Comments on: 5 Surefire Tips For Handling Misbehavior http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:07:56 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Tom Anselm http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-5733 Tom Anselm Thu, 14 May 2009 14:59:32 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/09/12/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-5733 Joel these are great points. Especially like the issue of following through on threats, remaining in control and getting the job done and moving on. Far too often, a teacher will take thing personally, get upset worse than the kids, drag out an episode until it becomes confrontational, and as soon as this happens, the game is up and the teacher loses. Then it becomes office referral, principal involvement, parents upset at the teacher who can't handle the class. One thing I might add is to that a teacher needs to make the climate/culture/expectations known early on. It is easier to back off as one's "Personal Power" becomes stronger than it is to start out easy and try to impose a structure/response after the inmates have taken over the asylum. Oh, and with regard to humor... a definite plus if you can pull it off naturally and honestly. Otherwise, kids see through it, and will take advantage of you. Joel these are great points. Especially like the issue of following through on threats, remaining in control and getting the job done and moving on.
Far too often, a teacher will take thing personally, get upset worse than the kids, drag out an episode until it becomes confrontational, and as soon as this happens, the game is up and the teacher loses. Then it becomes office referral, principal involvement, parents upset at the teacher who can’t handle the class.
One thing I might add is to that a teacher needs to make the climate/culture/expectations known early on. It is easier to back off as one’s “Personal Power” becomes stronger than it is to start out easy and try to impose a structure/response after the inmates have taken over the asylum.
Oh, and with regard to humor… a definite plus if you can pull it off naturally and honestly. Otherwise, kids see through it, and will take advantage of you.

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]]> By: Mrs. D http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-5643 Mrs. D Thu, 07 May 2009 19:48:06 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/09/12/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-5643 I had a lot of trouble with the empty threats last year - heard a student telling someone else I had just 'threatened' say 'she'll never go through with it'. This year I actually have a class I can trust more (although they are younger than last years) and I find that a) I'm not making as many threats and b) because I'm only making them when I need them, I go through with them better. Yesterday, a child came up to a good compromise to a situation - usually when students don't finish their work, teachers make them work outside the staffroom. This student asked to work on the little landing/verandah outside our classroom. It gave her space to breathe and calm down and stop seeing me as the big baddy, and she got her work done and kept working well for the rest of the day. If she'd felt humiliated outside the staffroom for everyone to see, she would have kept up the sulks all day, so this was perfect. Because I can trust my students to work down there, I'll probably use that idea again. I had a lot of trouble with the empty threats last year – heard a student telling someone else I had just ‘threatened’ say ’she’ll never go through with it’.

This year I actually have a class I can trust more (although they are younger than last years) and I find that a) I’m not making as many threats and b) because I’m only making them when I need them, I go through with them better.

Yesterday, a child came up to a good compromise to a situation – usually when students don’t finish their work, teachers make them work outside the staffroom. This student asked to work on the little landing/verandah outside our classroom. It gave her space to breathe and calm down and stop seeing me as the big baddy, and she got her work done and kept working well for the rest of the day. If she’d felt humiliated outside the staffroom for everyone to see, she would have kept up the sulks all day, so this was perfect. Because I can trust my students to work down there, I’ll probably use that idea again.

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]]> By: Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-5488 Joel Mon, 04 May 2009 22:40:17 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/09/12/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-5488 I still do it from time to time. I think the best prevention that I have found is just planning out in advance how it is that I'm going to respond if something happens. Kinda like you go through all sorts of hypothetical situations in your mind and have a pretty clear course of action already laid out. If something happens when I'm afraid that I might say something I will soon regret, I like to say, "We'll discuss the consequences later," and sort of let the kids get scared for a little bit. As far as threatening the whole class, just be sure you don't make a threat that you're not willing to keep. <blockquote>"If you don't tell me who threw that, you're not going home."</blockquote> Now obviously, they will go home sooner or later. It's just a matter of figuring out how much class time they will get you to waste. Better to not have said anything at all than paint yourself into a corner and set yourself up to wimp out on them! :) I still do it from time to time. I think the best prevention that I have found is just planning out in advance how it is that I’m going to respond if something happens. Kinda like you go through all sorts of hypothetical situations in your mind and have a pretty clear course of action already laid out.

