I need advice?

Question

I'm 23 years old and I work with students (13 years old). How do I make them take me seriously? I read a ton of books on on that topic on collage and later but those are not very realistic situations. I often get notes how they are in love me and stuff and that's why they don't look at me like they look at other, older teachers. Then I give them bad grades (so they would take me more seriously) and I hate that. You must take into consideration that they are teenagers and aren't the easiest ppl to talk to.

I don't believe that you think I give them bad grades because they think I am pretty. I'm still a teacher not a torturer, it's just that now I give them grades that they deserve, but before that I used to give them a bit better grades just for motivation and it worked. I like my students it's just that ... ok this cannot be explained

Answer 1

im 13 and i think thats messed up that you gave them lower grades cause someone thought u were pretty. we r teenagers you cant change that and old teachers are meaner sometimes

Answer 2

Ok some very funny answers here, I think that ppl don't bother to read the whole Q or what. I don't think you give bad grades because they think that you are pretty and these ppl don't understand that one thing is to remember how it was when we were at school and the whole other thing is to stand there in front of 13-year-olds looking young and hot and have the responsibility to make them learn something. If you were a male teacher it would be easier because those girls that have a crush on you would try to get your attention by working hard but you have male audience and they get attention by making comments aloud, trying to be funny, which is sweet, but not on class, mostly because they shift other students' attention on them and off the lesson which you will have to grade later.
And the funny thing this 15 year-old said - he thinks you use those books you mentioned for class :) I think that you are very young and books are your best friends, there are so many awesome books on methodology of teaching and dealing with lots of cases (students). It wouldn't hurt if you talk with your older colleagues which are considered interesting among kids and good teachers among adults in school. My sister is a teacher, she had those problems at first (and this is not really a problem, it's just that you want to teach them something and they want to hit on you, that stands in way to other kids who want to learn) and she stopped being their friend for a while, made the distance, she was more serious on class and more rigid on the grades. It lasted for couple of months, they learned to look at her as a teacher, authority, and now she's back on old terms but now when they have work to do, they all do it and she always leaves some time to talk with them about stuff that they go through. So to be a good teacher you need to be their friend especially because you are so young and you can help them and understand them, but first make them realize who's the boss. Good luck

Answer 3

I always liked teachers who gave me bad grades. LOL Just kiddin. Heres how I would go about it, put yourself in there shoes, they are young, some are tryin to make an A, some are tryin to pass, and the others are tryin to make a pass at you. So you go to class, (with extruding confidence) and ask them what can I do to help you? All Jerry McGuire like, right? Remember you have to do your job, right. And if they are not learning its their fault right? Wrong. You help them out, and learn them. The greatest teachers in the world have the greatest giving personalities in the world.

If this doent work signal out the mess maker and ask them some serious questions aloud. Take out the wolf. The pack will only follow. Being forward and plain about it from day one. say there will be changes and enforce the rules of your classroom or bring in a principal.. But dont be a dictator. What class is it? Ask some life quesrions getting into there feelings. Relate the topic to TV, music. Tell stories. One more thing, don't do it all in one day, and us students expect something like that and figure you are going through a phase, and it won't work. Dont expect a change in one day one month either.

Answer 4

I am the same age as your students. I have had a few younger teachers and they said that they like teaching us because they don't have to baby-sit us, nor are we cynical high-schoolers. We take all of our teachers very seriously, and actually make fun of the oldest teacher (he's been teaching for almost 50 years, so we have a liscinse to make fun of him alittle.) Anyway, bad grades won't help you earn respect. They will just hate you for that. Us "teenagers" are actually very easy to talk to, and if you get to know them and talk to them about the things that matter to us, they will take you more seriously and you will probably become their favorite teacher. I hope I helped.
P.S. Some of us aren't as awfil as you make it seem! Why so down on teens?

Answer 5

I'm 15, and I gotta say, there are some pretty hot teaches at our school too! Just cos they send you love letters doesnt mean they dont take u seriously, there 13, their love lives barley begun.Think- didnt to use to have a crush on a teacher back when u were at school? And NEVER use books with kids! Be more interactive! does you school have projectors and smartboards etc? If not get them fast! I have a chemistry teacher who gets the crap taken out of him, purley becaus he reads from a text book, and doesnt use anything that get students invovled. Most of us chuck paper around the class or use the lesson 4 Sleeping! Whereas my frecnh teacher is the best teacher in the place, because he talks but stuff kids wanna know, and everythingis interactive! ( hangman, pairs, wordsearches (all in french of course) on a smartboard!) It gets everyone up and moving, not just slumping around and staring at the clock. I dunno where your from, but look into what your class like and dont like,and find out anything bout that topic, know what i mean? Sports, celebs, fashion stuff like that, and talk to them in class about it! Dont do so much that you come off the subject your trying to teach, but enough so they know you have confidnece, and a social life! Youll be sooo surprized how easy we are to talk 2, long as you make the effort and pick the right topic! search stuff to say up on the internet, anything small talk.
Trust me, giving them bad grades wont to you any favours whatsoever! I help out at a scout hut nearby eack week, and im faced with kinda the same problem as you, but I take it as a compilment, I mean, don't you find it nice when someone says they like you, even though you cant do nothing about it? You need to build up enough confidence and self respect and igore these notes and get on with your job, you'll be gratful you did when your come to teach my age!

Answer 6

Did you give them bad grades because they did poorly or to prove a point?

Spell college correctly, or learn to use spellcheck.

Maybe if you acted like you knew more than them, it would be easier to be authoritive.

There's nothing wrong with being a friend to your students. Some of the best teachers are friends to the kids they teach and there's nothing wrong with having a little fun in the classroom. Respect them as people and they will respect you as a person. Think of fun things the class can do together to learn- games, projects, etc. Some of the best learning experiences are fun ones, too.

Answer 7

You have a tough conundrum there.

Don't be too rough on the boys. Speaking as a guy whose been there, at that age, it is damn near impossible for them to NOT think about you in that sense.

I suggest you ask your question in the Education category. Maybe some of the teachers there can give you some advice.

This problem also happens to male teachers as well, so you are not alone.

Answer 8

ya this is a peculiar situation but if dealt inteligently wiht u can not only get rid of this problem yes ur preparations on the subject is needed but at the same time having a friendly approach is the viable method to reach them , they may not take u seriously as u look like them so they will not take u seriously and it is better to win them throuhg frendship downgrading their grades will make them more against u so try to avoid that. rest is best of luck

Answer 9

Just crack down and tell them like it is. But I think I would rather be a cool teacher than a mean one. I know when I was in school, I had a young teacher, he was really hot! I worked really hard for him to notice me! But I was in high school and he wasn't that much older than me!
I don't think you should give them bad grades just because they think your pretty.

Answer 10

I'm sure it is tough for you! Make sure you're not trying to be their "friend". Dress appropriately (if you're wearing some of the same things they are they'll see you as a peer). I'd come down harder on them in class (detentions or write-ups for not being respectful or calls to their parents) rather than lowering their grades. Have confidence in what you're doing. Don't let them rattle you!

Good luck! Keep reading your books in search of the best answer!

Answer 11

just watch that you don't get fired for the bad grades thing. Try to look older in how you dress- remember you are a teacher and tell them straight out how you expect them to behave on a student teacher relationship. they are 13 and should understand