Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I'm at my wits end with the secondary girls that I teach. Generally, all teachers have acknowledged that they're "pampered", I know I won't be coming back next year, but anyone have any tips that I can use now so that I don't go crazy?

I've got the bathroom thing under control, they're only allowed to go once a quarter, but as for talking and talking back, I don't know what to do.

[john_n_carolina]

keep a notebook of "excessive talking"

tell them every time you write them in the notebook they lose
10%off the next test...

this is called the "castigo" approach...but, you can use many others, or change your whole demeanor to a witch...

i understand what you're going through...and Fridays before a holiday, forget about it! i used to keep whiskey in my Coke bottle just to take the edge off it a little --)

[Prof.Gringo]

Lucky stars! Wish I had an all girls class

Just kidding!

Actually, when I was teaching secundaria, my class that was almost all girls was the most challenging. What to say?

I would offer a pizza party if at the end of the bi-mester the class had done well. As a Class! If you just punish them one by one, the worst offenders will know they haven't a chance and will act up anyways. If you put pressure on the group to control "its self" this will probably be a lot better. It sure worked in the military! Having to do push-ups for 3 hours non-stop or run 5 miles in the rain in full combat gear was a group motivator!

[naturegirl321]

[john_n_carolina]

get one of them (who actually wants to learn), have her stand up in
front of class and say, "Please STOP IT! Quiet! Doesn't anyone want to learn? Doesn't want to get a better life?"

had one of my students go ballistic like this once in front of the class, after this, even the loudest was quiet the rest of the semester.

if you get 4 or 5 that actually want to learn, then use them as group leaders to discipline the rest and tell them to "Shut UP!"

[naturegirl321]

[john_n_carolina]

listen to music at the end of every class, with fill in the blank word sheets. but, tell them we're not listening to music until we finish the book / exercises??

[naturegirl321]

[john_n_carolina]

..don't worry you'll get through it :

there are thousands of games i used, i left them as reference in Ecuador, so can't remember them all.

you're almost finished, just hang in there

also, make them do more presentations, this makes them work harder, because Latin Americans of that age for some reason get really embarrassed if they can't speak properly.

so, if you have a loudmouth goes up in front of class and can't speak, that's a chip off his shoulder. i used to watch the loudmouths and they would get really worried about the day when the presentation was coming, because their egos might take a hit.

one problem, sometimes you get a loudmouth that can speak really well, but can't write --- then you're in trouble ! good luck