Tutoring and Classroom Management

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

Classroom Discipline

MEMBERS

16 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Classroom Discipline Chatboard

Tutoring and Classroom Management

by Candy

Feb 3, 2013

I recently got a weekend job as a new tutor who helps kids with the reading comprehension part of the NYS ELA exam. Someone else does the writing part. I have 12 kids from grades 3-8 all in one class for one hour. Besides struggling to write up differentiated lessons for the various grade level students, I am also struggling with classroom management. I have 2 third graders who cannot stay in their seats and wander around the room every minute. They also speak out of turn. I am having a hard time tutoring students' work when these kids are distracting the class. It's only been day 3, and I fear that soon others will follow. I want to try to be the best tutor and help the students who want to learn, but I can't even hear myself talking because of the distractions. I have tried to be stern, but it hasn't worked. So I have a few questions: How could I handle the near constant disruptions (talking out of turn, getting out of the seat constantly)? Also, what is the best way to teach the var...See More

Comment

(8)

report post

view previous comments

Lisa E. On 2/03/13, Candy wrote: > I recently got a weekend job as a new tutor who helps kids > with the reading comprehension part of the NYS ELA exam. > Someone else does the writing part. I have 12 kids from > grades 3-8 all in one class for one hour. Besides > struggling to write up differentiated lessons for the > various grade level...See MoreOn 2/03/13, Candy wrote: > I recently got a weekend job as a new tutor who helps kids > with the reading comprehension part of the NYS ELA exam. > Someone else does the writing part. I have 12 kids from > grades 3-8 all in one class for one hour. Besides > struggling to write up differentiated lessons for the > various grade level students, I am also struggling with > classroom management. I have 2 third graders who cannot > stay in their seats and wander around the room every > minute. They also speak out of turn. I am having a hard > time tutoring students' work when these kids are > distracting the class. It's only been day 3, and I fear > that soon others will follow. I want to try to be the best > tutor and help the students who want to learn, but I can't > even hear myself talking because of the distractions. I > have tried to be stern, but it hasn't worked. So I have a > few questions: How could I handle the near constant > disruptions (talking out of turn, getting out of the seat > constantly)? Also, what is the best way to teach the > various grade levels what they need to know? I try giving > them different work sheets that meet the different > standards, but it's overwhelming. Also, is there a good > website that may help with the reading? I prefer a site > with short reading passages since it's quicker to read and > tutor with. I hope someone can give me some advice. I'm a > new reading comprehension tutor. Thanks. Hi Candy,

My advice would be to work with what you've got. Teaching multi-grade levels can be extremely challenging, but it can also be a valuable opportunity for some great learning experiences between students. Maybe you could devise activities that enable you to partner an older student with a younger student for half of the class time. That way, you can maintain that after one part of the class is done, students will be allowed to leave seats(ONLY THEN) to find their buddy and get to work on partner reading, or a game, or whatever activity you devise for your students. Make it known that getting out of seats before that time is unacceptable, and that taking time away from your lesson will take time away from buddy time. Also, if students are getting out of seats for a purpose, like sharpening pencils, devise a procedure that helps each student be in seat, pencil sharpened, and ready to learn before you begin teaching. (Some teachers have a can of sharpened pencils and one to place unsharpened pencils for ready use in the classroom)Make that procedure the routine in the classroom. Good Luck!

Feb 13, 2013

report post

Devin M. - STout I definitely believe that breaking them up into small groups or individuals with kids who distract others is a bad way to go about it. Having to deal with different levels can be difficult but making games that they can be involved in is probably the best way. When they have a goal to achieve and some type of reward to go after, the students who ru...See More

