SIT DOWN & SHUT UP!!

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SIT DOWN & SHUT UP!!
By VAL IN PENNSYLVANIA

Rebecca-
Count with me 1....2....3...(Now breathe in.....out....)Good! Feeling better? Now listen,
you may not like my suggestion but...
YOU NEED TO START ALL OVER!! You don't menrion if you're a first year teacher
or not but you have the CLASSIC SIGNS that you are. A simple rule of thumb...YOU CAN'T REACH THE HEAD UNTIL YOU REACH THE HEART!! I HEAR your frustration. But I'm not the one. Your STUDENTS have to HEAR and SEE it. These ae not babies, they're 6th graders! Perhaps you must go back and erase your "Preconceived Ideas About Private School." KIDS ARE KIDS no matter where they are

housed. Your first and MOST IMPORTANT lesson is to teach your students that you care about them. TALK to them. Share your frustration. Do journal writing (you also) and have share rime. LET THEM SEE HOW FRUSTRATED YOU ARE. I'm sure there are a FEW that are "workable". Get to them. Don't BUY their good behavior, but rather have them take ownership of their behavior. Once they see you as a PERSON and not just their teacher, things will get better. Your attitude about your class must FIRST CHANGE. (I know that's not easy. I have the class from hades this year!!) Talk to colleagues and ask for suggestions. Someone should be "mentoring" you and helping yu get through this difficult time. Feel free to email me for encouragement. Anything I can do to help. I'm here.
DON'T GIVE UP TEACHING!! THERE'S NO PROFESSION MORE NOBLE OR REWARDING!!
PHILLY_TEACHER@hotmail.com