Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY

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Needy Students Driving Me CRAZY

by Gayle

Feb 22, 2008

/blockquote>

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 stud...See More

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Darlene you left no message NFM /blockquote>

On 4/22/08, Darlene wrote:
> 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 4t...See More

Apr 23, 2008

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Diana /blockquote>

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? Becau...See More

May 22, 2008

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Dani /blockquote>

>>> 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 ...See More

Jun 16, 2008

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Susan On 2/27/08, MMM 2nd grade teacher Florida wrote: > I'm in my second YEAR of teaching (2nd grade this year) and this > EXACT situation fits me to a T.....I have kids that CONSTANTLY > get out of their seat to interrupt me, EVEN WHEN i'm talking to > an ADULT>..and i find myself snapping...explaining how > inconsiderate and rude it ...See MoreOn 2/27/08, MMM 2nd grade teacher Florida wrote: > I'm in my second YEAR of teaching (2nd grade this year) and this > EXACT situation fits me to a T.....I have kids that CONSTANTLY > get out of their seat to interrupt me, EVEN WHEN i'm talking to > an ADULT>..and i find myself snapping...explaining how > inconsiderate and rude it is to interrupt ANYONE..let alone an > ADULT..and how they are also breaking one of our class rules and > the AGREEMENT we signed at the beginning of the year...One of > the consequences is to put their name on the board and if they > end up with 2 checks they will miss our FUn friday celebration. > I have tried so many things with this class..that Positive > reinforcement is the closest thing to working that i've > gotten...and we're already 3/4 of the way through the school > year....and i'm seriously losing my mind too. I also pass out > gold coins to reward positive behaiviors..and the students can > cash in their coins at the end of hte week in the treasure box > if they have a total of 10...otherwise htey have to be saved for > next week. (Sorry about the typos...i'm typing extremely fast > right now) > > Anyway..just wanted to let you know that after 2 years...i'm > going through the same thing...and it seems to differ from class > to class. My class last year was absolutely nothing like this. > I actually thought their behavior was bad...but when I got this > class I realized it was nowhere near this...and that honestly > last year I was being hard on myself! If anyone has suggestions, > I will GLADLY take ANY suggestions because I have been pulling > my hair out ALL YEAR. I separated all of my groups today and > made my students move their desks into straight rows..which they > will remain in until after Spring Break..until they can prove > they can follow directions..and I told them we will not be > playing fun games..just doing paper work ..so they can see how > good they had it before..(I know it may sound harsh..but the > students act so unappreciative all the time and very > disrespectful to me and each other.) We did a lot of hands-on > stuff before (that's the way I normally teach)- but they're > probably going to be in for a lot more boredom over the next > couple weeks...honestly. > > I'm a little frustrated because just when I have a system in > place, I end up getting another new student...I've gotten like 6 > new students this school year...and lost like 2..now at a total > of 21.which isn't bad compared to some states, but the > inconsistency is just ridiculous! (The coming and going isn't > helping the classroom management!) > > MMM-2nd grade teacher > > 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?

July/08

boy do I know what you are talking about! UGH What has helped me is this........ I have a leader of the day and a student of the week. The student who wants to interrupt me (usually during guided reading) They have to: 1. They ask the leader of the day 2. If the leader does not know, they ask the student of the week 3. If neither of them know, they can ask anyone at their learning table. 4. THEN, if none of those students could help, they hold up a red piece of construction paper to get my attention.Then I will help.

(if they come to me without permission, they have to sign their name in a spirol notebook( I do not get up from my teaching table) at the end of the guided reading time their name goes on the board.

Has worked so far......... Hope this helps Susan

Jul 19, 2008

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Kim in CA 4th grade I notice that the original poster talked about a period of direct instruction and of practice, but do you have a chunk of time dedicated to the students showing you that they can master the concept before they move on to the independent practice. Have you thought of using whiteboards? In math especially I teach the brief lesson- broken into steps l...See MoreI notice that the original poster talked about a period of direct instruction and of practice, but do you have a chunk of time dedicated to the students showing you that they can master the concept before they move on to the independent practice. Have you thought of using whiteboards? In math especially I teach the brief lesson- broken into steps like you mentioned. After that we practice together- I'll do a problem and pick a non-volunteer or two to randomly to fill in parts that I leave out- usually on the overhead or main whiteboard. Then I give them some work to "show me" that they've got it. When I can see most of them have finished, I say "1, 2, 3, Show me." This prevents them from copying. In that brief couple of minutes I can see who's got it and can set them loose on the independent practice while I work with the small group that didn't get it yet. If more than about 20% of my class doesn't get it, then it is my fault and I repeat the steps, we do another problem together...etc.

As far as the interrupting situation, I usually joke with the rest of the class about it. Something like a think aloud, " Hmm, this morning when I awoke, I only had one shadow, but now it seems I have two... I wonder why that is... hmm." I continue to go about my business as if that student doesn't exist until they go back to their seat and raise their hands at which point I acknowledge them with a joyful response to their concern. Usually after one or two attempts at getting in my face to get the information, the rest of the kids in the class will call out the word "shadow" and they get a kick out of it while the realization that this is a behavior that even their peers don't condone makes them stop altogether.

We also have a rule in class that states that students are to be problem solvers. This means that if they have a problem with something and didn't do all they could to solve it independently, they'll have a consequence for it. I repeat a little rhyme :Ask three before you ask me. This means they need to try to figure it out with the help of three students in their immediate vicinity. If those students can't help them, then I make it a point to do it myself.

On 7/19/08, Susan wrote: > On 2/27/08, MMM 2nd grade teacher Florida wrote: >> I'm in my second YEAR of teaching (2nd grade this year) and this >> EXACT situation fits me to a T.....I have kids that CONSTANTLY >> get out of their seat to interrupt me, EVEN WHEN i'm talking to >> an ADULT>..and i find myself snapping...explaining how >> inconsiderate and rude it is to interrupt ANYONE..let alone an >> ADULT..and how they are also breaking one of our class rules and >> the AGREEMENT we signed at the beginning of the year...One of >> the consequences is to put their name on the board and if they >> end up with 2 checks they will miss our FUn friday celebration. >> I have tried so many things with this class..that Positive >> reinforcement is the closest thing to working that i've >> gotten...and we're already 3/4 of the way through the school >> year....and i'm seriously losing my mind too. I also pass out >> gold coins to reward positive behaiviors..and the students can >> cash in their coins at the end of hte week in the treasure box >> if they have a total of 10...otherwise htey have to be saved for >> next week. (Sorry about the typos...i'm typing extremely fast >> right now)

>>> 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.

Jul 23, 2008

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