2006-10-30 11:46:10 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
I have this problem all the time. My first line of defense is to call the parents and tell them that their child is refusing to work. And I don't let up. Any time a child refuses to work, he gets a phone call, even if I have to call the same parent every day.
The next step is to give up my lunch and bring the student upstairs to make up the work. If possible, I get parental permission to keep them after school to. Until the work is done, the student must continue to have lunch or after school "detention."
Still, you have to search for the underlying reasons why a student refuses to work. Some kids just get so distracted with talking and goofing off, that they don't work. So they need to sit separately where they can focus.
Other students refuse to work because they can't do the work. Sometimes it's necessary to give those students an alternate assignment, or some options. For example, reluctant writers are almost always students who struggle with writing. So I make sure to give them the option of sketching a picture, then writing a caption. If I can even get them to write one sentence, I can see if there's a problem. Then I can assign them work that is within their ability level.
2006-10-30 13:28:55 · answer #1 · answered by dark_phoenix 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the circumstance. If the class as a whole refuses to work, that is a much bigger problem. If it is only a few kids, it's not as bad.
Make it so the students refusing to work don't have a chance to talk or do anything else. If they think that they can just talk or goof off the whole period, there's no reason for them to work.
It definitely helps to single out students rather than talking to them as a whole. Maybe even make an example of one or two. If you're worried about being the "nice guy" then of course they won't do work. Get control first then you can ease up and make jokes later.
2006-10-30 18:02:04 · answer #2 · answered by true_skillzz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evaluate your assignment. Is it too difficult for them? Too meaningless? Make sure that it is challenging enough to keep them interested, but not too much. It is hard to find that middle ground.
I have had a few tricks work. One was that I did offer "coupons" that I created. (They ranged from a locker pass to 10 points on an assignment.) Everytime they turned in their homework on time they received a random coupon. (I had them cut and in a box that I just drew from) This worked for homework.
If it is work in general, realying it to real world examples is the most valuable. I have sent students to the counselor, held parent conferences etc. to get the student to realize I meant business. I did realize there were some kids that no matter what would not do what I wanted them to. It was a hard pill to swallow. Speak with the rest of the teachers on your team for suggestions.
Good Luck!
2006-10-30 12:53:02 · answer #3 · answered by alicia0821 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I'm no teacher but i have seen some strategies that work. One thing is kind of embarrasing to some of them. Happened to me. The teacher searched for a child, younger than her students, who actually understood the material better than they did. She got the kid to explain it to the class. The kid did a horrible explanation, the the other students felt stupid because that little kid knew more and it actually got them to try harder. (the kid was me). Another thing to do is find humor in whatever it is your giving them and whatever happens in the class. It gets their attention and if they remember why it was funny, then it means that they learned it(most of the time), also makes them more interested in the class, but it only works if its actually funny. You could also assign study buddies. When theres two of them, usually friends, working together, they might actually get the work done because it means that they split the work, but make sure you don't pair a smart kid with a mean or lazy one, because then the smart one will end up doing all the work. These techniques might not work, but i have seen them in action and they do help sometimes, but then again they might not. It's up to you to find a working stradegy. Hopes this helps and also hopes that it doesn't make things worse.
2006-10-30 12:02:41 · answer #4 · answered by Geobreaker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My language arts teacher usually gives the students three chances, kind of like baseball, to learn how to be quiet and get back to work. When the students have used up the three chances, then they'll have to give up their lunch period and spend it writing a 3 page essay on what we learned today. Yes, that's front AND back. If they don't finish it, then students will have to spend their next lunch period to finish it up.
Fail the students who refuse to work. Then call their parents and tell them about their misbehavior. Usually parents will yell at them like there's no tomorrow.
My french teacher yells like a lunatic at the students who are talking. And I mean YELL. It's just freaking scary. But usually the students who got yelled at, stopped misbehaving. My french teacher just has this very demanding presence to her. But if students tell their parents about it, they won't believe them because she's so friendly to the parents.
2006-10-30 12:10:08 · answer #5 · answered by xxxshiningxstarxxx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what the work is.
If they aren't doing homework, they stay at recess to complete it.
If it's classwork, I threaten to double it (I've never actually had to do it, after the threat:)
If it's studying for tests and quizzes, I make a contest of it .... I include the whole class, give points for the average grade, when you reach 1,000 get a party...this has really lit a fire for study time!!!
2006-10-30 12:39:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When students don't work, it's usually because they're being asked to do something that isn't interesting, engaging or valuable. Create lessons that are meaningful for your students and the rest will fall into place.
2006-10-30 12:41:03 · answer #7 · answered by Jetgirly 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no effort gets them an F and too many F's makes them have to repeat the year, what more motivation does one need?
2014-08-11 12:34:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if it was the 1800's you could stretch them on a rack and put the cat to their backs for 12 lashes. I have a rule on my boat. listen to the call on deck and do your job or we throw you over the side for a swimming lesson. Quite effective.
2006-10-30 11:51:52 · answer #9 · answered by dread pirate lavenderbeard 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
do whatever you can, or just give them an F, too many f's makes it a mandatory year repeat
2016-07-09 16:50:06 · answer #10 · answered by Wolfram 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