(no subject)
Apparently one of my biggest pet peeves is disrespect.
This seems like a no-brainer, I know, but today I began my week with Team Bog, ten fifth-graders, and for the second time this year I feel like I'm totally losing my cool. (And yes, we're only on day 1.)
When I talk, they talk to each other. And/or they turn their backs. And/or they wander away. And/or they interupt me, usually with something that is nowhere close to what I'm talking about. When I ask a question, they answer me with silence. When I ask them to walk, they run. When I ask them to please-for-the-love-of-cheese not ask me when we're going back to the lodges... well, you get the idea.
The worst part is that I can't tell where their disrespect stems from. It certainly doesn't seem to involve anything they have against me, or authority figures in general. I think they just aren't expected to act a certain way, and now I expect it, and it's new. Or something.
I have all the strategies I need for teaching to different learning styles, or phrasing the same thing a thousand different ways. What I need are tools to keep my head from exploding when faced with behavior issues.
It's only nine o'clock, but tomorrow is Harbor Day, and Team Bog is starting out with a nice long chat about what my expectations are and how we can make this week great. Yippee.
(In unrelated news, my friend from the car accident is in a fortunate situation and is getting another car through his family. All is well.)
This seems like a no-brainer, I know, but today I began my week with Team Bog, ten fifth-graders, and for the second time this year I feel like I'm totally losing my cool. (And yes, we're only on day 1.)
When I talk, they talk to each other. And/or they turn their backs. And/or they wander away. And/or they interupt me, usually with something that is nowhere close to what I'm talking about. When I ask a question, they answer me with silence. When I ask them to walk, they run. When I ask them to please-for-the-love-of-cheese not ask me when we're going back to the lodges... well, you get the idea.
The worst part is that I can't tell where their disrespect stems from. It certainly doesn't seem to involve anything they have against me, or authority figures in general. I think they just aren't expected to act a certain way, and now I expect it, and it's new. Or something.
I have all the strategies I need for teaching to different learning styles, or phrasing the same thing a thousand different ways. What I need are tools to keep my head from exploding when faced with behavior issues.
It's only nine o'clock, but tomorrow is Harbor Day, and Team Bog is starting out with a nice long chat about what my expectations are and how we can make this week great. Yippee.
(In unrelated news, my friend from the car accident is in a fortunate situation and is getting another car through his family. All is well.)