When Kids advocate for each other

[nandz238]

I have a very diverse 7th grade class with "great smart students" that behave well and do their work on time and some other students with a load of behavior issues and academic disadvantages. In some occasions whenever I try to call the attention of one this "special" kids to tell them to keep working or to stop talking or whatever is that they are doing wrong, one of the other kids tells me that "he's not doing anything wrong", "but he's working mister" and all sort of things, they defend each other; then I find myself with a small strike of about 4 or 5 students and a simple call for attention becomes yelling until I get everything back in order.

Any suggestions?

[Oak Tree]

Give any kid who makes a negative comment detention for backtalk.

[Chef Dave]

Try talking to the child who is working off task in private.

Students who go "on strike" need to understand that there are consequences for these choices. Remain calm in this situation. Explain that the students have a choice. They may work on their assignments or they may receive a 0/F for participation.

Don't take these acts personally. Don't appear flustered. Give the students a choice in a reasonable tone of voice and back off. The students may either choose to participate or reap the consequences of their choices.

If the students become DISRUPTIVE, then fill out a discipline referral and send them to the office.

[busbus]

Many of our students act-out because they want attention. They know just which buttons to push in order to get the attention that they want.

Many of our students act-out in order to avoid doing the work for different reasons. And, they also know which buttons to push in order to get out of doing the work.

So, all in all, it's best not to make a big deal out of the situation by yelling. Remind your students of the code of conduct for your class (class rules), remind them of the consequences for breaking the rules. Those repeated offenders must suffer the discipline referral consequence.

If you have a student support team at your school, then your biggest offenders might need to be referred to the team for assistance with some intervention strategies.

[Spectre]

Calling middle schoolers out in front of the entire class will often cause confrontation. :(

What students want, particularly 7th graders, is the ole "rocket and light show," so when you get upset and start shouting, that can only reinforce the behavior. They're getting what they want.

Correct students privately, as best you can. If this student strike situation presents itself, DON'T lost your cool. Simply go about the normal routine of your class and if the perpetrators insist on disrupting the class, then calmly remind them that your job is to teach, not keep order. If they persist, there must be a consequence. You will, of course, need to arrange this ahead of time.

Have you spoken to either your administration or your guidance departments about this situation? Are they supportive? If they are, then ask that the main perpetrators be isolated, somewhere else, to defuse the situation.

If you have spineless administration or a guidance office (like ours) that tends to pamper and enable problem students, all is not lost ; if you have access to phones (fortunately we do), then have the ringleader call parents at work or at home, being sure to tell them that you want to talk to them as well, and make the student explain why they are calling.If this isn't possible or practical or you know the parent will take sides with the student, then make a pact with other teachers who have similar problems. Arrange to have perpetrators isolated in their classroom, with the understanding that you will accord them the same privledge, when needed.

7th graders can be very "pack" oriented and tend to want to gang up on teachers, particularly if they sense you will go ballistic when they do.

Don't give them the satisfaction! ;)

[leafy seadragon]

Don't forget to try other ways to get them on task, like proximity. When teaching High School I found the kids stayed on task when I "worked" the room. I would never sit down and would walk around helping here and there. Tapping the desk near books of students who didn't get on with it.
A sense of humour also helped. Some times, they muck up because they can't do the task or don't know where to start and don't want anyone to kknow. so it you work the room, giving attention and pointers here and there you can get the ones who struggle on a roll without calling attention to them. If problems persist, take them aside to talk at them, they will always get defensive and gang up when they are confronted in front of a group. Call for help if you need it, but doing this too often can let the kids think you can't manage them. I save the help for serious issues, deal with the rest myself on my terms but giving them some privacy. It's tiring, but it works.