Advice on a crack-down/pep talk for an out of control class??

Question

I am a student teacher and one of the classes I'm teaching is high school pre-algebra. These kids and way behind in their credits and half will go to continuation school and half to special ed and right now they're stuck in HS pre-algebra. They are the hardest kids to work with at the school and refuse to do work. I've been nice so far and they have walked all over me (other kids have told me this too). The original teacher and my advisor said that monday its time to crack down and lay down the law!! I'm so NERVOUS!! My teacher gave me referral forms and suggested I send someone to the office!! I'm speechless at what to say to the class on monday!! Any suggestions on how to start!!

Answer 1

You are going to have to go back to square one. Were you in the classroom on the first day of school when I assume the teacher went over his/her classroom rules and procedures along with the consequences of not following those rules and procedures? Regardless if you were there or not, you need to review those rules and consequences with the students. They need to be reminded that YOU have just as much power as the teacher does. Once you have reviewed the rules and consequences, be prepared to ENFORCE them in a firm, fair, and friendly manner!

For example, when I was in the classroom, my first consequence was a warning. When it was time to give a warning, I always gave the students a choice; e.g., Suzie, you can either turn around and stop talking or get a detention. You always make one choice the desired behavior and the other the consequence you have established. If Suzie turns back around and starts talking, you need to be ready to give her that detention or whatever consequence you stated when you gave her a choice to stop talking or else. Whatever you do, do NOT argue with the student. Just follow through with what you said, etc. and carry on with class. You can ask the student to meet with you after class, or tell him/her, you will discuss it during the detention! During the detention, do have a hear to heart with the student to figure out why they behave the way they do.

If your teacher does not have a set of rules and consequences, ask if you can create your own. If you have to create your own, keep them simple/basic and only have 5 rules or so. Things like:
Raise your hand to ask permission to speak or get out of your seat.
Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. (my favorite; it covered a lot of territory!)
Be respectful.
Be on time.
Be prepared.

My consequences were:
Warning
Detention
Phone call to parents
Send to office.

I feel for you; I really do. I had a horrible first year of teaching because I didn't have a backbone and because I wanted my students to like me. It took me awhile to learn that students do NOT want you to be their best friend and that the majority of students really do want to learn and they want to learn in a classroom environment that is warm, inviting, and fun but NOT chaotic.

Here are some other suggestions:
If you don't do this alreay, establish a Beginning Class routine. I had a BCA - beginning class activity- ready on the board when my students came to class (same things as anticipatory set, bell work, etc.). I "trained" my students to come in, sit down, get quiet and get busy on the BCA. Once I started using a BCA to get my students quiet while I took roll, etc., things started off so much more smoothly. When I was teaching this procedure/behavior to my students, I used to reward them with extra credit points on the BCA activity IF all of them came in and did what they were supposed to. Funny how 5 extra credit points could make a difference in their attitudes. After awhile I didn't have to offer it at all - they just did what I wanted them to do without thinking about it.

Another suggestion for reviewing the rules...if the teacher gave them a handout with the rules and procedures on it, make up a quiz over those rules and procedures and give it to them on Monday. You don't have to take a grade on it, but you can have them take the quiz and then go over the questions with the class to reinforce the rules and consequences.

Also, be sure to tell the class how they will benefit from a cooperative classroom environment. Tell them that if they come to class ready to work and are cooperative how you can play games and work in groups, etc. That used to work for me. And, on the days, you do let them play a game or work in groups, be prepared to send them back to their seats /stop playing the game if they get out of control.

Whatever you do, you have to take charge of the class! I know it's hard, especially when you are a student teacher, but if you can get through this/learn from this, you will be ready when you get your own classroom and hopefully won't repeat the same mistakes!

Good luck!!!

Answer 2

First, let me repeat what the other poster said. These kids definitely DO want the structure and the control of a well-managed classroom. In order to get that, you indeed must lay down the law. Whether you were there in the beginning and have already done that and need to review or you weren't there and need to set your own laws, it MUST be done. Even at this age, you can't just expect these kids to know what you are looking for in their behavior. Plus, as you have seen, give them an inch and they will take a mile.

I understand the feeling of trying to be nice and not wanting to be the mean teacher. I worried about that and went in trying to be nice and let them have a little slack. (My kids are a little younger but it's amazing how similar all students are regardless of age.) The most obnoxious kids actually started hanging around after the period was over to talk to me. These are the ones who I thought would be the biggest trouble when I got tough were the ones who actually craved it the most. The tougher I got, the more respect they seemed to have for me.

You are the adult and the boss in this room. Let them know that. Just tell them the conditions of the class in the last few weeks has been unacceptable to you as well as them. They don't like an out of control classroom either. Ask them for their input. Ask them how they need to behave in a classroom. Write down their suggestions. Give them a say in the new classroom rules. When they have some ownership of the new way of life in there, they seem to be more responsive to the rules (so I've found). After laying down the rules and consequences (which need to be very explicit), you must follow them exactly. Don't let anyone slide and don't give any breaks or you will be right back to where you started.

