Too Strict

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Home : 2002 : February : 1

Too Strict
By Stacey

I can completely relate with you. I am also a 7th grade teacher in a small district. I also ran into problems right before Christmas. It is very stressful, and you really start to not enjoy the "job" anymore. I teach 3
block classes of Language Arts. It becomes difficult to keep their attention for that long of a time period. I found myself easily agitated, and giving detentions left and right. I have found a solution that has recently been workng for me. I tell the kids that if I can have their complete attention Monday-Thursday, working hard, turning in all assignments, participating in class, and

most importantly behaving in class, then they will get a reward on Friday. I usually show a movie. They love it. Depending on what we are reading or working on in class, I find a movie relating to that subject. For example we just finished the book Dogsong (which is a little dry), but I was able to show them two movies on the subject, including Balto, which they loved!!!!
The kids are well aware that I can take that "reward" away at any time, and that I can show it to one or two classes and not the third. But I have found that 4 GOOD days is worth an hour movie on Friday. They have become more attentive and more respectful. As far as I am concerned, with this age group I am willing to try anything to make the "eucation" work. I don't know if you have access to a television and vcr but you might want to try it! It has been worth my sanity. If you have any other ideas, let me know. I am open for sugestions!!!