Comments on: New Classroom Rule: Don’t Talk To Me http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Martinahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/#comment-6151 Martina Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:34:37 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=567#comment-6151 In Swedish high school (where I teach) rules are frown upon unless you negotiate them with your students. Sounds great, never works. Eventually itīs up to your personal threshold how much you take. Is it OK if they lie in sofas with their feet up when you pass by rushing in between your lessons? I tell my students not to but wouldnīt dare to tell off any students I donīt teach myself. What is a rule if there is no consequence ( In Sweden they did away with the concept of punishment years ago) in case you break it?
One small thing I introduced this term is that I ask latecomers to come in as if they were invisible. I explain to them how awful disrupting it is when someone barges in. Iīm also very fussy about making sure they shut the door every time they either leave or come in. The classroom is like a balloon, you leave the door even slightly ajar and the whole energy just pops off. I probably lie to them when I put it down to Feng Shui but nobody questioned it yet.

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Laurahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/#comment-5787 Laura Tue, 26 May 2009 04:05:17 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=567#comment-5787 One way to streamline questions is to have hand signals for different purposes. If students raise three fingers (sign language for the letter "W") they need to go to the back of the room to get a drink of water. If they raise their first two fingers crossed (sign language for the letter "R") they need a pass to use the restroom. If they hold up a piece of paper, they need permission to throw it away, or if they hold up a pencil they need permission to sharpen it. If they raise their hand without any other indicators, they have a question and need me to come to their desk to help them out. For every hand signal, I make eye contact and nod my head for "yes" or shake it for "no". It saves a lot of time and frustration and sometimes saves a child the embarassment of saying they need to use the restroom in front of the whole class. I've used this method for two years of fourth grade and two years of 6th and love it. I teach the procedure at the beginning of the year and have them posted on a bulletin board as well. One way to streamline questions is to have hand signals for different purposes. If students raise three fingers (sign language for the letter “W”) they need to go to the back of the room to get a drink of water. If they raise their first two fingers crossed (sign language for the letter “R”) they need a pass to use the restroom. If they hold up a piece of paper, they need permission to throw it away, or if they hold up a pencil they need permission to sharpen it. If they raise their hand without any other indicators, they have a question and need me to come to their desk to help them out.
For every hand signal, I make eye contact and nod my head for “yes” or shake it for “no”.
It saves a lot of time and frustration and sometimes saves a child the embarassment of saying they need to use the restroom in front of the whole class.
I’ve used this method for two years of fourth grade and two years of 6th and love it. I teach the procedure at the beginning of the year and have them posted on a bulletin board as well.

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Jenniferhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/#comment-5438 Jennifer Mon, 04 May 2009 00:41:17 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=567#comment-5438 Does anyone else's school have a 30 minute leeway for entering and for eating breakfast in class? Eat. Clean up Read is like a broken record. Maybe centers would help them hurry it up! Does anyone else’s school have a 30 minute leeway for entering and for eating breakfast in class? Eat. Clean up Read is like a broken record. Maybe centers would help them hurry it up!

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Theresa Whitehttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/#comment-2685 Theresa White Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:43:36 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=567#comment-2685 Great question! I teach in an elementary general music room as well as a high school choir room, and it is the same issue! At the high school, I am still trying to figure out how to make it work. We have classroom officers that answer many questions, but I realize that there are just students who like to ask questions for the sake of asking questions! I also use the "3 before me" mantra in the elementary. Also works well (when they remember!) I find that I am spending much of the time reminding them to use 3 people before me! I like Stengel99's comments at the bottom - I think I'll have to try that!!! Great question! I teach in an elementary general music room as well as a high school choir room, and it is the same issue! At the high school, I am still trying to figure out how to make it work. We have classroom officers that answer many questions, but I realize that there are just students who like to ask questions for the sake of asking questions! I also use the “3 before me” mantra in the elementary. Also works well (when they remember!) I find that I am spending much of the time reminding them to use 3 people before me! I like Stengel99′s comments at the bottom – I think I’ll have to try that!!!

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Stengel99http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/#comment-2639 Stengel99 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:06:53 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=567#comment-2639 Two more thoughts: - A year or two I stumbled on the phrase, "I'm not taking questions right now." As those words came out of my mouth, it was like a revelation. That phrase has been a huge time saver. No, it doesn't solve every situation, but it sure helps. - In one of our before-the-school-year-starts staff development meetings, we had a discussion question about this kind of thing. One solution proposed by a small team of teachers regarding the constant questioning was the "nonsense answer." The student asks, "Is this right?" (or whatever question they know they're not supposed to ask), and the teacher replies, "Extension cord" or some other off-the-wall nonsense phrase. It's a non-threatening, hopefully lighthearted way of signaling to the student that what they're doing is inappropriate and they need to stop, and they aren't going to get the better of the situation by wearing the teacher down with pestering questions. Two more thoughts:

- A year or two I stumbled on the phrase, “I’m not taking questions right now.” As those words came out of my mouth, it was like a revelation. That phrase has been a huge time saver. No, it doesn’t solve every situation, but it sure helps.

