Man, they're still talking

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2008 : February : 2

Man, they're still talking
By mt

in sixth grade, and it gets pretty bad. The thing about it is, it's so RUDE. They talk when the teacher is talking, they talk when a classmate is talking, they talk through announcements--aaaaggghhh!!!!

I love
the ideas about the tally marks. I come from elementary, but have been in middle school so long now that I've forgotton some of the best tricks from the lower grades. I have a few kids who will be starting tally sheets on Monday. Thanks for the reminder!

But what is really effective for me (I'm down now to just a few really hardcore cases) is a pointed letter home--I write really,

really good letters, the weekend-and-video-game-privilege-destroying kind. I lay it right out for the parents, and there is no doubt that things will change or the kid will fail/die. Parents don't know what their darlings are doing unless we tell them, so I tell them. 98% of them are horrified to learn that their child is considered rude or disobedient--they don't want that! Most parents really do try to raise good kids.

When the behavior changes, though, you must let parents know that, as well, and I always thank them for being a responsive and supportive parent. Now they love me to pieces, and anything I say about that kid is gospel, and the kid knows it. The results of this are very gratifying. If a child starts to mess up again, I just stop by his desk and murmur, "You know, your parents and I really, really like each other. If I write another letter home...." Mission accomplished.

But for my hardest cases, I'm using tally sheets! Thanks for the reminder!