Okay so, this morning in my period 7 class (the class that gives me the most trouble with attention and talking) I decided to sit down with them and have an honest talk before starting class. Now, this class may be my most difficult to teach, but that certainly does not mean it is my least favorite. In fact, they're really great kids and I have a lot of fun with them. The problem is I realized we have maybe too much fun and I needed to reel them back in and have them recognize that I was their teacher to be respected, not their classmate to goof off with.
It was a little scary.
But, after bonding with them over the past few weeks and establishing a bond and showing them that I actually care about them and want them to do well in my class, it was so not as scary as I thought it would be to give my schpeel.
Let me back track just a bit; our regular classroom flooded the other day, so we had to move next door to my CT's salon room (her other room with couches and chairs where the seniors have discussions) and this concerned me. I knew right away that they would try to take this as a ticket to slack off, take their phones out, fall asleep, whatever. Especially since they give me such a hard time listening because they love to talk and have so much energy. BUT! I've finally figured out how to reign them in!
So there I was at 7:35 this morning sitting before them (gotta admit, I love these comfy chairs in here) and told them before we started going over the homework (that hardly no one did) we needed to have a talk. I was firm, but kind with my tone and eye contact as I told them I really like their class and enjoy having fun with them, but the side conversations have got to stop because it is disrespectful and actually hurt my feelings. I went on to say that I was giving them the chance to be responsible young adults in this room with these comfy chairs and prove to me that I did not have to move us to a different room because I did not want to have to do that. I also became tough with the homework and told them for today I would let them answer the questions as we went over them together and get credit for it, but next time it is a zero. (one kid still sat there and didn't do it, so he did get a zero)
They actually took the talk really well, apologized for their previous behavior, and we had a really productive class! I think they saw my honesty, realized they hurt my feelings, and that I really do care about them. I was relieved that they stepped up to the plate and showed me that they want to be respectful and proved to me that they DO know how to listen and be quiet! Who knew?!
I feel like I was finally admitted into a club or sorority type of thing after a couple weeks of light hazing and it feels great. I think they just needed to know that yes we can have a good time, but they need to respect me as their teacher as well. Yay! :)
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