I had a frustrating situation happen in my 5th period class this afternoon. It gave me a chance to exercise some of the classroom management techniques that I learned in NTI, but I still wish it hadn’t of happened. Not long after class started, I noticed that one of my students seemed to be eating something. I went over, and he admitted that he was eating a cookie. When I asked him for the rest of it, he didn’t say anything and continued on with his work. I asked him for it again, and he put the cookie in his pocket and said “no” he would not throw it away. At that point I asked him to step out into the hallway with me. I couldn’t believe that he was making such a big deal out of this, but I obviously couldn’t let it go. Every time this has happened before with other students they just throw whatever it is away and it’s over with. Out in the hallway he would not look at me. When I asked him what was going on he told me that he was hungry, that he paid for the cookie and again insisted that he wouldn’t throw it away. I asked him if it was worth it over a cookie, he said he didn’t care if he got detention. At that point I knew we were at a stalemate, so I told him I wasn’t going to argue with him, but that there would be consequences. We went back into the classroom, and he went back to his station. The rest of the period passed uneventfully.
As the students were leaving I told him that on Monday we would talk about what happened. Here’s the tough part. He’s an average student who admittedly doesn’t want to do the work in my class. It wasn’t what he thought it was going to be. Despite that, he’s been doing well lately and we’ve had a reasonably good rapport after a somewhat rocky start. I don’t want him to go back to being the student he was by overdoing the punishment, but I can’t do too little and risk having more problems in the class.
I talked to one of my teacher friends here, and I told him I thought that two private detentions would suffice (one for food and one for disrespect), along with his class ethics grade taking a hit. He suggested three private detentions. The student rides the bus, so it would inconvenience his parents no matter what. I would rather handle this myself and not involve the administration, but am throwing this out to you all. Any suggestions? I need help with this one.
p.s. I have not contacted the parents yet and am not sure whether I should do so now or wait until after I talk to the student on Monday. I have no idea what reaction I will get from the parents.
This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
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2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!
Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?
2 comments:
Hey Chad,
This is so amazing! I had a similar situation on Thursday of this week. I am about to post the info on my blog about what happened and how I handled it!
Hey Chad,
I deal with that on a weekly basis. I do not allow any food, candy or drink in my classroom. I have it as my second class rule. Some of them will still come in and try to drink or eat something. I go over and ask them for the food and they know already that they are getting a detention from me for it. The food is disposed in my wastebasket. If they give me any fuss about it, they are placed in the back of the room by themselves. If they refuse to give me the food, then I remove them from the class and place them on a chair in the hallway. I will check back on them later and if they can behave themselves I will let them back into the room for the remainder of the class. I do write them up for ISS for being defiant and let the administration handle it. Contacting the parents over the food issue is not worth it unless there is a continually behavioral issue on it. I did contact once a parent on this issue and got good response and the issue was resolved.
MikeM
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