- In one of our before-the-school-year-starts staff development meetings, we had a discussion question about this kind of thing. One solution proposed by a small team of teachers regarding the constant questioning was the “nonsense answer.” The student asks, “Is this right?” (or whatever question they know they’re not supposed to ask), and the teacher replies, “Extension cord” or some other off-the-wall nonsense phrase. It’s a non-threatening, hopefully lighthearted way of signaling to the student that what they’re doing is inappropriate and they need to stop, and they aren’t going to get the better of the situation by wearing the teacher down with pestering questions.

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Mr. ReBandhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/#comment-2638 Mr. ReBand Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:30:15 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=567#comment-2638 This is a fun conversation. As someone getting re-used to middle school band, I have been shoved into the 10,000 questions in the first 30 seconds idea once again. I too have the short um...thought provoking responses to questions, but that just seems to make kids ask more questions about not understanding what I mean or said. I'm finding the in your seat to be able to ask questions work pretty well for me. This is a fun conversation. As someone getting re-used to middle school band, I have been shoved into the 10,000 questions in the first 30 seconds idea once again. I too have the short um…thought provoking responses to questions, but that just seems to make kids ask more questions about not understanding what I mean or said. I’m finding the in your seat to be able to ask questions work pretty well for me.

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Stengel99http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/#comment-2627 Stengel99 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:09:07 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=567#comment-2627 I had the same frustration my first year of teaching. (Mind you, I am a reformed introvert, so too many people for too long makes me kooky.) My wife gave me some good insight on this issue: Sometimes kids just want to have face time with you. At one point I started noticing how often any given student might go through an entire rehearsal without getting any personal contact with me. Some kids never came up to me and asked to go to the bathroom or anything, and I sometimes would go several days without saying a word directly to them. So I tried to start going out of my way to talk with those students so that I knew they actually did exist. And when talkative students would approach me before or after rehearsal, I would try to allow them a moment of small talk. I've found that with students like that, looking at them in the eye, smiling, nodding, and saying something silly like "Lisa, you crack me up" goes a long way. I had the same frustration my first year of teaching. (Mind you, I am a reformed introvert, so too many people for too long makes me kooky.) My wife gave me some good insight on this issue: Sometimes kids just want to have face time with you. At one point I started noticing how often any given student might go through an entire rehearsal without getting any personal contact with me. Some kids never came up to me and asked to go to the bathroom or anything, and I sometimes would go several days without saying a word directly to them. So I tried to start going out of my way to talk with those students so that I knew they actually did exist. And when talkative students would approach me before or after rehearsal, I would try to allow them a moment of small talk. I’ve found that with students like that, looking at them in the eye, smiling, nodding, and saying something silly like “Lisa, you crack me up” goes a long way.

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: elementaryhistoryteacherhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/#comment-2625 elementaryhistoryteacher Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:32:08 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=567#comment-2625 Rather than making a rule about the restroom I prefer to place bathroom issues under classroom procedures. Like a previous commenter I allow students to go at will as long as the procedures are followed in a timely manner. Rather than making a rule about the restroom I prefer to place bathroom issues under classroom procedures. Like a previous commenter I allow students to go at will as long as the procedures are followed in a timely manner.

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Emilyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/#comment-2624 Emily Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:09:02 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=567#comment-2624 I am a first year teacher and I have a self-contained room for kids with emotional disbilities. One of my new rules is that they can NOT ask me about the schedule. I taught them to tell time, and the daily schedule is on the board. They can't ask me how long till the next subject, or remind me what comes next. We can all read the board. Drives me crazy! I am a first year teacher and I have a self-contained room for kids with emotional disbilities. One of my new rules is that they can NOT ask me about the schedule. I taught them to tell time, and the daily schedule is on the board. They can’t ask me how long till the next subject, or remind me what comes next. We can all read the board. Drives me crazy!

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Miss Khttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/new-classroom-rule-dont-talk-to-me/#comment-2622 Miss K Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:28:09 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=567#comment-2622 I actually like yours, Joel--the only thing I add is "...during transitional periods." That way, kids going out leave and the others come in and get to work. As a HS English teacher it's always hilarious when there is an essay or major project due. I tell them the day before, "Do not give me ANY excuses, if it's not here tomorrow then by the end of the school day, then it's late." Of course I have to repeat it that day by reminding them not to tell me anything, just go to their seats. Glad to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't like huddles around her desk, (or her person for that matter) before the bell rings. I actually like yours, Joel–the only thing I add is “…during transitional periods.” That way, kids going out leave and the others come in and get to work. As a HS English teacher it’s always hilarious when there is an essay or major project due. I tell them the day before, “Do not give me ANY excuses, if it’s not here tomorrow then by the end of the school day, then it’s late.” Of course I have to repeat it that day by reminding them not to tell me anything, just go to their seats. Glad to know that I’m not the only one who doesn’t like huddles around her desk, (or her person for that matter) before the bell rings.

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]>