looking for other 4th grade teachers!

[superteach]

I am a 1st year 4th grade teacher in a small K-12 school. I am the only 4th grade teacher. This makes it hard to get ideas that work for other teachers teaching the same information. I previously worked at a school where there were 14 4th grade teachers together for the whole district in one building.

Any teachers who would like to join up and put there ideas for 4th grade here at really welcome.

I am really have problems with disrespect and talking????!!!

[hweber]

Hi - 3rd year fourth grade teacher here. I have the same problems - disrespect and talking are huge! Eye rolling, lip smacking, talking in the hallways. Ugh!

[AW2245]

This is my 3rd year teaching fourth grade too. The disrespect and major talking doesn't usually start until 2nd semester for me. They start thinking they are 5th graders! I'd be happy to share/take ideas!

[superteach]

Well, along with all the problems that I am having, I am also having problems with just keeping them on task and getting through one single lesson. I start the day with reading class and so I have a pretty good bunch, then when it's time for regular class, my kids are rabid for human blood. They are trying to eat me alive. I have done all the procedures. I have given them morning work. I have tried it all and it just doesn't work for this class. My principal sees me sighing and is almost to see me crying. I feel as though I am not strong enough a person to do this job.

Really feeling like maybe I need to find another profession.

[AW2245]

Don't get down on yourself. You just have to keep trying things until you find something that works!

Do you not have your regular class in the a.m. until the time when things go crazy or are they coming back from another teacher after they were with you earlier?

[superteach]

Do you not have your regular class in the a.m. until the time when things go crazy or are they coming back from another teacher after they were with you earlier?

We have reading first thing in the morning and I have most of my kids but some go to other classes. When they all get back, it's totally hectic. By the time I get one fire put out, two others have started.

These are all students who have been together since kindergarten.

[AW2245]

When we change classes we make sure the kids are quiet before they go in the hall. No talking is allowed in the hallway. Any students who choose to not follow directions - lose 5 minutes of recess. I don't like taking away recess, but it usually only takes 1 or 2 times until they get the picture. If you establish this, then they will be quieter/calmer coming into your room, which will make everything easier. I also have the rule that if the lights are off in the room, then there is no talking. If I have a tight schedule and need to get started right on time, I'll just keep the lights off when they walk in, and then there isn't that chatter as they cross over the door way to their seats. You have to take time to set up these routines, but once you do, they are effective. Another tip for if it gets crazy -- silently hold your hand up in the air, begin a count down from 5 with your fingers. Have the students who see you do the same with their hand. Everyone catches on and by the time you get to 0, you should have absolute silence and eyes on you. They love helping to "calm" their classmates. If someone is talking when you get to zero - 5 minutes off recess. Again, it only takes a time or two for them to "learn." Try it and see what happens.

[zielio]

I am student teaching in a 4th grad city classroom with 30 kids! ANY IDEAS are really valuable to me as well. Keep 'em coming! :)

[Just ducky]

After fifteen years in fourth grade, I may have some ideas to share--or I hope I do. I also would love to hear some new takes on things. The staff in my school is very seasoned and new ideas are few and far between, soooooooooo share away.

What are you in need of most? Any particular areas?

[jcalza]

Hey guys, hopefully all you teachers can help out my first grade grandson. HIs class is doing a project where they need to have someone from every state in the US send in a postcard. THe project will end when they have a card from each state and you get credit according to how many cards you get. We live in NC so are looking for cards from all the other states. WOuld any of you be williing to send him a postcard. Also, if you know anyone in other states can you ask them to help out also. I'll keep everyone posted in the forum how many cards he gets.

Thanks
His contact info is:
Joseph Calzaretta
12 Bridgham Place
Clayton, NC 27520

You can write him a short note on the card if you like.

Thanks again.
Joanne

[hweber]

After fifteen years in fourth grade, I may have some ideas to share--or I hope I do. I also would love to hear some new takes on things. The staff in my school is very seasoned and new ideas are few and far between, soooooooooo share away.

What are you in need of most? Any particular areas?

My interest is how to stop them from talking. The talk incessantly!! I have tried positive reinforcements, punitive measures (loss of recess), assistant principal talking to them and NOTHING works!! (even phone calls home work only for a day or so). Do you have any suggestions?:(

[Dhe Poet]

I think something like a shoe box full of the next tests answers and when someone is deserving they reach in and take one. You see they can even share with their friends and they'll think they got over on you, when in all actuality we taught ,for they have to find (hopefully know) where it goes.