If something happens when I’m afraid that I might say something I will soon regret, I like to say, “We’ll discuss the consequences later,” and sort of let the kids get scared for a little bit.

As far as threatening the whole class, just be sure you don’t make a threat that you’re not willing to keep.

“If you don’t tell me who threw that, you’re not going home.”

Now obviously, they will go home sooner or later. It’s just a matter of figuring out how much class time they will get you to waste. Better to not have said anything at all than paint yourself into a corner and set yourself up to wimp out on them! :)

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]]> By: AcousticAdvocate http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-5484 AcousticAdvocate Mon, 04 May 2009 21:46:52 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/09/12/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-5484 I'm currently in my 2nd year of teaching, and I still struggle with the making empty threats. 1) Has anyone else struggled with that? and 2) What would you say has helped you most in stopping that? I’m currently in my 2nd year of teaching, and I still struggle with the making empty threats. 1) Has anyone else struggled with that? and 2) What would you say has helped you most in stopping that?

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]]> By: Chet Swearingen http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-2408 Chet Swearingen Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:01:58 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/09/12/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-2408 Thanks for this valuable information! Chet Thanks for this valuable information!

Chet

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]]> By: Ms Jordan http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-2308 Ms Jordan Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:49:56 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/09/12/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-2308 I love the "bad words" idea - you insert "bad words" where one might actually say a bad word. Love it. You can tell this was written by some one with actual teaching experience. Teachers are only human - some of the best humans- but human nonetheless. Only someone who is not a teacher would expect us to be perfect. I love the “bad words” idea – you insert “bad words” where one might actually say a bad word. Love it. You can tell this was written by some one with actual teaching experience. Teachers are only human – some of the best humans- but human nonetheless. Only someone who is not a teacher would expect us to be perfect.

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]]> By: Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-1997 Joel Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:59:31 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/09/12/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-1997 Dominga, I have posted a <a href="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/turning-the-ship-overcoming-a-history-of-poor-teaching/" rel="nofollow">response to your question here</a>. Thanks again! Dominga, I have posted a response to your question here. Thanks again!

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]]> By: Jane http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-1954 Jane Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:39:10 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/09/12/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-1954 Fist of all Dominga, I have been there and feel your pain! Really. I am a huge fan of Ms. Jones and she has a book on classroom management. I haven't seen it , but I have other stuff of hers and she is a frequent speaker for our union sponsored events. You can download a sample chapter here: http://www.urbanedutainmentonline.com/Site/ProductsBook.html Also, this blog has lots of great tips so surf around here and you will find some answers. Fist of all Dominga, I have been there and feel your pain! Really.

I am a huge fan of Ms. Jones and she has a book on classroom management. I haven’t seen it , but I have other stuff of hers and she is a frequent speaker for our union sponsored events. You can download a sample chapter here:

http://www.urbanedutainmentonline.com/Site/ProductsBook.html

Also, this blog has lots of great tips so surf around here and you will find some answers.

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]]> By: dominga http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-1953 dominga Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:12:47 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/09/12/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-1953 I have a rough 5th grade class. most of them are hol overs and have behavioral problmes. There is too much attitudes(girls) there is no self control and self dicipline (two boys) what should I do. I've called parentsand it works for two days. I,ve take nots and had parents visit the school and no cigar. Give me advice. I see myslef sometimes not teaching for a good 10 minutes which is horrible. Most of the time i have to bribe them with candy oir snacks. But how far does that take me? I need a respons asap. thanx. I have a rough 5th grade class. most of them are hol overs and have behavioral problmes. There is too much attitudes(girls) there is no self control and self dicipline (two boys) what should I do. I’ve called parentsand it works for two days. I,ve take nots and had parents visit the school and no cigar. Give me advice. I see myslef sometimes not teaching for a good 10 minutes which is horrible. Most of the time i have to bribe them with candy oir snacks. But how far does that take me? I need a respons asap. thanx.

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]]> By: Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-1820 Joel Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:38:28 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/09/12/5-surefire-tips-for-handling-misbehavior/#comment-1820 Thanks Tom. I'll be sure to check that site out! Welcome to SYWTT! Thanks Tom. I’ll be sure to check that site out! Welcome to SYWTT!

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