Korean Job Discussion Forums

[adamosity]

I have nineteen classes that are generally really good, and one total disaster class..

things I've tried:

1) talking to the homeroom teacher
2) bringing a korean teacher in mid-class to talk to them (which did not make much of a difference today really)
3) penalty grade points
4) counseling with individual worst-of-the-worst students...

I do not use co-teachers in this school at all. I've asked for one for next week with this class to see if that helps. Normally, I handle my own discipline, but this is a class which is completely out of control--no respect, lying, cheating, refusal of basic commands, etc...

I'm hoping their quiz and lack of bookwork grade will wake them up, and the suggestion has been made to give penalty grade points to the ENTIRE class (which I'm loath to do, since I don't want to hurt the few good students in the class)

It's second grade, high school. I think the issues are as follows:

1) not used to listening to foreigners
2) many very low-level english students all in one class, who have given up on the class and are using it to party/goof off/sleep (but heck, i'd take sleep right now!)
3) the time slot (friday, 2.50-3.40).

any ideas? i'm going to try a co-teacher for a week--the dean of students is involved and is talking to students and the homeroom teachers, and if that fails, I may ask for a time switch to first period one day.

This one isn't me-it's them. How can I calm them down?

--adam

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Punish them. After they've all spent part of a lesson holding their hands up in the air for a while a few times your '야!' will suddenly mean a lot more. If any try to goof around while you're punishing them put them out in corridor on their kness and deal with them later on. It's been a while since I"ve had to teach what I'd consider a 'disaster' class, but I had one that could be a bit difficult last year (which I also taught on my own) and it turned out to be a very good idea to start dealing with problems of goofing off interfering with teaching sooner rather than later.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

PS, the next lesson after you punish them plan a really fun game you can reward them with if they shape up.

[gregoriomills]

I work at a high school with a really low level, as well, and have had my share of horrible classes. There is not 'secret formula, and it's usually a mixture of several things such as boredom from not understanding you or time of day, as you said. Remember that each class has its leaders and followers. The leaders are the ones who get off on not listening to you to F with you. The followers get off on not listening to impress the leaders. Pick the leaders off early, and the followers will follow. Send them out of the room, as mentioned earlier, or bring them down to the teachers' lounge (yes, in the middle of class! I've done it!) and tell them to wait right there for you until after class. He will be scared shitless, and will then have to explain why he is down there to any other teachers.

Basically, and I know it sounds very black-and-white, which no situation is, it comes down to who is setting the standard for behavior in the class? You, or the class leaders/bullies?

[rationality]

[adamosity]

good ideas...

i've isolated the class bullies..and i'm holding off on the co-teacher..they need to realize that i am the authority.

they will come around.

--adam

[bobranger]

What have you done to earn their respect?
I think one of the best ways to earn a student�s respect in the classroom is by becoming the kind of person your students want to positivly engage with.
This is one of the most basic principles to successful teaching; however, it�s one of the most difficult lessons for teachers. The truth of the matter is, whenever we (as teachers) step into a classroom or in front of a group of students (especially middle and high school students), they�re are already �sizing us up� to see how they will treat and respond to us.

Good luck.. Keep on Truck'n

[espoir]

For the most part I dont partake in classroom discpline, I normally leave that up to the co-teachers, but in some cases it just gets so far out of hand. I teach at a technical as well and have a few very promblematic classes.

In one case I actually lost my temper and was holding at the time 4 peices of paper. Beside me was a student sitting down talking away while I tried to explain an exercise. He had been talking the entire period and the co-teacher was doing nothing. So I quickly rolled up my few peices of paper and gave him a quick wack on the back of the head. It was obviously not enough to hurt him, but the sound it made reasonated throughout the classroom. (thruthfully though it scared me at the time, as I couldnt believe I acted so impulsively) Well the kid shut up and immediately the entire group of his friends also stopped talking and from that point on they were the most productive and hardest working group in the class.

So being mister nice guy doesnt always work and sometimes you have to plan bad cop.