Frustrated and it's only January!!!

merigold78 · #1 01-18-2013, 07:06 PM

I have not posted on these boards in forever, but am hoping to get some help now. I just returned from an extended maternity leave (14 weeks) and am REALLY struggling with my class. They were not perfect angels at the beginning of the year - and I have been told that my sub. did an excellent job (which I believe) - but the classes' overall behavior has been utterly and totally ridiculous since I returned after the Christmas break.

One of my biggest issues is that I am very boy heavy - 15 out of my 23 friends are little guys. I was told that this is "just the way it is" this year but only myself and one other teacher are this unbalanced. She & I are both known for our strong classroom mgmt skills - go figure! My next issue, though, is the talking - which I have always considered "developmental" for first graders - but it is way beyond what I consider acceptable. Continuous (even while I'm trying to give direc.) & very, very loud. I have tried praise for the ones who are being quiet workers along with small rewards like candy, etc. I also started a class cotton ball jar. I now feel like I am rewarding the same kids over and over again (which is fine, but not really changing the behavior of the ones who need it) and the cotton ball jar excitement wore off after about 2 days

. I am considering starting table points (tally marks everytime the entire table is listening, working quietly, etc.) next week to create some friendly competition for good behavior. I thought this might be more helpful for all the boys that I have......

The last issue is a complete & total inability to follow simple instructions with talking/becoming distracted by other children, things in their desks, etc. In my 10 years of teaching, I have honestly never seen anything like this. I have tried a lot of "If you can hear my voice, clap three times, etc.", pattern clapping, etc. & it has improved somewhat. I guess the bigger issue is just getting them to follow the directions without starting to talk every single time I ask them to do something

.

I am so frustrated by all of this that I'm honestly considering a career change. I have a new baby at home (along with the sweetest 3 yr old ever

) but he is sleeping through the night so rest is not an issue. I try & go in "fresh" every morning but by 2:00 I am ready to pull my hair out!! I am wondering if anyone may have any helpful suggestions for the talking and/or lack of following directions without starting to talk. Thanks so much for your help.

EMonkey · #2 01-19-2013, 02:15 AM

Well you have only been back for a couple weeks. The children had most of the year with a different person. Them being off as far as behavior does not seem very surprising. I tend not to give candy the buy in it creates is short lived. You might take a look at Tools for Teaching or Whole Brain management styles. I also would advise sticking with one thing. The children when you start a new method will test it. They will comply to start with and then try and push the limits to see if you back down, every time you back down and start a brand new thing the more they test. I would advise looking at it as September and set your expectations and keep practicing over and over till they start seeming like they have a better understanding of the expectations.

merigold78 · #3 01-19-2013, 03:31 AM

Thanks for the advice, emonkey. I think you have a good point about choosing one thing + sticking to it

. I have definitely been jumping around a lot lately (because nothing seems to work

) but maybe I just need to be a little more consistent....

jteachette · #4 01-19-2013, 08:12 AM

I have that class of boys....
I started back after vacation just drilling procedures and having them redo it if they didn't do it right.
For example, if the group comes to the floor for a lesson and everyone is noisy, I send them back to their desks and we do it over...as many times as it takes. I can't start teaching content if I don't have their attention.
Take this week and practice procedures, the way YOU want them to do things.
I would also have them "check in" after you give a direction. I have the children put their thumbs up if they know what to do, to the side if they think they know what to do, and down if they have a question. If they had their thumb up and ask me what to do later, I tell them that they had their thumb up and knew what to do....they get very honest about this, and it saves me from repeating directions over and over.

MissScrimmage · #5 01-19-2013, 08:13 AM

Well, first of all, know that you are not alone. You just described my class as well!! I agree that you need to find one thing and do it consistently. They are going through a huge adjustment as well and need to know exactly what you are about. Re-teach your routines and expectations. Some of my students are STILL practicing simple routines and it just doesn't seem to be sinking in. They may just be a really immature group. Doesn't make it any easier for you, but you may just be having one of 'those' years.

MissScrimmage · #6 01-19-2013, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jteachette

I have that class of boys....
I started back after vacation just drilling procedures and having them redo it if they didn't do it right.
For example, if the group comes to the floor for a lesson and everyone is noisy, I send them back to their desks and we do it over...as many times as it takes. I can't start teaching content if I don't have their attention.
Take this week and practice procedures, the way YOU want them to do things.
I would also have them "check in" after you give a direction. I have the children put their thumbs up if they know what to do, to the side if they think they know what to do, and down if they have a question. If they had their thumb up and ask me what to do later, I tell them that they had their thumb up and knew what to do....they get very honest about this, and it saves me from repeating directions over and over.

I think we posted at the same time

and it sounds like you are another teacher with a similar group! I love your "check in" -we do it after a task to self-evaluate our behavior, but it might be helpful to do it before, too!

kpa1b2 · #7 01-19-2013, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jteachette

I have that class of boys....
I started back after vacation just drilling procedures and having them redo it if they didn't do it right.
For example, if the group comes to the floor for a lesson and everyone is noisy, I send them back to their desks and we do it over...as many times as it takes. I can't start teaching content if I don't have their attention.
Take this week and practice procedures, the way YOU want them to do things.
I would also have them "check in" after you give a direction. I have the children put their thumbs up if they know what to do, to the side if they think they know what to do, and down if they have a question. If they had their thumb up and ask me what to do later, I tell them that they had their thumb up and knew what to do....they get very honest about this, and it saves me from repeating directions over and over.

This year I've been doing thumbs up when they've put their name on their paper or other times when I need to know if they are ready to move on, or understand. It helps to keep them engaged.

This is the first year in I don't know how many years that I am balanced! I actually have more girls then boys & that has never happened before. I have always had more boys then girls & usually way more boys!

MissScrimmage · #8 01-19-2013, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpa1b2

This year I've been doing thumbs up when they've put their name on their paper or other times when I need to know if they are ready to move on, or understand. It helps to keep them engaged.

Yes, I'll tell them to point to where they wrote their name, point to question #1, etc.

The less down time they have the better!

jteachette · #9 01-19-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissScrimmage

Yes, I'll tell them to point to where they wrote their name, point to question #1, etc.

The less down time they have the better!

I have them put their pencil up when they have finished writing their name on the paper. Then they can't start banging on things with it, and I can see who is ready for the next direction.

pwhatley · #10 01-19-2013, 09:54 AM

I have had that class before... and worse!

I agree that you need to be VERY consistent and that you need to spend some time teaching and drilling your expectations, just as you would at the beginning of school.

A couple of things I do:

"I will know when everyone has completed "X" because they will put their pencils down and look at me."

After giving directions, I will generally look around and call on someone (generally someone I know is easily distracted) and have him/her repeat the directions.

I do table points... sort of. I have laminated pages for each table on my dry erase board, and I use a dry erase marker to write check marks on them. At the end of each month, the table with the most checks gets a treat. In November, the treat was an entire booklet of free Wendy's frostie coupons each (my sister's best friend is a district manager). December's treat was a book. They never know what it will be (it has been something as little as fake tattoos before - they still love it!).