AboutTracy Chatters Expertise I can answer questions related to classroom discipline for middle and high school, student motivation, rewards plans, creating an exciting classroom environment and planning field trips to enhance curriculum.
Experience I am a CA credentialed secondary teacher with 5 years classroom experience. I have designed my own social studies curriculum to include exciting hands-on activities, role-playing and other events that make kids want to learn. I have taken more than 100 students on exciting educational field trips including Washington DC, Ashland OR, and all over California. I currently train new teachers how to create a positive classroom environment.
Organizations CANEC
Education/Credentials CA Secondary Authorization for Social Studies, Spanish and Russian
Expert: Tracy Chatters Date: 9/13/2007 Subject: My class
Question Hello Tracy,
I read your profile and I think you the person, who can help me out.
I just got a job in high school as a teacher. This is my first experience of teaching. It’s been about fours weeks I had joined the school. First two weeks were great I had 7th grade students to teach, they were getting good along with me, I had no major discipline problem or others, but now they gave me 6th grade ( as their teacher left the school who was a male a very strict person ) . Now the problem starts I start being friendly with them, told them we will decorate class, talk, play games enjoy too etc etc ………….but somehow they not understand polite language, three things I must mention here
1:- most of children comes from very poor background, their parents uneducated (yes really!) for some extend criminal too, these kids are beaten by their father / brothers at home for sure.
2:- I am not the only person having complaints about this class, the other entire teacher who teach them have same experience.
3:- in my school physical punishment is allowed, so other teachers use that option , so kids are used to it and not listen to you when u just use polite language , and not bother to obey u when u shout or use firm language .
Now about the problem……. I am teaching Mathematics to them, most of student can do it if they TRY, which they never do……. I have about 27 students, 9 girls other boys. I tried hard to make them do their class work and homework, but what happened? After one week their notebooks were all empty, no one bothered to do what they were asked for, they have no problem in my teaching method they do understand what I teach them, they do solve questions on blackboard happily n with no problem, but that create lot discipline problem, because all are standing n shouting in class when I ask anyone to come to blackboard, anyway I start being strict to them, few students gave response n start working, then I start giving physical punishment n being very strict to them all…….others start working too……
But I hate it, I hate to shout or give them physical punishment, but they not listen if I don’t…….i am very kind n loving person really, n when I give them physical punishment I feel crying myself, n when I shout I feel my head will blow into many pieces, but those kids have no effect of that all, one moment they will sit quite n listen to me, one day they will do their homework n next day they same again …….
When I am teaching they not listening……later keep making excuses u not explain this or that….. They will wander here and there in class, they have no notebooks to write on, they have no pencils etc (just lame excuses I mean)……..
Tell me how I can really make them WORK at least if I can not solve their behaviour problem.
If I won’t give them physical punishment other teachers will continue.
If they wont complete their assignments , parents and principal blames teachers only , I tried to write notes for parents too, but no parents bother to sign on it ( actually they can not read what I write becoz uneducated )……..
I really love kids lot and it hurt me to hurt them…… can u please suggest what should I do?
Thanks for listening…….
Mano.
Answer Mano-
Thanks for asking, I hope I can help. You have a lot of different problems all going on in the same room which is difficult. Let's start with the basics-
1) I do not think that physical punishment works in the long-term. It may stop the behavior immediately but it does not create a learning environment that will encourage your students to be motivated. You have to find a way to show your students that education is the ticket out of the life they are currently living. I'd start with this- ask your students what they want most out of life? What do they want to be/do, in their wildest dreams? Many of them probably see that they will be the same as their parents and there is no hope. YOU have to give them hope. Find out what their dreams are, then motivate them. Read them stories of success from others who have been in their situation. Challenge them to compare their lives to others. What does that person have that you don't? How do you think they got it? What do you need to do to get there?
2) Call a parent meeting. Scrounge up every last penny you can find and serve refreshments. Even if just 3 parents show up, you've made a personal connection. Tell them what your goals are for the students and ask for their help. Teaching is a triangle between you, the parent and the student so you really need them on board. Until you have students working better, take homework off the table all together.
3) Create a positive rewards system for your students, as a group. You need to use peer pressure to encourage good behavior rather than bad behavior. What would motivate them? Would a party, decorations, new books, free time, a soccer game against teachers, embarrassing you in some way, get them to work? I've seen students work insanely hard to get a teacher to dye their hair, shave it all off or eat a bug. You sound like you're willing to do whatever it takes so be creative.
4) Consider something really radical. I have actually taken a group of problem students on a tour of the morgue and a group of girls to a female detention jail. You are essentially giving them a choice between education and the "other" side.
Your students will come around when they see that you genuinely care and are not going to desert them. Most of your kids are probably used to being abandoned and hurt so they see no reason why you are different. It will take time and a lot of emotional investment on your part, but it sounds like you can do it.
Best of luck and please write again if you need more ideas.
