Infected Mushroom wrote:I'm going to take over a 9:30 AM lesson tomorrow (as a substitute) and some of those kids are known trouble makers.
This is my general plan for assuming command and making sure the work gets done.
1. I'm going to cut back on the friendly smiles and the jokes. I'm not there to be their "friend," I'm there to be a substitute queen to run a chaotic nation. The old adage, "you should keep some distance from the common people" applies here. I will smile and be friendly BUT ONLY WHEN I feel the majority of the classroom is under control. If not, then I will default to a cold, stony face.
2. When I have to issue commands for people to be silent, I will do so in a relatively cold, sharp, and loud voice. I will also maintain direct eye contact (NO SMILING AT THEM). The kids will hopefully understand that to mean "I'm not messing around." Also, these "threats" to silence them shall be issued in complete sentences and I will not "back down" if anyone creates a confrontation.
The threat order should be as follows:
First: "Simple BE QUIET/QUIET DOWN PLEASE"
Second level: "What is your name? ... Ok [name] you are too loud I need you to be quiet because class is going on right now. If you continue to be so loud you will get NO STICKER at the end of the day. I am completely serious."
Third level: "(a repeat of the second level but with increased verbal aggressiveness)
Fourth level: "STAND UP. You're being too loud. [name] I'm going to have ask you to move over to the front and sit next to me. No? Then be quiet. ... LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU. Do you want me to call [real teacher] and tell them you're not behaving? THEN YOU BE SILENT."
Fifth level: "[Name] NO STICKER FOR DAY. [short lecture about why there will be no sticker for this student]"
All of these threats are to be issued with a cold, clear, voice and with a direct eye contact (no breaking off) and with complete sentences. Professionalism will be maintained (so no name calling of the student).
I think it may work better starting from Second level to move up to the student, crouch down and look STRAIGHT AT THEM.
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Also, snack time and toilet break is going to be a nightmare.
So this is my plan.
After they line up, I will glare at all of them and make them confirm the following while looking VERY THREATENINGLY at them:
1. You will stay in line.
2. There will be no running
3. There will be no jumping
3. BE QUIET
A very very firm warning will be given that if anyone doesn't follow these rules, they will be reported to the [real teacher] when they get back and "they know what will happen next" (in fact, NOTHING happens next because this tutoring center is client-focused and we have no detention system).
However, when they actually move out and come back, this won't be enforced 100% because the objective of the threats above is to MINIMIZE the noise level (its too idealistic to expect 100% compliance).
Any No Stick threat won't necessarily be actually enforced, they can "earn" the sticker back or I might decide to be lenient at the end but only after re-issuing the declarations of wrongful conduct.
All of the above should be balanced with some vague statement about someone at the end getting a Bonus Sticker if they behave.
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However, I think on the whole I need to work, as a new teacher, on this threatening act. People show me too much disrespect and if this keeps up then I might not be able to keep this job.
I really want to keep this job because there's at least a semblance of order (even though I'm having tons of nightmares now about being unable to control these kids)
This makes you sound like a scary person in the classroom, poor kiddos.