I'm in school to be a middle school English teacher.?

Question

I'm really worried about controlling the class. I also plan on substituting while I'm getting my bachelor's degree. What are some ways middle school teachers control their class? What are some ways you punish the students & get them to listen or at least pretend they are interested in class? I love this age & can't wait to start teaching, but I know how pre-teens can be. My middle child is almost 12. Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

I teach 6th grade English at an inner-city public school in Brooklyn. I just started at this new school this year, and after less than 2 weeks I'm known as the "Wicked Witch of the West"... by the other teachers! They're a little shocked by my authoritarian classroom management style. But it's really working for me.

The key is routines and procedures. I have a routine for every little thing the kids do. I mean EVERY thing. I rarely let them make decisions for themselves. My theory is that kids don't listen to verbal instructions and they don't have much self control. So I create routines that they do every day, and they know that if they don't do it right I'll make them do it again.

Here's an example. When they come into the room, they must be totally silent. If they are not silent, they go back outside and line up and try it again. They immediately take out their homework and place it on the desk where I can see it. Then they start reading silently while I check homework and take attendance. If they talk at all, they have to take all their stuff back outside and come in again the "correct" way. After about 10 minutes, I say "good morning/afternoon class," which is their signal to put away the homework and the reading book and turn their eyes to me. Then I call them by table to come to the meeting area for the lesson. If one person or a group talk too much or don't push in their chairs or do anything I don't like, they have to return to their desks and come back to the meeting area the "right" way.

Now that I'm writing all this out, it sounds so strict! But it really works. I never tell the kids "line up" or "go get your notebooks from the shelf," because that would be chaos. There is a procedure for everything. It prevents so many disruptions. And it sets a tone. The kids know that I'm strict and serious. If I make such a big deal out of dragging your chair or whispering, what would I do if they had a fight? I think they're scared to even contemplate it.

Routines and procedures are good preventive discipline. Of course, sooner or later the students will fall out of line and show attitude, or just a lack of self-control. In those cases, the only consequence I use is a phone call home. (Except in cases of physical violence or outright defiance, both of which win a call home AND an immediate referral to the Dean of Discipline). The trick is to call home frequently. Don't ever let things slide. Don't make deals with the kids, like letting them promise to be better tomorrow. If they break a rule, they face a consequence. If you are firm and consistent, the kids will know it, and they will respect it.

Answer 2

As the mother of three boys (now teens), I can recommend a few things. First, there are a few kids who will immediately try and push a sub's buttons. Start with your rules (look around the class, there will probably be a poster or list posted somewhere).

At the first infraction, send the kid elsewhere (in the hall, to the principal, to the next teacher over). Make sure the kids don't learn "which buttons to push." Have no buttons.

If the class gets noisy and unresponsive, call the office, and ask for backup. If they know you will take immediate, out-of-the-classroom action, they won't mess with you for long. Attention getters are shut down if they are out of the class.

Too often, middle school teachers (and subs) will say, "if you do that again, I'll...." To a middle schooler, that is both tacit approval of their behavior (it wasn't bad enough for serious action) AND a thrown gaunlet for the child to come up with something that IS bad enough for more action (and attention).

Don't try and be happy, perky, friendly or too upbeat. Be a professional--pleasant is fine. They can sense a "newbie" a mile away.

The teachers who have no problems are the older teachers (retired military, or teaching over 20 years). younger teachers try too hard to give the kids a break, or be too friendly. don't fall into that trap and you'll be fine.

Good luck, and God Bless you!

Answer 3

The suggestion of the Jim Fay and Harry Wong material is really good. They are teaching with "love and logic" which is a good management tool. Also, "Boys town skills"is another program with procedures and consistency. Over all a mixture of these practices makes a good match for a classroom teacher. I would also suggest observing different teachers because they all have different teaching styles. This will help you develop your own sense of style and tolerance in the classroom. Beware that in Middle School each class period that comes in has their own dynamics some will be awesome and some can be the pits.

Answer 4

I'm a youth pastor of Jr high and high schoolers. I'm sure you know about the age rule...one minute of attention span per year of age. You have to change gears every 12 minutes or so to keep their attention.

In controlling the class, I've found that it's the same as with my own kids - consistency and follow through. My students know that I am fun and like to have fun, but that I also don't let them get away with disrespect or disrupting others.

My method is to state the expectations up front and assign consequences to not doing what is expected. And making sure they know what they are. I also give incentives and rewards for going above and beyond what is expected.

You know you have done it when you can lead the class into hysterics and chaos in one minute and then have them silent and attentive when you give the "signal" - mine is called reel it in. When the kids start losing focus or aren;t listening I make a loud noise like a fishing reel being pulled out by a fish. I then sit quietly smiling making the pantomime of reeling in a fish.