Feb 14, 2013

report post

Toni On 2/03/13, Candy wrote: > I recently got a weekend job as a new tutor who helps kids > with the reading comprehension part of the NYS ELA exam. > Someone else does the writing part. I have 12 kids from > grades 3-8 all in one class for one hour. Besides > struggling to write up differentiated lessons for the > various grade level...See MoreOn 2/03/13, Candy wrote: > I recently got a weekend job as a new tutor who helps kids > with the reading comprehension part of the NYS ELA exam. > Someone else does the writing part. I have 12 kids from > grades 3-8 all in one class for one hour. Besides > struggling to write up differentiated lessons for the > various grade level students, I am also struggling with > classroom management. I have 2 third graders who cannot > stay in their seats and wander around the room every > minute. They also speak out of turn. I am having a hard > time tutoring students' work when these kids are > distracting the class. It's only been day 3, and I fear > that soon others will follow. I want to try to be the best > tutor and help the students who want to learn, but I can't > even hear myself talking because of the distractions. I > have tried to be stern, but it hasn't worked. So I have a > few questions: How could I handle the near constant > disruptions (talking out of turn, getting out of the seat > constantly)? Also, what is the best way to teach the > various grade levels what they need to know? I try giving > them different work sheets that meet the different > standards, but it's overwhelming. Also, is there a good > website that may help with the reading? I prefer a site > with short reading passages since it's quicker to read and > tutor with. I hope someone can give me some advice. I'm a > new reading comprehension tutor. Thanks.

Hi Candy, This sounds like a very challenging situation. With the kids being so easily distracted, I wonder if using techniques that aid with ADD/ADHD would be helpful. Structure, operating agreements and rewards could be helpful, too. Start by asking the group to come up with and agree upon behaviors that they can commit to and are appropriate for the situation. Then, review the agreements at the start of each session and have them hold each other accountable to the behaviors. Finally, offer rewards frequently. i.e., If you focus for 10 minutes, you can play an educational game for two minute. Good luck! Toni

Feb 14, 2013

report post

Candy Thank you for all the detailed advice!! That's just what I was looking for. I appreciate it! You guys rock

Feb 14, 2013

report post

Carla L On 2/03/13, Candy wrote: > I recently got a weekend job as a new tutor who helps kids > with the reading comprehension part of the NYS ELA exam. > Someone else does the writing part. I have 12 kids from > grades 3-8 all in one class for one hour. Besides > struggling to write up differentiated lessons for the > various grade level...See MoreOn 2/03/13, Candy wrote: > I recently got a weekend job as a new tutor who helps kids > with the reading comprehension part of the NYS ELA exam. > Someone else does the writing part. I have 12 kids from > grades 3-8 all in one class for one hour. Besides > struggling to write up differentiated lessons for the > various grade level students, I am also struggling with > classroom management. I have 2 third graders who cannot > stay in their seats and wander around the room every > minute. They also speak out of turn. I am having a hard > time tutoring students' work when these kids are > distracting the class. It's only been day 3, and I fear > that soon others will follow. I want to try to be the best > tutor and help the students who want to learn, but I can't > even hear myself talking because of the distractions. I > have tried to be stern, but it hasn't worked. So I have a > few questions: How could I handle the near constant > disruptions (talking out of turn, getting out of the seat > constantly)? Also, what is the best way to teach the > various grade levels what they need to know? I try giving > them different work sheets that meet the different > standards, but it's overwhelming. Also, is there a good > website that may help with the reading? I prefer a site > with short reading passages since it's quicker to read and > tutor with. I hope someone can give me some advice. I'm a > new reading comprehension tutor. Thanks.

Hi Candy-

Wow- that really sounds like you are set up for a tough time with that many different grade levels all in one group! My first start might be to positively reinforce the heck out of the students who are raising their hands, staying in their seats and following direction. Maybe even with little dollar store prizes or something. Try that for a few days and see if the wanders catch on. I am not exactly sure what you have set up or if you have any help in the classroom, but I wonder if maybe some of the 8th graders could help out the 3rd graders.....maybe on a warm up activity in the beginning of the class to give you a few minutes to set up everything else you need. Then the 3rd graders are getting the assistance they need, and hopefully building some confidence in the 8th graders. Good luck~ Carla L

Feb 17, 2013

report post