Ready to give up

[auntbea]

This is the worst year yet! I thought I had a handle on the class. When I interviewed, I was to teach 4th, then at the last minute, I was switched to 3rd. The Principle wanted a vetern/seasoned teacher with this group. They are terrible! No self-control, questioning my authority, repeated offenses for the same thing, ie leaning back in chairs, you correct them, and then they do it again, and look at you like what are you going to do. Of course, I correct them, again. I have sent letters home, talked to the principal, etc....

For the most part, parents are supportive, but there are the few do no wrong darlings that just test me on a continual basis. My principal says, its just this class, its how they were raised, watch how you treat that one, etc.... Did I mention this is third grade? I get so tired of having to send notes home! Some come back, some don't. The parents talk a big game, but little follow through. I have one boy that can lie to my face and not blink an eye!

In addition to all this, I have to teach 3-6 Music/Art in addition to the classroom. (Remember, small school, many hats) Same problems, bigger scale. I am sitting here, Sunday morning, about in tears, I have tried everything. I love teaching, and I won't quit, I need the job and the insurance, but I can't take a mental health day because the sub gives them way too much free time and it will just be worse when I come back. Help!!! words of advice, encouragement, prayers, anything will be appreciated. Seriously thinking about getting some meds.

[dsmms]

I can feel your pain. My first year teaching, I was hired six weeks into the school year - already behind the curve. The school had an influx of third graders so that created a need for another class. I was happy to get the job, but it was a tough class. To create my class they took all of the new students that had enrolled after the beginning of the year, and then took two or three students from each of the other third grades classes. Needless to say,the teachers did not give me their shining stars. I got the kids with a variety of issues. One teacher said she gave me one whose parent was a major pain. "Thanks," I say. That is an excellent way to break in a brand new teacher.

I researched strategies that worked in other classes and found some ideas that I implemented in January after the kids came back from winter break. One thing that worked for me was a behavior card that had a list of infractions on it which I could mark with just a number. This allowed me to be consistent with behavior issues and keep the parents informed without taking up a lot of time. I will send it to you if I can locate it on my computer. I have had some computer issues since I taught this class, so it may take some looking. They kept this card in a half inch binder with their agenda. I had these binders divided into sections for behavior and parent communication, Agenda, unfinished work and Finished work.

One of the big issues in this class was getting work done. I bought a 27 pocket chart for the kids to turn in their work. In the pocket chart, I could see at a glance who did or didn't turn in work. I also had them check off an assignment chart when they turned the work in.

Each student had a number and we did everything by number - Getting in line, turning in work, working in groups - they didn't move until they heard their number called.

If what you are doing isn't working - change it. What works for other kids may not work for these. I had one of the third grade teachers inform me that what I was doing was too primary, but I actually got the idea from a middle school where I worked temporarily before taking on this class. They wanted me to do what everyone else was doing - but I didn't have the class that everyone else had. I took control over the situation and turned this class around. By the end of the year, it was a different class.

I hope this helps. Don't give up - just find what works for you.

P.S. For kids rocking back in their chair, I would immediately put them in a special spot in the floor (taped off) for safety sake. If someone complains, I would tell them that I was concerned about the safety of their child so I put them where they couldn't crack their head open falling backward.

[auntbea]

Thanks for your input. I use the green, yellow, orange, red color chart for behavior. Some it doesn't bother them until they get to red. Thus, a note home. Students have a melt down, etc.... Tell them they made the choices to get to this point. Parents sign and return the note but very little reponse after that.

I do not give a lot of free time. I try to keep everyone busy and engaged. This class cannot handle a lot of free time. Of course, I have the couple that finish almost before I finish the instructions, and then I have one, who is so slow, but her attitude is good, never complains, always finishes at some point and turns it in. I hate to move too fast, because then she has tons of homework. The bonus is her handwriting is beautiful and takes very little time to check it when it does come in.

Sometimes I wonder if it is me, but the teachers who have had this class say, I am swallowing the same bitter pill they did, and I don't complain near as much as they did. I try to handle all discipline in my class, because all of the troublesome students are on the list that they cannot be paddled, and the principle just talks to them, and the counselors babies them.
Woe is me. LOL I went to church this morning and feel alittle better.

