Let's Try Again (Week Three Part 1)

I came into school on Monday still visibly stressed (two other teachers pointed it out...how embarrassing). But I had a plan.

I created "get-to-know-you" interviews for the 6/7 students and I pulled them out of class individually to ask them about their favourite things, their hopes for the future, and their goals. This is the best thing about team teaching...I can do stuff like this! I am still not through all of the interviews because  a few students refused to participate but I am hoping that I can work on them this week. I have to mention that I truly love all of the students INDIVIDUALLY. They are great to work with one-on-one. The problems only arise when they get together. The distractions can be too much for them to work properly. We will keep trying different approaches all year to make sure that these kids each get the education that they deserve.

In the afternoon I put into action my new strategy for classroom management (and yes, we had tried the regular things last week... points, prizes, threats...nothing had worked). I had read an article online about highly challenging classrooms. The article said that in order to regain control over your out-of-control class you should try to just "wait" for the students to be ready....yep...that's it.

The plan was:
- Tell them EXACTLY and EXPLICTLY what I needed them to do (what does listening look like, what does paying attention mean), and I wrote on the board what I needed from them before I would start art (They love art by the way).
- I told them this...and then I sat silently and waited for them to be ready to listen.
- I didn't say or do anything until they were quiet and ready. I just sat and stared and waited silently.

I had lesson plans prepared for 2 hours of lessons. Within that two hours we only got done 1 hour worth of the lessons...and we never did make it to art. This was quite a struggle for some students.

It may seem a little extreme to sit and wait for that long, however, I am happy to report that on Tuesday I only waited 20 minutes and then got through all of the lessons and the students made it to art.

I am crossing my fingers and toes that Wednesday will be even better. This will be a year long goal, but I can't wait to tell my students how much that they have improved in a few months. I know it will happen. They are all great kids and we all just need to learn to respect each other and the classroom setting.

Wish me luck!