Job Discussion Forums

SaratheSlytherin · Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Posts: 137 Location: North Carolina

Hello everyone,

Thanks to everyone who helped me before.

I'm back in Mexico now... I'm teaching at a middle school and I'm also teaching classes for adults. It's amazing here and I love being in Mexico, my job and my life here.

I'm just concerned about something. I get a lot of joy from teaching my adult groups but I've been having some discipline problems with the middle school group. I've talked to other teachers and thought of solutions but it would be great to hear from people in the forum here too.

Some people believe that the ability to connect with students and manage a classroom is something innate that you are born with. In other words, you either have it or you don't. Is this true (in your opinions)?

Has anyone else had similar problems? It doesn 't seem common here but I could be wrong.

What are some solutions?

What can I do to make the classes more interesting... any suggestions? I would like to do a song or a game but the "chiste" is that it has to be related to the lesson. At least, that would be ideal.

I don't want to fail!! Thanks if you can help!

Professor · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 449 Location: Mexico City

Professor · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 449 Location: Mexico City

Enigma2011 · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 60

Sooo, Sara....long time no hear from on the forum. Just wondering how it's going for you in Mexico City. How are the kids you're teaching doing?

Prof.Gringo

Enigma2011 · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 60

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I don't think the OP is in Mexico City...

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I don't think the OP is in Mexico City, prof

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

weird double post...

I don't think she was ever in Mexico City.

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:30 am Post subject:

Gregory. · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:49 am Post subject:

Have you heard of 'Understanding by design'?

It's a teaching methodology developed by Grant Wiggins.

Think about what you want your students to learn

Find out how you can find evidence of this from your students

Then finally plan how to teach the skill.

An example is ask questions. Big questions. Get students to brainstorm the topic. The more Ss can relate the topic to their personal schemata then the more likely they are to be interested and motivated.

Songs and games go a long way in middle school classes but my suggestion is to link students learning to their own lives. Get them interested by encouraging them to contribute - as much or as little - as they can.

I suggest that you look into understanding by design. Its a very VERY interesting teaching methodology.

FreddyM · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 180 Location: Mexico

I recommend the following website which provides a kind of classroom management system to keep the kids under control while also providing a structure where they are also learning and are more engaged in the lessons. I will say though, regardless of what practices you use in middle school, it's a really tough grade level.

http://wholebrainteaching.com/

(Read all the materials and watch the videos provided, and be patient, learn from mistakes, modify and adapt as necessary, don't give up if things don't turn out rosy right away, keep trying.)

Teaching middle schoolers succesfully has much less to do with knowing your content area well than it has to do with managing the group properly. Some people have these skills innately, others have to learn them....but they are learnable!

doublethinker · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 57

Well, teaching middle school is really hard, and I don't think I'm ever going to have my students "under control." However, I am improving my classroom management through the following:

1) I have built a relationship with my students. Most of them like me, and some are even quite fond of me. So there's only so far they will go.

2) I follow through on what I say. I've been trying more and more to NEVER make "empty threats." When I first started I'd be like "give me your cellphone. No? OK, well, next time..." Now when I tell them to do something, I mean it.

3) I always give them stuff to do. There's no "wishy-washy" time in my class. There's always something to work on, and a specific time limit to do it. Then I collect it and grade it.

Now, I don't want to make it sound like I'm a great teacher... I'm still having a hard time dealing with middle school. However, it is certainly getting better.

Gregory. · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:37 pm Post subject:

Doublethinker - I think what you post is excellent.

Although middle school students are still young, they are aware of the power of the comsumer. I think that teachers should try to avoid telling students what to do - and saying - because I said so.

If we explain what we're doing and why we're doing it, I think this is a very big help to students.

Very often we put out studnets into a dark room and expect them to find the exit door simply by listening to our instructions. We need to let them know why they're in the dark room, what they're trying to achieve and also to help them along with the process.

It's not easy. But then what IS easy in teaching?

I think you're ideas are great, doublethinker.