6th graders

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Home : 2002 : February : 14

6th graders
By Katherine

Here is how I handle sixth graders. I teach them BEBOP which is a simple kids secret language that is based on adding OP after every consonant and pronouncing every vowel long. example: hello would be spoken as Hop EE
Lop Lop Oh. Hi would be Hop I
I speak this language rapidly early in the day. I let them know that they could actually learn to speak this language before the day is over in 2 minute lessons. So, if they stay on task, I will teach them how to speak BEBOP 2 minutes at a time.
One of the bonus elements is that often "problem" students, or students who get distracted easily learn the

fastest. They beam as they catch on first. Fortunately, its really easy and most students can read, write and speak BEBOPby the end of the day.

Result: You have gone undercover and entered their little clique based world as the bringer of BEBOP. You remind them when they start acting up, oh, be careful, we're losing BEBOP time. You can even punctuate the other subjects with BEBOP. example: Where is China? Asia? Right. Can anyone say China in BEBOP? Cop Hop i (eye) Nop i a And Asia? A Sop I A.

The work gets done, no one gets sent to the principal, the note to the teacher is amazingly short, the admin paper says "all work completed" "no problems".

I handle discipline by constantly referring to the "master plan" written by their teacher (name him/her); I politely tell them, "that is unacceptable"; followed by 'I don't buy it " and get back to work and i make sure i can follow that as quickly as possible with something that requires everyone to get their minds off it and move on. I also try to call on them when they do participate well and use words like fantastic answer, or other creative superlatives.

I am not an expert, I'm new too, but I just don't like the stress of all those power struggles and escalating tension - I don't get paid enough.

Gop O O Dop Lop U Cop Kop!