I'm a high school English teacher; what's the best way to punish my students when they're talking in class.

Answer 1

well, since the schools have been telling kids they don't have to listen to their parents,and if it feels good ,do it . and if your parents hit you ,tell us and we'll have them put in jail,why would you not think it would not come back on you some day.
"as you sew, so shall you reap" and now you're at the point,if you punish them,you worry if they'll come to school tommorow hunting you,and the rest of the students. isn't it odd that up to the sixties, we had discipline in school and at home, and children were taught about being polite and they were responsible for their actions or they would be punished, and we didn't have all these problems? i don't feel sorry for the schools at all. to top it off, most so called "teachers" aren't much smarter than the students. i think the best thing could happen, is for the "public education system"=(joke) to be shut down and there be only private schools.
you're a high school teacher, and you have to come to yahoo to ask strangers how to discipline children. i'll bet YOUR kids run YOUR house. or do you ask your neighbor what to do about your kids?
as you can guess by my attitude,i'm not high on modern schools. have a rotten day.

Answer 2

Well if it was elementary school, I would list all the options that the other answers mentioned already. However, being older kids, they should know all the rules and expectations of a classroom, and the punishment should be left to perhaps the principle or other people. You can set up a system where the first time somebody talks, then just give them a warning sign, like addressing them politely and telling them to keep quiet. 2nd time, take off marks of whatever assignment he is doing, or perhaps some other consequence, not too harsh, and 3rd time, send them to the office?

However, perhaps a better system would be that since it is an English class, make him write an essay or something, and I think one of the other answerers mentioned this.

Also, being an English class, make the student go up to the front of the class, and explain the lesson to the rest of the class, perhaps that will humiliate him enough, if it gets out of hand, then down to the office!

I am in grade 9, and these are the most common ways my teachers deal with unruly behaviour in class...

Answer 3

I would give them a punishment, to stay after school for a couple of minutes, writing a 100 word essay, why is it important not to talk in class while the teacher is talking. Good Luck with the students.

Answer 4

change up your methods so they don't figure you out
1. divide and conquer

whoever was talking may continue to talk amongst themselves while the rest of the students must answer essay questions that will count toward their grades while the talking students get automatic A's

2. talk to the student for about the same amount of time that they talked during you class after school gets out

3. call their parents

get them involved in their child's life and let them know how their child's behavior is affecting the other students progress

4 have the principal sit in on your class see if that improves it

5 be exciting maybe they talk because your class is boring prepare better and make your class THE EVENT to be at in school

Answer 5

Have them stand or sit in front of class facing the other students. I had to do this a couple of time while in high school. I hated this punishment but it worked.

Answer 6

Indifference.

When they learn that it gets a rise out of you, they will use it as a tool. Passive aggressive is common for children.

Most people have difficulty dealing with rejection, abandonment or indifference.

As a punishment, isolation will work best. If you really want to send a message, practice humiliating them in public. Their behaviour will change to avoid future instances of humiliation. A joke at their expense in front of their classmates will end the power struggle.

Answer 7

If it's a specific student have them write out 'I will not talk in class' 100 times or so.

Make sure you tell them to do it at home so they're paying attention for the rest of class. I guess you could add on more words everytime they continue to talk after that.

Answer 8

uummmm......you should make them listen to a really boring guy talking on a cd....im sixteen and i don't think i could stand that...that would get me to shut up.....use a form of negative reinforcement.....torture........tell them that if they talk in class this many times during this period of time....they will have to watch a boring documentary about the growth of grass and write a two page report about it.....yelling at students and losing your temper...doesn't accomplish anything...this way is more enjoyable for the teacher and will get the expected results....and make sure you're consistent and follow through with your threats because there is nothing more a rebellious student loves than a teacher that is a pushover.....let them know who's boss.....

when they have stopped talking in class....tell them what a good job they're doing........as a positive reinforcement....so they know you don't hate them.....

Answer 9

Keep a list of current event topics and have them come to the front of the class and lead a discussion on one. That way, they can talk all they want, and possibly someone will learn something in the process.

Answer 10

Ask them to share with the whole class what they're talking about. In other words, embarass
them.