[teacher5]

:wowee:Dear Aunt Bea, Don't give up! I definitely agree about leaning back in the chair and putting the kid on the floor. Be sure to limit the area he/she has to sit in by putting masking tape on the floor. Free time is out of the question for this class. Call it choice time. When the work is done they can do independent reading, write in a writers' notebook, do a word search or crossword puzzle, if you have laptop computers go to a specific educational site that supports your curriculum, design a crossword puzzle for the class on puzzlemaker.com, etc. These activities must be clearly reviewed and/or modeled by you so when choice time comes each student can go do it independently. Although some parents and administrators frown on candy rewards; it may be the ticket with this class. But it can only be earned by a table. Now you've got some peer pressure going on. The initial reward must come at the end of each period of instruction by giving out points: 4 points, 3 points, 2 points, and 1 point. You need to post the points each time in a visible area for all to see. Before each period begins, you must be clear on expectations to win a 4, and explain it takes a whole table to win. The table at the end of the morning or the end of the day, if you can delay gratification that far, gets to pick a candy treat. You need to invest in plastic zip bags, and about $20 -$30 worth of candy. It's worth every penny! Go to Walmart. Put the candy in bags so everyone can see the choices. If you want to go one step further, you can value the bags of candy with points. So the winning table may have earned for the day 15 points, but they can't choose from the bags valued at 20 or 25 points. Of course, put the highly prized candy in those bags: (ie. Blow Pops) If you can delay gratification until the end of the week, even better. But it sounds like you need to start period by period, and amend this system by dealying gratification for longer periods of time. Obviously, forget sending the kid to the principal. Principals really don't want to be bothered disciplining kids. They only want to see them for positive things when they have time. You don't want to send a kid or kids to the principal for an altercation, either. Then the administrator will blame you for poor class control. You want to limit your contact with the parents, too. You now know the parents that are supportive and will follow through, and the ones that just give you lip service or avoid the situation. Focus your energies on being CLEAR and CONSISTENT. I hope this has helped. If you need a lift go online to Harry Wong. He has a lot of other ideas. Or try, Helping Teachers Grow by Darren B. Keep us posted.

[wig]

Our third grade class is also a real handful. Must have been something in the water that year.

You have been given excellent advice. Many of the strategies dsmms uses I have used in middle school with success. I am not a fan of rewards for expected behaviors, but perhaps you may have to resort to that. Ours uses an extra recess or gym time for whole class behavior. She has the word RECESS on the board. If a class period goes well she erases a letter. She also has a table in the back of the room. If it is one or two people causing the problem they get moved to that table so their behavior does not ruin it for the class.

I confess that I have old eyes :laugh: so I could not easily read Teacher 5s post, but I did notice the words CLEAR and CONSISTENT and I would agree. I have clear procedures (ala Harry Wong) and I am very consistent about enforcing them. http://teachers.net/wong/JAN09/ (Scroll down for the archived columns)

Your choir/art period is difficult because of the wide range in ages. Make sure your procedures and expectations are clear. Remove anyone who does not follow directions immediately and send them to one of the other teachers to do a prearranged written assignment. Usually following through on consequences is pretty effective.

If indeed this class is one everyone has had problems with, at least you know it is not you. Only one semester left.

[David]

Don't be too disheartened. The first year in a new school is always difficult even for a seasoned teacher. The students don't know you and your expectations so they are just trying you out. One of the things I do to make my day positive is to make sure I let the good kids know how happy I am with them. Quite often they are the ones who miss out. I let them know that I consider them independent workers and as such certain privileges come with that e.g. they are allowed to walk themselves to assembly, the library,etc.
They have a part of the day, once a week, where I put their work on the board and they are allowed to complete it in any order they wish and have free time at the end. By complimenting these students during the day I don't feel as though I'm spending the whole day being negative. Also the other students can see that you really do value good workers.
With the not so good kids, don't alter your expectations to suit their bad behaviour. They need to learn that when you say something you mean it and you will back it up with immediate consequences. I put the students names on the board and each time they do something wrong I add a cross to their name. At lunchtime those children who have their names on the board have to wrtie out times tables for me. The number they write depends on the number of crosses. I'm lucky that I've been in my present school for quite a long time so the kids know I mean what i say so i very rarely have to put a name on the board.
Hang in there, it may take a couple of years to find your feet.

[Dhe Poet]

Oh! At least you know you can't give up. With hope these children will come back and thank you one day for putting up with their ways in the least. I think I would find out what the very special kid feels is very special, kind of show it to him/her and let the class know they may be in for a treat. If a problem child really likes playing a certain spelling game or being a captain of a team or perhaps judge or juror. Mention the childs name as if they will be chosen and go back on your decision mentioning why you think it won't work out as they thought. At the very least this will help find what they really like and are willing to behave appropriately to make sure they have a better chance the next time around.
Maybe too, start off one color away from trouble?
When I coached kids football we took our team to an indoor amusement park and treated them to a grand day! On the way one of the coaches pulled over and asked if we'd switch a few children around some vehicles and so I was stuck with two obnoxious friends and gave up two very well behaved boys. Don't you know that those same two wonderful kids had ate breakfast together before we left and got sick all over the coaches new van. He pulled over once again and we could not help but chuckle. Find out what they like and take it from them. Demand RESPECT. Quitting isn't an option we can live with, happily