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Date Posted: 18:30:48 03/02/04 Tue
Author: Jackie Batteiger
Subject: Re: "The Mean Teacher!"
In reply to: Heather Slotto 's message, ""The Mean Teacher!"" on 12:33:13 02/20/04 Fri

After teaching in both an urban and suburban, (and of course, student teaching in Tiffin,) even your youngest students need those high expectations for behavior and musical skills. They won't come out and say, "Please give us rules to follow so that we will be better people!" But if you do not set the tone of class, the students will. And it will almost always be the last kid you want to set the tone. Keep your rules posted so even the k's can see them. (They may not be able to read them but they will know what they are.) Make sure these rules are your feel you can enforce. In my rougher schools, I even listed the consequences as well, positive and negative. Right now these are my posted expectations. (M.U.S.I.C)

M*ake good use of our time together
U*se instruments carefully
S*ing with your best voice
I*nclude ALL classmates in a friendly way
C*onduct yourself with dignity and respect

When I need them to get quit I spell out "M U S I C...I should see all eyes on me." Even for my 6th graders. These feed into my incentive plan to earn a free day. The kids almost always choose to sing and play their favorite music games.

One of your greatest allies is the classroom teacher for the young ones. He/She has tips on that childs behavior triggers. Don't be afraid to talk to parents. They USUALLY are very supportive. You are probably not the first teacher to have problems with their child. Call them for good as well as bad. A phone call home to praise little Jackie's contribution to class will get little Jackie to behave sometimes better than the negative call.

"Be firm but fair." I know you don't know me but I am a redhead with the temper that matches and I do my fair share of yelling. Don't under estimate they power of a good dirty look too. When I am disappointed in a students behavior, I let them know it. (As calm as possible.) WE talk about what rule(s) they broke and discuss better choices or repercussions of their actions. If they know that they did something wrong, they half way expect to get in trouble. In any new situation, they will test you. When I see them after class, in the hall or something, I smile, say hi, or talk about something else to let them know that I still like them and I will not hold it against them for the rest of their life.

Use your allies and be strong. You are in charge. At first, you need your students to respect you and then they will grow to like you.

Being know as the "mean teacher" is not the worst thing that could happen.

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Replies:

[> Re: "The Mean Teacher!" -- Sarah Frantz, 11:11:22 03/23/04 Tue [1]

Oh Heather. You need not worry about being the "mean teacher." Just realize that not everyone in your classroom is going to like you everyday for the entire year. Discipline is needed in order to maintain the order in the classroom. You can't be happy and cheerful all the time. You must be able to get something done and not just be their friend all the time. This doesn't mean that you have to be terrible to your students just let them know that class can be fun but learning has to take place too. Good Luck Darlin'!!


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