I started off my year with a five-step process of 1) warning and name on board 2) check and time-out form 3) recess with me 4) phone call home 5) referral to office. It didn't take me too long to figure out that the kids had too many steps and the behavior wasn't as good as it should be. I've taken away some steps so now it's warning-check-detention. I've had much better behavior. Don't hesitate to use the phone call home. Some of the most snotty kids actually cave quite easily if you involve Mom or Dad. I'm amazed at how effective it is. When you send a student to the office, you are passing your authority off onto someone else. Keep in mind that you are the authority and they need to see you as the boss. A referral just tells them you can't handle the situation and have brought in the "real" guns. Avoid it if possible because then you lose the "status" you have gained.

You can do this! You are THE BOSS--let them know. Lay down the law and follow the steps. No breaks! Be tough. They want it. You'll be amazed and actually get some teaching done.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

First, rehearse how you will kick them out. Imagine it through, be ready. Second, think of the procedure you will use. I'd suggest you give two warning, and pretty quick ones, and send the kid out. If you have some kids you expect you should have kicked out before, write the referral before class. Say they were repeatedly disruptive and have been warned twice, and as soon as they get to the third, sign it and give it to them. When kids see this, they get really freaked out.

Don't worry about the class being angry or thinking your unfair. I've never seen a class get angry when I kick someone out, they always love it.

I'd also suggest you don't start the class with telling them you're going to crack down. Talk is cheap and you've probably already proven your words are cheaper. Just do it. Two warnings, and a referral.

Try to kick out three kids. That should be your goal. More would be an over kill, less may not get the point across.

Answer 4

My first teaching job (no teaching certificate, no teacher education, somebody quit and they were desperate for a warm body) involved teachers being told that a new class was being formed, send us five names of kids you want out of your class. TRUE STORY! I had a 7th grader who couldn't read the words "add", "subtract", etc. I had 16- and 17-year old kids who were in the 7th grade for the 3rd time. Most of my classes did not contain a single student who hadn't been suspended by Christmas. Then there was the science class that was just like all the others, except that it also had 2 special ed kids who were only mainstreamed in this one class, and 4 gifted kids because the school did not offer gifted science. My point is, I went on to get certified and stayed on another 20 years. That's my pep talk to you. You've gotten some good advice -- now hang in there. You'll never have another year as hard as this one.

Answer 5

Wow, I just went to a seminar on this topic yesterday. Please check out this web site:
http://www.tlc-sems.com/
The seminar was fantastic and there was way too much information to post it all here. If you don't find stuff that feels like you can use it, please email me. I will be happy to share what I learned. Working with kids like you have described can be the most challenging teaching situation, but it can also be the most rewarding. Try to remember that those who are the hardest to love are the ones who need it the most!

A few major points to remember:
*Don't send kids to the office or hallway. It doesn't accomplish anything.
*Use unconventional teaching strategies, and remember to use everything as a teaching opportunity. (Even tests are an opportunity to teach!)
*Remember that "Fair" and "Equal" are not always the same thing. If your most difficult students only do 5 problems, it may be a big step forward from yesterday when they did nothing. Be sure you acknowledge the effort!
*Don't worry about getting the "last word." Let the kid have it, and walk away. You don't need it, and they do in order to save face. Allow them to do that, and they will be more cooperative.

Answer 6

Start off by telling them their behavior and work up to this point has been unacceptable. You could even say you've now got the authority to better deal with their behavior (which makes it seem like you didn't before- might be helpful) and that you expect much more from them starting today. Be super direct and don't take crap from them. Use the referral forms if you have to. I would say it sucks that you got placed in this class as a student teacher, but it will probably be the best thing that could happen to you in the long run. You'll be able to handle anything now. :) Best wishes!

Answer 7

It sounds like the traditional method to teaching are not going to work with this classroom. Perhaps it's time to try some unconventional means? (My heart goes out to you, because I remember how difficult it was for each of the student teachers we had back when I was in high school).

Try coming up with a competitive learning game in which the class has to cooperate with one another in order to win. For example, since its nearly Halloween, offer up a trick-or-treat bag of candy to each of the members of the team that scores the most points. Divide the class into equal groups and have them answer some pre-algebraic questions. Give the point to the team that comes up with the correct answer first - but have the team's designated spokesperson work out the answer on the board. (That way the kids aren't just learning the answer, but how to solve the problem).

It might prove to be a means for you to get them to listen to you (which is difficult for student teachers) without having to administer punishments. (Most principals prefer teachers to resolve issues within their own classrooms).

I hope this helps give you some ideas..... Good Luck! Let me know how it goes.

Answer 8

Tell them that their education is their responsibility.
Tell them they will only get out of your class what they are willing to put in.
Tell them that you can be the best teacher in the world, but if they do not want to learn there is nothing you can do for them.
Tell them it does not matter how much you care, if they do not care about themselves, or their future.
Tell them they may need to suffer the consequences of their choices, but that you will be available for those who want to learn.
Then be firm, and move on; leave the decision up to them
It is your job to provide the opportunity for them to be able to learn, it is not, and never will be your job to make them do it.

Answer 9

Complain to the School Principal!

Complain to your training mentor!

No way should student teachers get the pupils that experienced staff won't touch.

If you don't get any joy - walk out.