I’m stopping by my own blog for a breather.
I miss my blog. I have been scanning my blog reader on my lunch breaks, but I don’t have much time for commenting. Forgive me, for I only have 3 weeks of this job left.
I am becoming increasingly more frustrated. I really don’t understand what has changed, but my own experience in high school was very different from this. I was a good kid, I did everything I was supposed to, and I never in my recollection was told to “stop talking” or to “pay attention” because I wasn’t that kind of kid. I did those things on my own.
Where did the kids like me go?
I have several posts planned for your complete enjoyment, I just need to be able to get up enough stamina to sit in front of a computer long enough to think that hard.
I’m going to write about the pregnancy books I have read, and which I found most useful.
I’m going to write about my most recent birthing class, my doctor appointment that I had today. I’ll also be writing about the new, weekly appointments I have to have because of the GD.
And how annoyed I am with this stupid diagnosis.
By the way. I’m pretty pissed about it.
But I can’t go into that right now, because I had a bad day at work, and I’m trying to relax and writing about what has me so pissed off will not make me feel better.
Later. lol.
What was the best classroom management technique you’ve ever experienced – as a student. Think back to high school. Those types of things your teachers did that you really hated. lol.
Thursday, May 19th, 2011, 5:45 pm | 
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May 19, 2011 at 11:51 pm
I have a very different management style than my co-workers. For example, I allow my students to visit a chat with each other until the 8:00 bell as long as they have put up their things, taken out homework, used the bathroom, etc. Other teachers require their students to come in and get busy right away. I find that if I let them talk first thing, they are easier to get settled at the 2nd bell. I have also done an activity where for 2 minutes students can say what is on their mind. No one is allowed to make a comment on anyone else’s comment. No one can say another comment until everyone has an opportunity to speak. Like someone might say “today sucks” no one is allowed to agree or disagree. Or someone might share that they got a 100 on their history project. Again no one can say “good for you”. If they are chatty that might help. What specfic problems are you having? High school can be a tough crowd:)
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May 20, 2011 at 8:10 am
Oh my gosh, I had a teacher senior year who would throw things at us if we were chatting. He was SO slick about it and just kept right on talking about whatever he was discussing but would pick up someone’s winter hat and ball it up and throw it at the student who was being disruptive. Usually he didn’t need to hit the student, just get their attention as a way of saying “you’re being rude” without having to be equally disruptive. The members of the class who were paying attention took enough pleasure in these moments that the disruptive student was brought to shame and it was just a win all around.
My favorite moment with this teacher was the time one of my classmates fell asleep against the filing cabinet. The teacher went and slammed one of the file cabinet drawers closed so he would wake up. It was hilarious.
I had an art teacher who got really angry one time and made the entire class sit and watch her paint. I don’t know why this was effective, but everyone was quiet. I really disliked her.
One of my friends sat her entire class down and had them write rules for the classroom and consequences. It didn’t end up working out for her but they were 6th grade – maybe your students are mature enough to make that work?
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May 20, 2011 at 10:27 am
I think a clear consequence is the best way to go. Give the warning at the beginning, but you’ll have to be ubber consistent, since they think they have the upper hand.
We were allowed to give ‘teacher’ detentions when I was teaching. That way the kids didn’t go to the formal detention, but you had them meet in your classroom. You are giving up that quiet time at the end of the day, but when I gave those I made them write me a letter about why whatever it was that they did was wrong and why the wouldn’t do it again. The main detention was like study hall, which I hated–a quiet place to get your homework done–nope you’re actually going to lose your time to me!
Charge them minutes by the amount of time they talk (1 minute the first time, 5 the second, etc.). We had to give a few days notice (so they could arrange transportation and all), but I gave those a few times and I think they were better than the school ones, even if they were sometimes shorter. You might want to check into it.
Sometimes calling parents is helpful, but I found often the kids were mirroring their parents’ attitudes.
Also, occasionally, standing there completely silently while staring at them works too. They get so embarrassed that they quit.
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