Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DC in Suwon]

My biggest pet peeve teaching in Korea is how my kids will drop pencils, erasers, books, and pretty much anything in their possession on the floor throughout class.

Obviously things are going good that this is my biggest complaint, but for some reason it REALLY is starting to piss me off. It's almost laughable I guess, but I don't get it. I haven't had one class go by that at least four or five things are dropped on the floor throughout class.

Just wondering if this is normal or if they're doing it to make me go nuts?

[SandyG21]

They might be doing it on purpose to get attention -or a reaction from you.

Or maybe to signal one another to cheat on tests or something.

[John_ESL_White]

rules. make classroom rules.

Have a community eraser, pencil sharpener, ruler, etc.

Only books on the desks when there is no writing.

[cruisemonkey]

[semi-fly]

[cruisemonkey]

[DC in Suwon]

[Rory_Calhoun27]

Dropping pencils is one thing.... these little paper wars they have, wadding up incredibly small scraps of paper and throwing them IN CLASS as you try to teach is what pushes me over the edge....

Also, getting poked in the buttocks also is annoying.... I'm just trying to figure a way to get the science teacher to do it to me instead of punk boys....

[Big Mac]

They probably know that it's a good button to push to piss you off.

Once the kids know what buttons to push, they go crazy.

Discontinue service to that button. Stop reacting. They'll get bored and move on.

[Robot_Teacher]

Ignore them dropping their things and the mess on the floor. They'll pick it up. I never pick something up off the floor for a student even though I see an inconvenience to them. It teaches responsibility for their actions and then that in life they'll have to take care of these minor inconvenient matters for themselves just as we do. I'm glad I'm not a woman, becuase if I was, everyone in America would open doors and pick up everything I dropped, because that would just make me go stir crazy. I hate it when a gay guy opens the door for you trying to make a come on. Korea is totally like that at times. It's gay as a $3 bill, but claims it's not gay. Ignore.

[dimnd]

guess I am very lucky. My students do not do any of those things...They do, however, talk a lot in class when they are supposed to be listening ..I just get the CT to get their HR teacher and then the teacher comes in and let's them have it. I have only had to do it for a few classes; but, it works. Now they still act up by talking; and then I just make sure they stay 5 minutes late or if it is the last class of the morning...5 minutes late or ten minutes late for lunch.

It works!

[dporter]

[maingman]

http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/108.html


It is absurd that a man should rule others, who cannot rule himself. -- Latin Proverb

[Jammer113]

I think a lot of it is just that kids are kids. I mean, we're talking about elementary kids. They're not very coordinated... they can't focus for long periods of time... is dropping a pencil really that big of a deal? 5 things per class period with 35 students? I'd say your class is calm and disciplined.

Now, paper fights.... that stops immediately. Kids have tried several times. I see it, I stop it. If I were to let it happen once, it would spread like a virus through the school. Luckily, I've only seen one student so far try to shoot paper with rubber bands. I told him it wasn't a good idea, and he agreed.

Also, no kids can leave the class unless their desk area is clean. If they push everything onto the floor (and they do) they get to clean the floor. I'd say that they learn quickly not to push stuff on the floor, but they don't. They just get to pick up the floor every week. They don't mind cleaning, however. They're used to it... and also, it makes a competition to see which group gets to leave first.

None of this would be possible without my co-teacher who is just awesome on discipline.

[Yu_Bum_suk]