> because there are times when I'm not in the room with them >> because I'm at IEP meetings or some other meeting. Please >> advise. >> >> >> >> >>

Dec 23, 2012

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Why My Students Disrespected Me

by Teachers.Net Gazette - article

Dec 16, 2012

Click below.

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Understanding Boys - Please share this

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Dec 19, 2012

lease read and share the very short piece linked below. It is just the beginning of an important discussion.

We hope teachers here will share this and any other links to helpful resources related to educating boys in our society.

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The Root of Classroom Management

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Dec 20, 2012

Click below to read what teacher Joe Frisk has to say about successful classroom management.

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Tracey I think the nicer you are the more they take advantage.

On 12/20/12, Teachers.Net Gazette wrote: > Click below to read what teacher Joe Frisk has to say about > successful classroom management.

Jan 4, 2013

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Discipline vrs. Intelligence

by AN0N

Dec 26, 2012

Discipline vrs. Intelligence If, in your class, you have, or suspect, a student has a very high I.Q. it is urgent that you warn others, especially coaches or other “physical dominant” staff members that they MUST not use C.P. or physically threatening methods of discipline. The reaction by them is often unending fear of “educators”, hiding ...See More

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Oh no no...are you that spanking perv? No way, not clicking your link, hope Bob reports you to the police.

On 1/02/13, op wrote: >> Not clear why you're here lecturing people about >> something that happened before many of us were even >> born. >

Jan 3, 2013

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Robert R.-IA Intelligence shouldn't be punished or ridiculed but nurtured and encouraged. It is unfortunate that some teachers are intimidated by the very thing they wish to inspire and develop.

There is a pattern which exist, students with High IQ's and creativity do drop out of school at an alarming rate. Very few become Bill Gates.

Mind yo...See More

Feb 8, 2013

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"Hurt People Hurt People"

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Jan 2, 2013

Excerpt:

"From the nationally publicized shootings, to the frequently occurring weapons and assault charges, to the widespread bullying epidemic, and vandalism, schools have angry, hostile, frustrated students who have vengeance and retaliation as their underlying motivation."

Click below to read the rest.

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Bathroom Issue

by Karen

Jan 2, 2013

An issue has arisen just today at my daughter's high school and I wanted to get some opinions on it.

It all started back before Christmas Vacation. Because of all the time they missed due to Hurricane Sandy, the school changed the last day of school before Christmas vacation to a full day when they usually only have half a day. A lot of g...See MoreAn issue has arisen just today at my daughter's high school and I wanted to get some opinions on it.

It all started back before Christmas Vacation. Because of all the time they missed due to Hurricane Sandy, the school changed the last day of school before Christmas vacation to a full day when they usually only have half a day. A lot of girls, including my daughter, were upset about that. A bunch of girls protested by clogging up quite a few of the toilets in the girls' rooms. I'm told that they unravelling huge amounts of toilet paper into the the toilets and then flushed them and made them overflow. As I understand it, they did this to over half of the girls' room toilets in the school.

The principal was livid about this and demanded that the names of those girls who did this be turned over to her. She warned of "serious consequences" if the guilty parties were not identified. Apparently, they never were identified.

Today, as they returned from Christmas Vacation, the girls got a taste of those consquences. Over the break, she had the doors removed from the individual toilet stalls in all the girls' rooms in the school. As my daughter describes it, all the toilet stalls are now completely open in the front of you don't have any privacy when using the toilet. Today, my daughter came running home to the bathroom after holding it in all day in school. She says she'd rather go in her pants than use the toilet like this. Now, I certainly doubt that's true but she was truely quite desperate as she went running for the bathroom as she got home from school this afternoon.

My question is whether it's even legal to take the stall doors off the toilets in the girls' rooms. I know that boys' rooms are often like that (I'm told that the boys' rooms at my daughter's school have always lacked doors on the stalls), but I always thought that the girls' rooms where required to have doors on the stalls. I can assure you that my daughter isn't the only girl upset by this lack of privacy and I seriously doubt that she's the only one who's going to be avoiding using the girls' rooms in school. The principal explained the new policy today and she promised that the privacy doors would remain off the stalls until she had the names of those girls responsible for clogging the toilets before Christmas break.

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Sonia V. Sounds like a questionable practice to me. I am sure the principal is desparate for the names of the guilty students. At my school, the names would have surfaced really quick as there are posters around our school, that students may turn in names anyonmously to the resource officer at our school and receive a # for the tip and if found valid, they ...See More

Jan 31, 2013

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Lisa E. On 1/02/13, Karen wrote: > An issue has arisen just today at my daughter's high > school and I wanted to get some opinions on it. > > It all started back before Christmas Vacation. Because > of all the time they missed due to Hurricane Sandy, the > school changed the last day of school before Christmas > vacation to a full day ...See MoreOn 1/02/13, Karen wrote: > An issue has arisen just today at my daughter's high > school and I wanted to get some opinions on it. > > It all started back before Christmas Vacation. Because > of all the time they missed due to Hurricane Sandy, the > school changed the last day of school before Christmas > vacation to a full day when they usually only have half a > day. A lot of girls, including my daughter, were upset > about that. A bunch of girls protested by clogging up > quite a few of the toilets in the girls' rooms. I'm told > that they unravelling huge amounts of toilet paper into the > the toilets and then flushed them and made them overflow. > As I understand it, they did this to over half of the > girls' room toilets in the school. > > The principal was livid about this and demanded that > the names of those girls who did this be turned over to > her. She warned of "serious consequences" if the guilty > parties were not identified. Apparently, they never were > identified. > > Today, as they returned from Christmas Vacation, the > girls got a taste of those consquences. Over the break, > she had the doors removed from the individual toilet stalls > in all the girls' rooms in the school. As my daughter > describes it, all the toilet stalls are now completely open > in the front of you don't have any privacy when using the > toilet. Today, my daughter came running home to the > bathroom after holding it in all day in school. She says > she'd rather go in her pants than use the toilet like this. > Now, I certainly doubt that's true but she was truely quite > desperate as she went running for the bathroom as she got > home from school this afternoon. > > My question is whether it's even legal to take the > stall doors off the toilets in the girls' rooms. I know > that boys' rooms are often like that (I'm told that the > boys' rooms at my daughter's school have always lacked > doors on the stalls), but I always thought that the girls' > rooms where required to have doors on the stalls. I can > assure you that my daughter isn't the only girl upset by > this lack of privacy and I seriously doubt that she's the > only one who's going to be avoiding using the girls' rooms > in school. The principal explained the new policy today and > she promised that the privacy doors would remain off the > stalls until she had the names of those girls responsible > for clogging the toilets before Christmas break. Karen, Regardless if this is legal or not, it is completely unacceptable. Teenage girls have enough problems dealing with their changing bodies, self-esteem, and forming identities without having to use the toilet publicly. Even locker rooms have doors on toilet stalls. What about dealing with issues of menstruation? This is absurd to me. Beyond that, many of the young women being punished are innocent. I take it the principle has a door on her bathroom? If I were a parent, I would be extremely upset. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

Feb 13, 2013

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