It took the kids a while to figure it out, and while they were, they went totally silent. Now, when some of the kids in the class start acting up, other students start doing the hand motion to "reel them in". They know that is the point that I dole out trouble if they don't immediately come back into order. It's fun, and it works for me.


I love that age too. It's really weird to me when the parents say they can't stand their kids and that age.

Answer 5

You should teach at one of those top schools. The students are supposedly better behaved, but you can never be too sure.

As for controlling the class, you should start with the first impression. I think that if a student doesn't like you, then they'll treat you badly, such as talking while you're lecturing, not doing homework or classwork. One of my classmates didn't like our french teacher, so he kept being fresh with her and talking back. He also complained a lot and never did his homework. You should probably even out your teaching personality. Be strict, yet nice. Show them you're not all about work, but you do mean business when it comes to school. Try not to yell at the students unless it's necessary. When is it necessary? When the class gets completely out of control. Then just scream at the top of your lungs. Not literally.

To get students to listen and be interested... well, students will probably never ever be interested in class... at least not me! Except maybe for music. Maybe once in a while. Just teach them in a way they'll be interested in. My science teacher made jokes that were related to the subject we were learning about. It kept the class going. She also bought things to show the class. When we were learning about life science, she bought seahorses, leeches, and insects to show the class. Of course they were dead and the insects were melted into glass.

If they're not really interested in the class, then just threaten them with lots and lots of homework!

Answer 6

While the poster who said that your education should include methods of classroom management--it might not. I was told that teachers with well-planned lessons never have discipline problems! That person was not from planet middle school.

For concrete suggestions read:
Jim Fay, Teaching with Love and Logiv
Fred Jones, Tools for Teaching
Harry Wong, the First Days of School

They all have websites, and their books are worth every penny. Until I found these methods, I floundered from gimmick to gimmick, trying to figure out what was 'businesslike' or 'firm and fair'. These books explain to those of us who weren't naturals at age 25 what good classroom management consists of--they got it by watching natural classroom managers. Now I can look at my class with one eyebrow up, and they all snap to.

As a sub, you won't be able to teach your class howyou want them to behave, which is the key with your own classroom, however, you will be able to project a businesslike and firm, friendly (not mean) attitude, and they'll pick up on it.

Also, what works at home with your early adolescents will work with most kids. I got a lot better at teaching middle school when I lived with three of them at home!

Answer 7

You shouldn't be in the school teaching until you have studied theories of child development and practical applications of classroom management and discipline. Discipline is not arbitrary and needs to be considered on the basis of its effect on the individual learner and the classroom as a whole. Any good Education program at a reputable university will include lots of teaching observation, where you enter the classroom and watch an experienced teacher as they perform their job. You should then be given time to reflect on how that teacher manages their classroom, and why they have chosen that method. Your program should slowly ease you into teaching, starting with opportunities to assist small groups with classwork, building to the point where you are delivering the entire lessons (under supervision).

Answer 8

The way the world is evolving, you had better lose the word 'punish' from your vocabulary when it comes to school situations.
Substitute teaching is a real mess. Kids are terribly disrespectful of subs, so you have to be firm, but fair. Tell them right off the bat that you expect them to be on their best behaviour as you have to report to the teacher and the principal. Don't start off by saying anything about being bad, or say anything about what dreadful things you might do to them. Let the onus fall on the regular techer and principal and simply let them know that you have to turn in a report.
Once you are past that, use the old carrot and stick routine. Catch them doing something right. Be generous with your praise. Put names on the board with a star for good performance. But don't put names on the board for bad performance. That's rewarding bad behaviour. The best way to extinguish bad behaviour is by ignoring it, and rewarding (or acknowledging) good behaviour. If someone finishes their work early, give them the option of helping someone else or reading a comic. And yes, take a handful of comic books in with you. But collect them at recess and lunchtime. And after school.
Good luck to you.

Answer 9

Part of your education should include classroom management. You will have to develop your own methods of controlling the class; class management must be firm but fair. One thing that will fail is if you try to be their friend.

Students are there to learn - even though they don't know it - and you are there to teach them. Lesson plans are of the utmost importance so you go into the classroom everyday knowing what will be accomplished...and they will, too.

The point about a school system that supports its teachers is a valid one. That helps you control the class because you know the school supports your decisions about classroom behavior and expectations, and implements ways to do so.

Good luck.

Answer 10

Just make sure you Sub in a good School system, beause the kids will be much better behaved than in a bad school system. But I'm 16 and when I was middle school our substitutes always threating to write us a referall and send us up to the office with.

Good Luck