[Dhe Poet]

Superteach I read yours and was thinking that maybe you could give some of your troblesomes a task to be responsible for or offer an extra credit nothing for volunteers and try to get others interested in taking part for reward perhaps they will take on the responsibilities and become serious

[StillLearning]

Wow, I'm really glad to find you. This is my 4th year teaching and I'm beginning to hit my stride, but I still have trouble in a lot of areas. I don't have the control I want, right now I'm at about 60 percent of the time. I can get them to really do what I want when I'm angry, but I don't want to have that kind of relationship with my students! I look forward to reading and discussing.

[superteach]

My interest is how to stop them from talking. The talk incessantly!! I have tried positive reinforcements, punitive measures (loss of recess), assistant principal talking to them and NOTHING works!! (even phone calls home work only for a day or so). Do you have any suggestions?:(

I would also like to know. I have the same problems. Everything seems to work for a day and then it falls flat. I am back to yelling over their volume and it's giving me a headache!:(

[hweber]

I tried this strategy this week, and it worked this week. May not next week, but hey, one week is good.

Friday Lunch Bunch - students are seated at table groups. They can earn points for participating, being the first table group to get out books or whatever for the next subject or activity SILENTLY, helping each other. I have 6 table groups and give them points on a sliding scale, 6-5-4-3-2-1 as they work or do the required tasks. Then on Friday, the table group with the most points gets to eat lunch with me, in the classroom. I bring in desert (cookies) and a table cloth.

Participation went way up, chatter way down.

[David]

I've been teaching for many years and here are a few ideas that work for me. Firstly, it is very important that the good kids get the attention they deserve, quite often the miss out because the teacher is too focused on those children who are misbehaving. Before I walk in the classroom door in the morning I stand there and look at the kids who are ready before I even enter the room. I make a big thing of this independent behaviour. This makes them and me feel good. Then if there are children who are not ready there are consequences. The children only realise your serious when you give them consequences for their actions. I usually put their name on the board and they have times tables to write out in their own time depending on how many crosses there are. Once the kids realise you're serious you don't end up writing many names on the board. You have to decide what behaviour is acceptable to you and which isn't. Don't put up with the unacceptable behaviour. However, at the same time, spend a great deal of your day telling the good kids how pleased you are with their efforts then you don't feel you've spent the whole day being negative and the good kids have been rewarded for their efforts. I even let the good kids walk themselves to library,etc.

[auntbea]

I, too, have a difficult bunch this year. Nothing seems to work with them. I am anxious to start the second semester and hopefully a "fresh" start. I plan on reviewing the rules and consequences. Here is my problem. I teach 3rd grade. I only have them 2 hours in the morning before they go to PE and then to lunch and recess, so by the time I get them back, they have had 2 hours of unstructured, out of the seat, behavior. Any suggestions?

[David]

Perhaps you could ensure that the period after the unstructured time is very structure. One possible idea is to start off with silent reading to settle them down ....or....go straight into a maths lesson,etc. To me the key is the children realising what the consequences are if they don't do as their teacher asks. Good luck, Aunt Bea.

[Ebeth]

I am a 5th grade teacher, since your kiddos are acting like 5th grade students, I thought I would reply. This is what I do in my classroom: I first make a classroom contract, we discuss "How do you want me to treat you?", "How do you want to be treated by your classmates?", and "How I want to be treated by my students." I get a piece of chart paper and as we agree on each item, it is written on the paper. Once the entire contract is agreeable to all students, they must each come up and sign it. Then we make a chart listing the 5 Positive Consequences that will occur if they are following the contract, then we list the 5 Negative Consequences that will occur if they do not follow the contract. The important thing is that if you say you are going to do something, you MUST follow through! Then I give each child a small behavior chart that has 25 boxes, each time they do something wonderful to help me, another student or the class discussion, I give them a sticker. Once they fill their chart, they are able to get a price from the treasure box and also place their folded up chart in the raffle jar for the raffle at the end of the 6 weeks. I go out and buy things like a football, or school t-shirt to raffle off. They will do just about anything to earn stickers! Oh yeah, if they misbehave, I get to take one of their stickers away. The other thing I do is tell them that once they cross under my doorway into my classroom, no matter where they were or what happened, they will behave according to our contract and expectations. Hope this is helpful!