TEACHERS!!! I know the school year is over, but give me hints on better classroom management.?

Question

TEACHERS!!! I know the school year is over, but give me hints on better classroom management. I teach sixth grade and find that at least 5 or 6 students per class misbehave on a regular basis. What strategies have you found that works to make them stop misbehaving? It is very frustrating to be in the middle of lecture and lose your train of thought because someone misbehaves and interupts you...or everyone is "on task" and someone makes a stupid little "mouth noise" to get attention and make the class laugh...or someone asks a stupid question and the answer is on the board in the same place EVERY DAY "What's todays date?"...What can I do to prevent misbehavior? What can I do to stop the stupid questions when the answer is on the board in the same place everyday? What can I do to stop the interuptions? What can I do to stop the stupid mouth noises? Any help would be appreciated for next year. Thanks.

Answer 1

Ask them, "Where do you find today's date?" (put it back on to them)

Perhaps the children are sitting too long. Try a couple times a day to stand up and stretch, walk around, etc.

Have you tried to ignore the noises? As hard as it may be! These children may be looking for attention, even if it is negative attention. If they see that you are ignoring them, they will stop.

This is still a young group. We don't like to sit around and be lectured to all day! But we expect children to do that. Try a lecture outside. Try different things. Yes, I know we have lessons we have to follow, but find creative ways to teach them. Individualize the children. Are they on IEP's?

Good luck and don't get frustrated. You can always ask for help! There is no shame in asking for help. Another person may give you a perspective you never thought about.

You may want to play some calming music for you also. If you are tense, then the children may sense that, and react.

Catch them being "good"..focus on the positive behaviors, rather than the negative behaviors.

Answer 2

I'm not sure "lecturing" is a good strategy for middle school kids... they have a low attention span and get fidgety. Maybe you should try student-centered activities where it's O.K. for them to talk and make noise (while staying on task and learning). In my classroom, I try to have everything highly structured and to be very organized so there is no excuse for them not to be working on something all the time. I feel your pain with the stupid mouth noises. I would suggest punishing the entire class when that becomes a problem. Every time a mouth noise happens, stop the class and write 5 difficult vocabulary words on the board. Make each student get a dictionary and write the definition of the word and use it in a telling sentence. While they are doing this, require absolute and complete silence. Anyone who does not comply should be sent out of the room immediately and to the principal. At the end of every week, give a vocabulary test on all of the "misbehavior" words. Peer pressure against the person who forces everyone else to do boring vocab work is a powerful thing.

Answer 3

The best thing to do Is to have a plan at the beginning of the year let the parents in on it. Have the disruptive students to keep record of their mis behavior. Then have parents to sign it each week. This way they can see the problem you are having. If this continues call them at work. ( they will hate this) but it works.No one wants to be called at work about their child's behavior. Reward good behavior. I send a News Letter each week. announcing the students of the week.I also post their names out side my door. My parents love it. ( usually it's a boy and a girl) For those who don't understand why you are asking Have never taught. Teacher take good help where ever they can get it. You must learn to ignore stupid questions . some students ask them to get attention.or to get you going. I have several ideas too numerous to write here. Remember no child has the right to stop another child from learning. Be assertive not passive Lee Canter offers a great book on how to be an assertive teacher. best of luck!

Answer 4

Just think... summer is coming and no more teaching, no more books, no more snot nosed dirty looks.... LOL! Just a different take on the popular rhyme. Anyway, here are some suggestions:

1.) Start your next year off next year by breaking up your students into groups. Each group's goal is to come up with a rule that will help the classroom run well. You can have the group that came up with that rule be that rule's police officers. They will have to help themselves and all other children in the class live up to that expectation. For some reason this works! I think it helps them to have ownership over the rules. You can even have them come up with consequences for breaking the rule or rewards for upholding the rule. They also seem to "listen" to each other better. I guess they don't like to disappoint their peers.

2.) A money reward system is fun and helps children with math concepts. You can have a "art" contest in the beginning of the year to decide whose currency will be the class money. You can pass them out to reward good behavior, to reward correct answers in class discussions, or whenever you want to! You can have a treasure chest, store, etc... at the end of each month, where each child has the chance to purchase something with the money that they earned that month!

3.) You can try sticker charts, but that may not work for the age group in which you are dealing.

