Job Discussion Forums

[odhorsudhapan]

How do you silence an unruly class of children and make them pay attention?

[spiral78]

Beat 'em?

Obviously, I don't teach children. Pardon the useless post.
I'll be interested to see the sage advice of others...

[johnslat]

What do you do with students who are disrespectful?
Dear odhorsudhapan,
Here's some advice, copied from a site (TheApple) I belong to:


"Every teacher has to deal with disrespectful students. While no two situations are alike, perceptive teachers can find ways to manage the situation. First of all, refuse to take the disrespect personally. Keep in mind that the child does not really know you as a person and is responding as a child would�childishly. Next, work to minimize the disruption in your classroom. Depending on the degree of disrespect�from rolling eyes and heavy sighs to loud remarks, you can choose to keep everyone else as on task as possible. Deal with the misbehaving student personally and in private whenever you can. When you do speak with the student, resist the urge to engage in a verbal battle. Instead, take a problem-solving approach. Work to solve the original problem and usually the student will volunteer an apology. Even if the child does not apologize, when the behavior improves, be glad. You won. Even better, the child is on the right path.
In America we know exactly what you mean. Our students are the same way. In order to reach students, we need to reach them where they are. While you should not pander to their whims, it is important to help them see the importance of learning. I work with my students to set short and long range goals (some of my students can be as unruly as yours, I believe, and for the same reasons). I make sure they know WHY they have to do the work�how they will benefit. I also work hard to make the assignments as appealing to them as possible. I try to motivate them to do their work by using real-life problems and examples, by making the abstract as concrete as possible, and by using their interests whenever I can. I work hard�really hard�to build a solid connection with each of my students. I want them to have a better life. Even those students who are really unruly often want the boundaries and structures that school can bring. As for the students who care�try to focus on them more than you focus on the misbehaving students. Sooner or later, you can turn it around. Try every single trick you can to motivate and then keep on trying some more. Your students need you."

Here's a link to a forum called "Chatterbox Classroom":

http://www.theapple.com/discussions/10/topics/483

and another on "How to Handle a Noisy Classroom":

http://www.theapple.com/benefits/3271-how-to-handle-a-noisy-class

Hope this helps.

Regards,
John