What should I have done in this situation?

Question

I am a first grade teacher. We were in the middle of our science lesson, talking about plants and their parts (the major ones...roots, stem, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruit), when the principal came in an announced that everyone who had not missed a day of school all year would be getting a treat. She had me call off the names of students who had not missed any days...they then left the room with her and shortly came back with popcorn. So them some of my students had popcorn and some did not. I tried to keep going through the lesson, but this distraction threw them off so much that they became unable to focus on the lesson and I lost control of the class. Of course I was then upset and turned the lights off, I asked them to put their heads on their desks for about 3 minutes while a select few who had were still listening helped me do what I call "office work" (putting notes in mail boxes). I then (after I was a bit calmer) explained to them that I was unhappy with them because they

were not listening and I did not appreciated and hoped next time they would wait til later to talk to firends about the popcorn or raise their hand if they had a question.

But I really feel I should have done something differently. I almost feel as though what I did was unfair to the kids. I really wish the principal woudl have waited or told me ahead of time...but I could change that then. What should I have done?

Thanks guys. I dont think she has anything agaisnt me, this happend to several classes.

I am a 2nd year teacher.

Answer 1

If this is your first year teaching perhaps you forgot about plan B. Remember first graders are highly distractable! I feel your principal was most unprofessional and you should wonder if s/he has something against you to be so rude and not let you know IN ADVANCE about this plan(again, this is my opinion and experience).As soon as the principal announced that SOME students were getting a treat YOU should have been prepared to stop the serious lesson and do an alternative, like a word game involving the lesson, which would be rewarded with whatever you use for rewards in your classroom.
Being upset is okay, sharing that with your students is okay, but remember how those students who were left out of the treat must have felt. Naturally there are some children who may never earn a reward for whatever reason, but an excellent teacher teaches towards each student's ability and turns their negative behavior into something worth observing.
YOU are a very special person because it takes a special person to teach and especially teach little ones. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

As soon as the students came back with the popcorn you should have instructed them that it was for after class. That would have still been disruptive but your only other choice was to make the whole period a play period.

You need to take this up with the principal. He/she is no more allowed to disrupt the class than a student is. How would he/she like if you interrupted his next PTA meeting if you barged in and passed out gold stars to the parents of all your best students. (and how would the parents of those students who did not get stars like it) . The principle should be able to find a time that is not so disruptive. By the way is there any concern of student weight. Rewards other than food would be more appropriate.

Answer 3

I agree with you. It was the principal coming in with popcorn for a select amount of students that caused the disruption in your class. As a parent of a 3 I don't think that you handled the situation wrong by turning off the lights and explaining why you were upset. I do however think it is your right to request that not happen again.Explain to the principal that you know its important the school gets its attendance money but that it is also important for the students to stay on task. That really sounds like a huge disruption in your lesson plan. Good luck to you & thank you for choosing teaching as a proffession its almost as thankless as motherhood.

Answer 4

The principal is an idiot. She/He should have coordinated this 'surprise' with you ahead of time so that you could have planned for it. The popcorn party would have also been better if those called outside the classroom had been able to finish the party away from the rest of the class before returning.

I think you took your frustration out on the kids a bit. What are they supposed to do? In their minds, it was party time, you know? And the principal endorsed it, so that must have been a bit confusing for them. However, I can definitely understand your own vexation.

I'd talk with the principal and ask him/her if you could be included in the discussion and planning of upcoming parties. Just be careful though, because, as I said in the open, the principal sounds like an idiot.

Hope that helps, and be easy on yourself and those kids!!

Take care.

Answer 5

I think thats inconsiderate of the principle. I kind of have the same thing happen but instead of her coming into my class she makes announcements non-stop throughout the day on the P.A. system. It gets so distracting that the kids loose focus and I forget what I am saying at times. Next time, maybe ask her to wait until recess or lunch because your other students got too distracted OR you can take the popcorn and let them have it when they go to recess or lunch.

Answer 6

i think you needed to get control of a situation that was caused by the principal. If this is the standard way you take control then you did not over react. you do need to have a talk with the principal about what is more important. find a way to reward without making the class room distracted and other students feel jilted.

Answer 7

How inconsiderate the principal was for making those kids watch the others eat popcorn. You should go address the principal (not rudely) and tell her how you felt about that situation.

Answer 8

This is a fine example of poor teaching on the headmasters part, if i were you i would go to the headmaster and i get right to the point, and tell him not every teacher is ready to put up with his mental torture, else id withdraw my labour and go on strike.