Korean Job Discussion Forums

sallymonster · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Location: Seattle area

I teach a few classes of tech school-bound students at my middle school, so I can relate to what you're saying. One of these classes has maybe two students who willingly participate in class. I recommend lots of Hidden Pictures, bomb games (like baam), and candy. They also like bingo, but get tired of it if you play it too much.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

thomas pars · Joined: 29 Jan 2009

Screw 'em. If they don't want to apply themselves they can work
as car mechanics/ drive a forklift/ or some other menial labor.

We all determine, more or less, our own fate.

Save your energy.

nathanrutledge · Joined: 01 May 2008 Location: Marakesh

You've got to have the co teacher backing you up, otherwise nothing will happen. I'm in the same boat, my Robotics 1-3 class this morning. They could care less, they sleep, they talk. I just slam a book on the desk, they all shut up right away, and I continue talking as if nothing had happened. Two boys were touching and fighting, I told them to stand in the corner. One refused to get up, so I grabbed his chair and drug him into the corner. They all fell asleep, so I made them stand up.

Remember, you're not their friend. YOU have something YOU want to do, make them do it. At my school, it's not TOO bad as we have demerit cards. If they get 30 cards, they get expelled, and since we're pretty low on the totem pole of schools, if they get expelled, they're pretty screwed. So, if I get tired of waking them up, dragging chairs, etc, I just say "demerit card" and they usually begrudgingly accept that at a minimum, i want them to sit there quietly and awake.

But yeah, I hear ya. A lot of my other classes are on the verge of becoming like them, which sucks. I really like these kids OUTSIDE of school. I see them all over the place, and they're out there smoking, riding motorcycles, flirting with the ladies, being REAL teenagers (the benefit of being a tech kid), and a lot of them do talk to me, in English (some are actually REALLY good at it, too!) outside of school. They're just a pain in the rear IN school.

Keep up the good fight, OP!