4.) Ignore the silly behavior! It is just happening to try and get to you! It is obviously working!!

Good luck next year and try and relax and enjoy your summer.

Answer 5

First the best advice my MS principal ever gave me was

"Don't Have Buttons"

I used humor. - but don't cross the line to sarcastic.

If a kid asked me the date - I'd either ignore it, say "you know where to look" or sometimes gave them a famous date in history with a smile.

If a kids made a funny noise I would sometimes rate it or say "good one" or even say "okay - very creative, but not appropriate." I wouldn't get mad.

The more uptight and intese you appear the more kids will try to get a rise out of you.

And I never lost my cool. Never.

I'd just say "Oh snap...I wish you hadn't done that, now I'll have to keep you for dentention" or someother phrase.

Lee Canter has some great books on class management (I had the MS one). Check them out: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=Lee+Canter&z=y&cds2Pid=9481.

And Jane Nelson et. al has the Postive Discipline series:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=Positive+Discipline&z=y

And there is always Harry Wong.

choose which suits your personality and style.

And if you are on a team, work with your team mates. We had to develop some "team wide" strategies to address certain behaviors sometimes. Also, you can find out what other teachers are doing that are working (or not working) with particular kids. Your V.P. can be a great resourse as well.

Don't think you have to handle this alone.

Good Luck

Answer 6

Most behavior problems with this age come from boredom. Don't lecture too much to this age group. Try to get them as active as possible. Ask a lot of leading questions. Move around the class. Modulate your voice to make it more interesting (avoid monotone or any extended talking)

If possible get the students doing things as much as possible instead of just listening. For example, get them to physically come up to the front of the class to physically manipulate an object that is related to your discussion.

Allow 'stupid questions' as long as they aren't obviously disrespectful (ignorance or forgetfulness is not disrespectful). Answer every question calmly and without sarcasm - thats a very large part of your job.

Don't get angry. This is perhaps the most important thing. We all get angry sometimes but it is a mistake for a classroom teacher. For a lot of children this age, its a game to get the teacher angry. If you get angry they win, if you can stay calm but firm you win. As soon as you get angry you have lost control of yourself and therefor the class.

As for funny sounds. My approach would be to laugh with them for a few seconds and then snap back into 'business mode' and go back to work. A quick release of stress is good for everybody. I don't see any problem with laughter in a classroom as long as it doesn't turn into a competition for comedic air-time. You have to decide the limits on that but I wouldn't be afraid to laugh with your class.

I hope that helps.

Answer 7

I used to fart in class, make the mouth noises, throw spit wads, answer in an annoying ways, get into fights at recess, look up girls skirts, and everything else I could think of until I was in trouble. Your best defense is a good offense. Enforce detention, write notes to parents that have to be signed, call parents, meet with parents, have a dunce cap and corner if you can, but make sure that your students know that if they behave a certain way there will be consequences for their actions.

Answer 8

I teach 2nd grade. At our school we use Harry Wong's ideas from his book The First Days of School. On Yahoo type in Harry Wong the first thing you will see is this book.. Click on the first button on the left. It will say What do we say.....
then click on here to preview the book Then click on excerpt that is under the book. This book will change your life. Our school changed dramatically after we did what the book said. Read pg. 167 1st and then chapters 18, 19, and 20 at one time. I know how you feel but I did what Mr. Wong said and it changed everything. Good Luck!!!

Answer 9

I have had fantastic success with dividing the class into groups.
as I do supply teaching I do not want to move the desks so I usually group acording to where they are sitting or their school sports teams or even boys v girls. The I give rewards frequently - usually small rewards......eg. boys can pack up first they have the most points. The red sports house can line up first for music. etc etc.

This always seems to work for me.
Good luck.
Also if I have a little rat that this isn't working for. I pull out a special green folder and ask for his whole name and date of birth. I then write it down and close the folder silently, this usually has him scared and quiet for ages. they really fear what you are going to do.
Cheers
J

Answer 10

Most likely they're doing that, because they don't feel that they're doing well in the first place! Give them a reason to want to do well.. Pull them aside after class is over and give them a chance to do something constructive for class that would earn them extra credit. If you don't have those kind of assignments set up, then make some up,based on what you think their talents are!