How do you deal with troubled kids in the classroom?

Question

My wife is a tutor at a public school with a majority of lower income families consisting of a majority of african-american and hispanic children. The children are around 1st to 4th graders.
She came across a real dillema today. She sat them all down and wanted them to discuss what they wanted to do in life when they grow up. You will be shocked at the answers she got.

The many answers she got was: I want to be a serial killer, I want to be a statue, I want to fight this person and that person when I grow up, Im going to rob this, Im going to kill them.....and so goes the list........

There were some kids who did actually participate well, BUT the disruptive and troubled kids took the attention away from them.

She tried to reason and explain to them why what they want to do is wrong etc, but they would swear and stick their middle finger up at other kids etc. These kids dont come from the most involved families, so how does she react or ameliorate this? ADVICE, BOOKS, ARTICLES?

Answer 1

She need to help them achieve success through learning. Trying to reason with children won't work. Most kids from low-income or uninvolved families speak what they know. It is your wife's job to tutor. To teach the skills these kids are struggling with in their classroom. (I'm assuming her tutoring is a part of a school district's poor test scores accoring to legislature from No child left behind). If she can get these kids to learn more then they can be exposed to what else is out there in the world. They are young. I've worked in schools districts where the children hated school...because their parents hated school. Respect is not taught...it's earned through fights and cool clothing/and toys. That is the world they live in.

Your wife needs to review classroom management techniques. Tell her to ask her supervisor for assistance if she doesn't know what to do. Also....maybe she should introduce some occupations to them.....they might not know what they want to be when the grow up because no one has ever told them what they can become. Have her present a variety of occupations and show them professionals of similiar heritgage that have achieved greatness. Let them choose from one of the occupations she presents and have them learn as much about it as possible. Just a thought.

Answer 2

The book "Cool Pose: The Dilemmas of Black Manhood in America" by Majors and Billson. This book takes a very interesting look at African American males in America today. Some of the behaviors some males choose, begin to show up at a very early age.
This book helps teachers etc. (especially women) see why young men (particularly African American boys) say and do things like the examples you listed above. It helps decode what they are really saying and doing. This behavior comes out of fear and distrust of authority and covering up insecurity with a macho exterior. Young girls can get swept up by default.
This might help her understand and empathize with these students.
Another way to get students to see some of the value in what you are trying to teach them is by asking them want they want in life (nice car, house, family, hot girls, money, etc) and then have them figure out how they are planning to get these things. Breaking the Law should only result in being arrested. Maybe have a policeman come and speak to them about good and bad decisions.
Your wife has my total respect by doing what she is doing. I wish I could help more. I am a middle school band teacher, and I can't imagine working with elementary school kids that don't want to learn.

Answer 3

It's great that she was trying to reach these kids. It is almost like bouncing your head off of a brick wall. She has to realize that she won't reach all these kids, maybe one or two. I worked in a prison, and we were always told, you won't see your successes, only your failures. I commend her for trying, and hope that she never stops.

Answer 4

as a student i give them mean stares

Answer 5

just kids being kids

Answer 6

lmao...