Discipline for 7th graders?

Question

I'm a college intern who is about to graduate in May. I am teaching 7-12 Business & Technology. I have a real problem getting my 7th graders to be quiet and work productively. I get them the last period of the day. They are tired and ready to go home, as well as myself. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

I have been a teacher for the past five years. I teach high school currently but I started my career in middle school teaching 8th grade ELA. No amount of money could force me to return. LOL! So I tip my hat to you. There are several things you can to do monitor & modify behavior. The most important advice i can give you is to follow through with whatever strategy you choose. Avoid making false threats if you threaten with detention, parental contact, etc. then take action. Let them know that you mean business. It is tough at first but it will be smooth sailing in the end. I, myself, speak softly but carry a big stick. I avoid power struggles by holding them accountable & acknowledging my power without saying a word. Keep them abreast of their progress in the classroom. If they are acting out then their grades will more than likely suffer as a result. This will sometimes be enough to force them to miraculously straighten up. Start from day one with some procedure that you implement & follow with consistency to deal with discipline. This also allows for classroom uniformity regarding punishment and rewards. From the first week of school let the students play a role in establishing class expectations, have all the students agree & sign, and then post it. When an infarction occurs remind them that they created and agreed to the contract and were aware beforehand of the consequences. Revisit the contract when & as often as necessary. Harry Wong's book, First Days of School is an excellent tool for establishing classroom procedures that are essential in managing classroom behavior and maximizing instructional time. It's like going to church without your bible if you began teaching without this book!!! Good luck you can do it!!

Answer 2

Teach them all to play chess. There are many good videos that can teach the whole class at once. This will take a few days to have everyone playing. Those who already know how will help the others. Then keep a running chess tournament going. When two players are done, the next two begin their game. You can have three or four games going at once. The rest of the students work on assignments, and you are freer to help those who are not in the middle of the game. Use tournament rules, and those who talk or kibbitz during a game forfeit their game.

They will learn so much in thinking about chess, strategizing, concentrating, etc., that you will get more out of them in the time that is left, than you would have, using the entire class period for whatever you are trying to teach them. It really works. I've used chess in the classroom for many years, and the students study much more productively the rest of the hour.

Answer 3

Bribery works well. Set up incentives for class behavior and they will try to police their own. Figure out something they might want...i.e. class outside? pizza? a movie? Have them give some input, I'm sure they will have lots of ideas for rewards. You can assign each a value. Then set up a system where the class gets to "buy" the "reward". They can get a small reward every week with good behavior or save up for a big one at the end of several weeks. Either way, you win.

Business and technology for that age should be very "hands-on". Are they running their own businesses? That is great fun and they learn so much about advertising, production, profit margins and the like.

Answer 4

Well dude actually I forgot. Well Mr. teacher man I am a seventh grader and the one thing that I enjoy that my teacher does is make the period seem to go faster by making it fun. Whatever you are teaching you have to put some enthusiasm into and make them want to learn about it. HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!! Seventh graders at the end of the day just need a little more fun to get them through the last period.

Answer 5

Try some relaxation techniques before class - make it fun. Have everyone put their heads down and throw on some soothing music (ocean waves, classical or jazz). Do this for about 5-10 min. before class starts to calm their nerves before you get down to business. Threats don't work on 7th graders these days and you don't accomplish anything by screaming at them the whole class or sending them to the principal's office. That way they look forward to your class because they'll be able to unwind, and refresh before having to cram their brains with knowledge :-). *They will also be open to another sound of music other than rap, rock and that pop garbage.

Answer 6

Make the class like a game make them want to be there, the class sounds interesting put them in groups make the come up with an idea of a business and plan the whole thing then make a presentation to the class, things like this keep them interested. perhaps you can bring local businessman or women to talk to them about their business and how do they apply tech to them.

Answer 7

Well I know at the end of my work day I stare at the clock awaiting for 5'oclock to come even though i enjoy my job. There minds will be on what there doing after school, if there hungery and await there after noon snacks etc. Best thing to do is be more enthused to be there to see them, if your dreding beign there they will dred being there with you.

Be excited to see them inform them of fun things to come so they will start wanting to come in, get them involved in groups, but don't let them pick them. Get them more involved with this course and then before they realize it the bell rings.

I know I hated it when my class ended in my favorite subjects but dreded on.

Answer 8

Teach 7th graders??? Run....don't walk, run...before it's too late!!!

Answer 9

For the misbehavers, you send them to sit in the kindergarten class. Really works.

Answer 10

threaten them with detention , I always hated that.