I agree with our book that my classroom is more diverse now than a classroom a decade ago. I do not have to deal with many violent or severe behaviors, but I deal with minor distractions. My school has adopted PBIS as a school wide initiative in encouraging and rewarding behaviors. Belonging, Excellence, Achievement, Respect, Success. For example, one of our school wide rules is to wear your ID at all times. I have a few students whom I have to ask repeatedly to put it on. If they wear their ID a few times in a row, I may give them a Bear Pride Card for “belonging”. I spend the first month of school getting students in a routine. When they know the routine, there is less time to cut up. I also share my rules and consequences with the resource teachers. I keep my rules positive and short.
I don’t always do a good job in transitioning students from one activity to another. Usually, if I keep talking, students will stay on task. I also sometimes ignore behaviors first, hoping they will correct themselves. I don’t keep daily reports or reflections of student behavior. It would probably be a good idea to keep a log of student behavior for reference. I guess I always felt that I may hold a grudge against those students.
One thing I could improve is making sure students have all of the materials they need ready at the beginning of class so they don’t have to constantly search their bags for papers, binders, etc. The daily point sheet is a good idea, but I would find that difficult to keep up with since I have 142 students.
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteThere are teachers at my high school who keep records and files on everything that occurs in their classroom. I am not one of those teachers and perhaps I too, should do a better job of this. However, I operate much as you do and keep teaching and pulling the kids through the behaviors that can be an interruption as well as eruptive. Sometimes turning your head the other direction corrects the problem and sometimes it magnifies the situation. Today's classroom is different than a decade ago. When I was a student, a teacher could simply lift a hand in the air and all were quiet. Now, with the combination of personalities, learning styles, and varying levels of respect, discipline is not as simplistic as raising a hand for silence. Begin with materials - Wait until everyone is ready and then begin to teach. Allot 2 minutes and then, Teach MATH!!!
Nanelle