Open Mic - 3/24

Hello NTI Family:

This week has been one of my worst weeks yet since the beginning of the year. I have truly been exposed to the "cream of the crop" in a negative way. Tuesday started the nightmare with 3rd period. I was in a classroom that was created for students who failed Algebra I and have been tossed in to this class. Half of them are not even interested in doing math and don't care to work. They were loud, yelling across the room to each, combing hair in class, not even trying to learn. So, next class, 5th period, is 2x worse. I have a very diverse group in both classes, but this particular period, I have a black student that wants to use racial slurs towards an Pakistanian and they begin to battle, throw paper and all, tear up the lesson. It was a mess. I just told them that if they continued, I would write them up. Well they calmed down for a bit, but started back up. Wed., I am called to be the same teacher. Now I wanted to go home sick because I dreaded 3rd and 5th period. So, my strategy was plain and simple. I gave them a lecture (about life and how important it was for them to pass the class in order to graduate and become successful....) at the beginning of the class and explained to them some rules of the classroom while Mr. Condon was out. They didn't really like it, but understood clearly that severe consequences would follow if they acted up. It went much better and I actually didn't have to write anyone up. So this morning, when I arrive, I have another math teacher who has the same types of classes. You know I was already conditioned, but the kids weren't ready for me. 3 days in a row of poor discipline and unfocused students.


The kids are just "OUT OF CONTROL" and seem to not care about learning, being respectful and trying excel.