Your Classroom

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Home : 2001 : October : 28

Your Classroom
By HN

First of all, you are the teacher. You need a plan of action and consequences that will follow. It is YOUR classroom; you decide how you will run it. There also should be incentives for those who do follow the rules and
obey on a regular basis. I teach in a low-socioeconomical school district who there is VERY little respect for authority and you are pretty much looked at as the bad guy. They know how to punch your buttons and get you are fired up. It is what they want. Whatever system you come up with- document EVERYTHING! I carry a spiral notebook with me at all times. Each sheet has each and

every child's name on it. I document everything that disturbs me from teaching or disturbs others from learning. Usually there are several. Identify who they are and make sure they are at seperate points in the room- easily accessable, but away from the students who truly want to learn. This way they are not in the spot light- which is where they want to be. First, I will write a letter to be signed and returned. Document that you sent the letter on his/her page. Next I call home- two or three times a say if neccessary. Finally, when a student has gotten to the end of my rope and I have continually had to document behavior I take that student to the office- say I am trying to teach, but he/she is disturbing the learning of others and I want to know what they are going to do about it. I respect my children and their opinions, but some have not been taught respect and consequencly, do not know how to show it. Many will say that if you respect your students they will respect you. I believe this, BUT I also know that for the majority of the kids I teach I am that parental figure because they do not spend ANY time with their parents and respect is something that must be cultivated in a child. Good luck. You will find your niche. This is my third year and I just now feel like I know what I am half-way doing.