My biggest challenge this last week has been three students during my last block of the day. Just recently these three have decided that they like each other because they all laugh at the same jokes and like to make "sweet beats" by tapping on the tables and then not using their "inside" voices.
Basically, they come right in from lunch knowing that this is the end of the day and that finally they get to be together. My struggle has been to not direct attention to them. It seems like everyday they end up distracting everyone and I have to take action. I have tried several methods including separating them, eye contact, proximity, one on one talks...but I have not contacted parents. I think that will be my next step. They have been deducted in their employability points which helped for a little bit. My other concern with this same issue is that I do not want to constantly call them out because I don't want to ignore the rest of the class or make them feel like I am always picking on them to make them react negatively.
I think contacting the parents would be good and having a "final" one on one talk with each while laying out some specific consequences of their continued behavior. Or, I could monitor their lunches and keep them from buying cookies, slushies, or anything remotely close to sugar.
Thanks for listening bloggers. Until next time...DP out.
I have some students that prefer to interact with each other rather than with the rest of their classmates or with me. When the other ideas that you mentioned did not work for me as well, I decided to separate the disruptive students. This does not have to be a permanent separation but one that I can control to get cooperation from them. They can interact within group work and activities. However, during classroom discussion or lecture, they should not be a trilogy. They desire to be together, so my control of their proxemics is helping them cooperate with what I need from them.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you. I was amazed at what a parent call or even a simple email to the parent would merit. I put off and put off taking this step, but after I committed it was a very simple and easy step and for the most part the parent are concerned with the child’s behavior. Once you take this step and the student as well as the rest of the class knows you will take this action, I seem to get their attention.
ReplyDeleteI believe that contacting the Parents should be your first priority. We need their reinforcement. Second I would seperate these students from their classmates. A (One on One) should also be done with the offenders. Most students come back to class after a parent has been contacted with a new respect for our position.
ReplyDeleteDivide and Conquer. It is a very old military technique on the battlefield and I have began using it in my classroom. I moved every desk and moved every student to a new assigned seat. The desks are in group order also. The change is working with very little questioning from my students.
ReplyDeleteAlso parent contact works well for me. I hated it at first thinking it made me look bad. I realized it was these clowns making me look bad. It always seems that only a few are causing 95 percent of all our problems.
I am currently sticking to a classroom grouping scheme that keeps my "Fantastic Four" separate from each other. It is working so far.
I have separated students and if that doesn't work, I call their parents. Also, I have put them in ISS. If the problem still exist you have to set up a conference with the parents. I have also asked the parents to attend class, this really gets their attention. Now the thing that really bothers me is when parents refuse to get involved or don't show up at the conference.
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