I have stressed the importance of teamwork and unity in my class all year. The students have responded. They encourage each other and work together. I was pleased with their progress until the other day when one of the students got in a fight on the bus and two others jumped in saying "We're Construction class B#####"!" I'm not sure whether I've created a sense of unity and pride in our class or a street gang.
Most of us (vocational ed. teachers) get students who are not functioning well in a traditional school environment. That's just a fact of life for most of us and I sometimes I have to be reminded that I cannot expect for students to make a complete turn around in nine weeks after a lifetime of negative behaviors, frustration and failure in a traditional school environment.
I'm disappointed with these boys but I just don't see taking away extracurricular activities (I can do that at my school) for an extended period over this incident. They were suspended and I feel that is enough. Also, the students involved have not been disciplinary problems in class. I do not want to "beat them down". I do want them to do an assignment about how they could have avoided this incident. This is my gut feeling about how to handle this situation but I would appreciate some input.
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?
3 comments:
I totally agree with your views on this situation, and I think having the students [involved in the fight] write about how they could have avoided the incident is a great idea. You might even want to devote some class time to a whole group discussion/brainstorming session on ideas for resolving conflicts non-violently. You have great instincts as a teacher, and your students will appreciate your fairness and wisdom in dealing with these types of situations.
Johnny, I agree with Jessie. Have you heard about the cop who is doing this to first time offenders who are teenagers? Instead of sending them to jail, he is having them write an essay about choices they have made and how it's impacted their life. I think you are being very fair in your decision!
I totally agree with you on needing a different way to deal with repetitive ISS students. My students are getting ISS for "who knows what reason?" And they don't seem to care at all. It has turned into a full time job for me to keep them work sent to ISS, much less catching them up in labs. I feel that I could do a better job with my classes, if I wasn't spending so much time on work for repetitive ISS students. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
-Riley
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