- Published: December 27, 2021
- Updated: December 27, 2021
- University / College: University of California, Irvine
- Level: Secondary School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 5
Situation One: You are taking roll at the beginning and you notice Fred strolling in, one minute late. He slowly takes his seat in the back and begins talking with his friend.
1) Ask him politely to stop talking as he is disrupting the class
2) When class is over discuss his tardiness, its reasons and work with him to set reasonable consequences for further tardiness
3) Follow up on those consequences if tardiness persists
This has advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand it addresses the situation directly, while allowing for room to deal with it after class. On the other hand it could set a conflict when asking to stop disrupting the class.
Situation Three:
You are discussing with your students an important point about today’s lesson. Two girls, who have been constantly whispering to each other all year, start to giggle for no apparent reason
1) Don’t interrupt the lesson but walk towards them
2) If this draws their attention, continue with the lesson
3) If they continue to giggle, pause and wait for them to stop then continue
4) Follow up after class
This kind of has the opposite advantages/disadvantages from situation one. Hopefully walking towards them will draw their attention and get them to stop, but if it doesn’t the class could goggle, they could feel embarrassed and that would just lead to an even worse disruption, possibly.
Situation Four:
After you tell Vickie that she must see you later to discuss a rule she has just broken, she stands up and says loud enough for the whole class to hear, “ Take a hike. I’m not coming and you can’t make me!”
1) Tell the student that the class has rules, and that she can either abide by them and come see me after class, or leave the class and talk to the principle
I think this is probably the best way to handle this, because there is already a conflict and it gives the student an out. They can choose to keep their ‘ pride’ and continue to be defiant by going to the principal’s office, or by simply following the instructions in class.
Situation Five:
Over one-half of your class is constantly asking, “ Will this be on the test? How many pages does it have to be? Can I use a pencil? Does neatness count? Is it due at the beginning or at the end of class?” You set up a rule forbidding such questions, but they keep coming anyway.
1) Set up universal groundrules for the class such as
a. Pencils or pens are always okay
b. Things always need to be legible enough to lead
c. Things are always due at beginning of class
d. Etc
2) Post these rules somewhere obvious, and when asked always simply point to them
This situation should eventually stop the questions, hopefully, because the students will learn that they aren’t getting any new information by asking those kinds of questions. If a question isn’t addressed by those groundrules, it is either a good one or could be added to the groundrules. It also sets up a positive culture where the students know what is and isn’t important to me as a teacher.
Situation Eight:
Micky hasn’t done his homework in over six weeks. He always has an excuse such as he lost it, he left it at home, or his baby sister ripped it up. He has a difficult time reading and comprehending and seldom participates in class. You have discussed the matter with Micky and have met with Micky and his mother who works second shift. Still the homework is never done.
1) Try to set up Micky with an after school tutor with a set time to do his homework every week
2) Set time for Micky to ask me questions after school
3) Tell Micky that if he does not start getting homework in he will have detention, in which time he can do the homework he hasn’t completed
4) Work with him to correct his homework and point out his errors
Obviously in this situation Micky is having trouble with the school work, and his family can be of little help. But he also has to understand that the classroom community has expectations, and doing homework is one of them. By eventually putting him in detention for missing so many homeworks it at least gives him time where he has no excuse and forces him to do some, so I can see where he is and where he needs more work.