classroom management

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classroom management

by anon

Aug 27, 2015

Kinda long post - sorry - need your opinions!

Been teaching more than 20 years at the elementary level, most in the same building. When teachers come at the end of class and ask for a report, I tell the truth. Usually something like, Most kids were super listeners today! When necessary, something like, Tom, Susie, and Hunter had trouble following directions, and I had to give them warnings. Typical, right? Well... new principal. No elementary experience - has been in the district a while as both teacher and admin but at the middle school level. While I was giving such a report the other day, principal interrupted me, pulled me aside, and said we aren't going to mention names in front of the other students. I was too stunned to question anything. After school, principal stopped into my room to "touch base." Said it was obvious I was taken by surprise, apologized that this topic hasn't been addressed with the whole staff, and wouldn't be until a staff meeting in about ...See MoreKinda long post - sorry - need your opinions!

Been teaching more than 20 years at the elementary level, most in the same building. When teachers come at the end of class and ask for a report, I tell the truth. Usually something like, Most kids were super listeners today! When necessary, something like, Tom, Susie, and Hunter had trouble following directions, and I had to give them warnings. Typical, right? Well... new principal. No elementary experience - has been in the district a while as both teacher and admin but at the middle school level. While I was giving such a report the other day, principal interrupted me, pulled me aside, and said we aren't going to mention names in front of the other students. I was too stunned to question anything. After school, principal stopped into my room to "touch base." Said it was obvious I was taken by surprise, apologized that this topic hasn't been addressed with the whole staff, and wouldn't be until a staff meeting in about a month, but this is the new philosophy. Has also told the recess aides that they can't put kids who misbehave "on the wall" but instead can subtly give them time out seated near an aide.

So... the few colleagues I've mentioned this to are also stunned. It's not like the rest of the kids don't know who was messing around. Often they tell me the same kids do the same things in their own classroom! I understand the idea of not shaming children, and when I need to speak to one about behavior issues that are ongoing, I pull them into the hall and never lecture individuals in front of the class. I'm a "just the facts ma'am" person too, no judgment here. However, children need to understand that there are consequences for misbehavior. I do not support keeping it a secret that a child receives a consequence for breaking rules.

Anyone else deal with this sort of mandate? How do you handle it? I guess I will start keeping a notepad by the door, quickly jotting down names for the teacher at the end of class when needed. I also need more information from principal - am I allowed to give warnings? Time outs? How do I correct rule breaking behavior without consequences? I'm already doing plenty of positive reinforcement with earning points, giving out positive behavior tickets to individuals, etc. But I need a tool on the other end. Thoughts? Thanks so much!!

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Charlotte I think I might compromise in this situation. It can be
effective to make sure kids know when their names are
going on "the list," so you can call attention to that in
your own classroom. As others have said, it's not as
though the other students don't already know who the
offenders are. Then, you can just hand the list to ...See More

Aug 28, 2015

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Lis The way we handle that at our school is the teacher has a consequence system in his/her classroom. The teacher brings the class roster with them on a clipboard. The school rules are posted on the clipboard with a corresponding number (as well as in every classroom, including mine). When a child has gotten two warnings, I put a "mark" on t...See MoreThe way we handle that at our school is the teacher has a consequence system in his/her classroom. The teacher brings the class roster with them on a clipboard. The school rules are posted on the clipboard with a corresponding number (as well as in every classroom, including mine). When a child has gotten two warnings, I put a "mark" on the clipboard by their name with the corresponding number. That way the teacher sees who was misbehaving and what rule they were breaking. (Sometimes it's more than one rule). It works well at our school.If the teacher wants to know more, they ask or I send an email later.

On 8/27/15, anon wrote: > Kinda long post - sorry - need your opinions! > > Been teaching more than 20 years at the elementary level, > most in the same building. When teachers come at the end of > class and ask for a report, I tell the truth. Usually > something like, Most kids were super listeners today! When > necessary, something like, Tom, Susie, and Hunter had > trouble following directions, and I had to give them > warnings. Typical, right? Well... new principal. No > elementary experience - has been in the district a while as > both teacher and admin but at the middle school level. > While I was giving such a report the other day, principal > interrupted me, pulled me aside, and said we aren't going > to mention names in front of the other students. I was too > stunned to question anything. After school, principal > stopped into my room to "touch base." Said it was obvious I > was taken by surprise, apologized that this topic hasn't > been addressed with the whole staff, and wouldn't be until > a staff meeting in about a month, but this is the new > philosophy. Has also told the recess aides that they can't > put kids who misbehave "on the wall" but instead can subtly > give them time out seated near an aide. > > So... the few colleagues I've mentioned this to are also > stunned. It's not like the rest of the kids don't know who > was messing around. Often they tell me the same kids do the > same things in their own classroom! I understand the idea > of not shaming children, and when I need to speak to one > about behavior issues that are ongoing, I pull them into > the hall and never lecture individuals in front of the > class. I'm a "just the facts ma'am" person too, no judgment > here. However, children need to understand that there are > consequences for misbehavior. I do not support keeping it a > secret that a child receives a consequence for breaking > rules. > > Anyone else deal with this sort of mandate? How do you > handle it? I guess I will start keeping a notepad by the > door, quickly jotting down names for the teacher at the end > of class when needed. I also need more information from > principal - am I allowed to give warnings? Time outs? How > do I correct rule breaking behavior without consequences? > I'm already doing plenty of positive reinforcement with > earning points, giving out positive behavior tickets to > individuals, etc. But I need a tool on the other end. > Thoughts? Thanks so much!!

Aug 28, 2015

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anon Thanks for all your comments, folks. I suppose I understand the philosophy, even though I think it's overly coddling the kids, and I'm now keeping the note pad, but I really wish principal had not addressed it right at that time. It would have been better to speak to me at a later time, and even better to address it with the whole staff together pr...See More

Aug 28, 2015

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Vivian Yes, it would have been better to address it to the entire staff at one time so that all ideas for handling misbehavior could be shared. Often the students that act out all the time do it for the attention. By not telling the teacher so they can hear, they don't get that attention.

The most common thing that happens is they will act out m...See More

Aug 28, 2015

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