I've posted here several times before and you guys have given me great advice. I'm a first year teacher in a high poverty school, teaching 8th grade. I have struggled a LOT with classroom management
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YES, all good advice. Love & Logic is my Bible for middle school. Be fair & consistent. Pretend you like them as convincingly as you can--everybody wants to be liked, especially middle schoolers. Chat with them one on one at any opportunity...ask what they did over the weekend or whatever, just take an interest! Don't think of it as trying to get them to like YOU--some of them are so hardened to teachers after years of being hollered at and seen as a problem. Think of it as you learning to like THEM. Before you know it, you may even start to genuinely enjoy them from time to time
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Several have mentioned to me I "can't be their friend" in their letters. No, I don't think I act friend like, but I always ask how their weekends went, tell them to have a good day at the end of the day as they leave, smile at them as they come in....I was a huge believer in positivity and respect before I came here. But, they take all that, including saying please and thank you, as evidence that I am soft and need to be "more aggressive". They are, quite simply, the students from hell. I have several great students and I feel guilty I can't do more for them.
I don't think I want to teach anymore, but I am not sure. I have had a very hard time. I have been desperately unhappy all year. Thank you for the advice! It is nice to know even people that have been teaching a while have their rough days.
You are so right...they are kids and I shouldn't let what they think hurt me. I have to keep that in mind!
I am going to start sending more out. I was told by admin to wait until after CRCT, but oh well. I've got to do what I've got to do, and sending out those kids will probably help the whole class.
If you haven't read Love and Logic, I highly recommend it. It's a way to be strict without the screaming - you don't get walked on, but you don't have to turn in to uber-bitch, either.
I've told classes before that if their behavior warrants removal, I will send every one of them out. I've never had to remove more than three kids before the rest settled down (some because they realized I was serious, but most because without the instigators around, they had nothing to react to - SO much of the trouble in a class is kids who are not bad themselves reacting to a few determinedly disruptive students).
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I don't think I want to teach anymore, but I am not sure. I have had a very hard time. I have been desperately unhappy all year. Thank you for the advice! It is nice to know even people that have been teaching a while have their rough days.
Reply
I am going to start sending more out. I was told by admin to wait until after CRCT, but oh well. I've got to do what I've got to do, and sending out those kids will probably help the whole class.
Reply
I've told classes before that if their behavior warrants removal, I will send every one of them out. I've never had to remove more than three kids before the rest settled down (some because they realized I was serious, but most because without the instigators around, they had nothing to react to - SO much of the trouble in a class is kids who are not bad themselves reacting to a few determinedly disruptive students).
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