I have several students in my classes that absolutely have no desire to learn. They will actually turn in their tests completely blank. I have spoken to each one of their parents and their parents all say the same thing - that they will continue talking to their child, but they are having attitude problems with them at home as well.
I have tried motivating these students every way possible, but it seems that I am hitting a brick wall with them. These students are also the ones that I am also having discipline problems with.
I know that a teacher should never give up trying to motivate and influence their students, but when is enough just that - enough!!!! I have other students that want to learn, but are being "Cheated" out of learning because of the distraction these students bring!!!
These students have been given detentions, ISS and their parents have been called. Advise will be greatly appreciated!!!!!
Steven Vinsant
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.
Rules For Posting To This Blog and Weekly Blog Question
1. Only use your first name (no last names, addresses, IM screen names, etc.)
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.
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?
8 comments:
I don't know much about your curriclum,but in automotive this is where you take shop priveliges away from the bad students.You set them in class and make them do terms,and chapter test.If they refuse to do them let them take the zero.WE ARE TEACHERS NOT BABYSITTERS.I have 5th year seniors in my class who look back and wished they would have been better in their earlier years of high school.I don't feel that it's right that these bad students keep the ones who want to learn from getting a quality education.
Steve,
You save the ones you can and the rest have to learn the hard way! Our job is to teach. Some kids learn differently than others. Some kids learn better the hard way. It may be our job to let them learn the hard way if that is the only way they'll learn! BOOT EM' OUT! Believe it or not you may owe it to them!
I think Steve and Dwayne have offered great words of wisdom. My only advice is to keep in mind that despite appearances (and behavior), you students are still "kids". You have to set boundaries and reasonable consequences for their actions. It's their responsibility to fall into line. Student motivation is probably the toughest nut for any teacher to crack, and it has close ties to classroom management practices. If there were any easy answers to these issues, then someone would have figured it out by now, and we'd all be successfully doing the same things to overcome these obstacles. Hang in there!
i feel your pain...i guess this frustration carries over from out past profession..for instance..woman gets beat up by her husband, i arrest husband, the next day she loves him again and wants to drop the charges..i told my "victims" i will bend over backwards to help you as long as you try to help yourself..if you wont help yourself i wont make alot of effort to help you..i guess that is my worst problem
Don't feel like the lone ranger. I have tried several of the teaching strategies with my students and they still will not participate.I have tried various methods of reviewing covered information to prepare them for a test and they will not even try. Some will not write their names on the test or they will throw the test in the trash.This is the majority in each class. I have identified the students who are interested ,so I continue to teach the lesson, while the others socialize. I guess we have to accept the fact that we cannot save them if they do not want to be saved.Keep your head up and keep on keeping on.
One thing I forgot to mention in my previous comment on your posting is that often these students "don't try" because they've given up on themselves. This is the end result of successive experiences of failing and failure in school. One of the keys to motivating these students is to create experiences and activities for them that allow them to experience success, and to link their lives and experiences to your curriculum. Ask yourself: What can they do well NOW? What types of life experiences have they had that would help connect with this unit of instruction? Then, build those skills and experiences into your learning activities. You've got to make learning personal vs. impersonal for them. For example, if they can act, dance, rap, draw, dribble a basketball, etc. integrate those skills into a learning activity that is tied to your curriculum. You could quiz them about experiences that they've had that relate to your Public Safety Curriculum. Have they ever been a victim of a crime?, etc.
You've got to think out-of-the-box to win these guys over. One of my most successful experiences EVER with the WORST class of students I ever had was journaling. This was done as an opening activity during class time. I gave the students themes and/or topics to write about-- ones that I thought they could all tap into on a meaningful level. They all grumbled at first, but then I couldn't get them to stop writing-- sort of my own Freedom Writers experience. Focus on who your students are, and then find ways to make connections between their personal lives and what you're trying to teach them.
I am not sure of your curriculum either, but in Healthcare Science, in order to get the "seal" on the diploma, the student must pass all three levels successfully...what I mean is that if students don't pass level one, they are dropped from the program.
You guessed it, I teach 3 level one blocks of 90 minutes each. I see all of the kids who could care less in MY classes, and yes, It feels like babysitting for about 95% of those students.
The good news is that next semester, I will have 2 level three classes and only one level one class. Those who are not sincere do move out of the program! This is part of what the seasoned teachers do (dump on) to new teachers. We are earning our "stripes"! At least you can know that your situation is not unique.
Steve
There are few teachers who have never had a class get out of control, Lord knows I have. You might benefit from having a mentor teacher observe class. Sometimes "in the heat of battle" it's hard to assess alternate approaches to behavior management.
The hard part for me in my first year was becoming demoralized when I had a bad day and I think any new teacher who is worth their salt does get demoralized when they have a bad day.
I try to not get excited or show strong negative emotions when students act out or you just end up in a war of wills but I can only tell you to hang in there and assure you it will get better. That has been my experience.
Post a Comment