Korean Job Discussion Forums

vaticanhotline · Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:36 pm Post subject:

Star charts. Seriously, I started using them recently after trying literally everything short of physical violence and the turnaround in the students' attitude and behaviour has been unbelievable-almost a complete 180.

It's very simple. Make a chart, write their names on it. If they're good (answer a question, come in on time, whatever), give them a star. If they're bad, give them an unhappy face. Don't lose the rag or anything like that; it's completely counter-productive. At the end of a set period of time (say four or five classes) give the best students a prize. Your school (or program) should have a budget for things like that, even if it's only a bag of candy. It's not actually the thing itself that's meaningful, it's the winning of it.

The problem isn't that the kids aren't well-behaved or out of control-it's that they don't have a clue what you're saying and they get confused and bored of trying to listen to you. Remember talking to your grandparents and you couldn't even work out what they were on about when you were a kid? Same thing, kind of.

Jodami · Joined: 08 Feb 2013

Earphones and a newspaper/good book works well for me.

sluggo832004 · Joined: 04 Sep 2010

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

All things work well in theory, but when it comes down to specific situations,

ah well.

If you have 10 to 12 kids crammed in a small classroom with 1 big table and
chairs around, there's not much you can do with "seating arrangements".

If you only have 10 minute breaks between class, and the boss won't allow
you to keep them late, then what?

95% of behavior problems might be resolved if the management would support their teachers in matters of discipline. Quite often though the opposite is true.

So what are you left with? Games, activities and things to try and

distract them from their usual terror.

What if the boss won't allow games or anything but the book?

Then what?

You can try till you turn blue and the kids just keep ignoring you.

You'll end up as one poster said with earplugs and a good book.

mayorhaggar · Joined: 01 Jan 2013

Yeah a system of stickers as a reward for participation and good behavior will help. Also young kids like doing hands-on stuff like coloring--obviously you shouldn't spend the entire class doing coloring, but it can be useful to do it like every 10 or 15 minutes to get them quiet and focused and then move on to something else. Like, "ok, we just learned the letter C, now color in the letter C, ok let's move on to practicing saying D." Etc.

Michlerish · Joined: 08 Jan 2013

I'm also new to teaching kindergarten students and was having a hard time keeping the kids quiet, listening and doing their work (not talking, walking around, goofing around for laughs, etc).

Here are things that have made things better for me:
- Star chart. I just wrote their names on the white board, they get a star for good behaviour (listening to me, finishing their work quickly, being quiet, helping me), and I erase a star if they blatantly disregard my direction (like after 1 or 2 warnings to stop talking, they still talk). It works well, they love earning stars and really hate losing stars. After reaching 5 stars, they get a candy.

- Punishment: I move their chair to the wall, away from everyone else, and make them sit there while I finish my point. Usually about 2 minutes. They get really upset and hate this. But when the punishment is over, I get down next to them and tell them I like them and I think they're really smart and it hurts teacher's feelings when they don't listen to me. Basically, punish, then shower with love. Showing them that you are strict with bad behaviour, but are really nice and love them seems to work well.

- Song and dance before class starts. They like fun. They like fun teachers.

- Turn completing workbooks into a game, like a competition among the students. Who can finish this page the fastest!? When you're done, yell "teacher I am done!" and then wait until everyone is done. Or if it's a simple page, say "Can you do this in 10 seconds?! Let's try!" then count down while they rush to finish.

I still have a lot to learn, and am consistently trying to improve. But those methods have given me a lot more control in the classroom!

meangradin · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

meangradin · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

diver · Joined: 16 Jun 2003

diver · Joined: 16 Jun 2003

meangradin · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

diver · Joined: 16 Jun 2003

Michlerish · Joined: 08 Jan 2013

Mw182006 · Joined: 13 Feb 2013

Thanks for theses suggestions!

Times30 · Joined: 27 Mar 2010

I've done everything from candy games to draconian punishments.

I find what works best in all scenarios is to keep everything strictly professional. The students need to look at you like you're some drill sergeant. I've seen this best from a teacher in public school which I deemed "scary teacher". A woman in her mid 40's that scared that bejesus out of all the students. And me... for a while.

Her method (which I currently adopt) is to never joke with this kids and to keep the atmosphere serious at all times. Don't EVER joke with your kids. Now this sounds like recipe in which the kids would hate you...

but it's exactly the opposite. Kids will respect you, and they will look up to you. Think about it this way. Who do you look up to? A king or a jester? If we joke around with the kids and treat everything as fun, you will always be the jester. Never the King.

I never let up, I do my hair everyday, I look sharp, wear a tie, shirt, and act very serious yet polite. I treat them with common courtesy and respect. I never do anything unfairly and if I do, I remedy it, but not at their every whim. Sometimes kids will complain about the most inane things. Ignore some things and accept others. If a student wants to talk. that's fine. But if he's telling me that another teacher gives them candy, I tell them I'll give them broccoli because it's healthier. Finding "outs" like this goes a long way.

TO sum it up, I guess I look at it as if we're all CEOs in a board room. I expect them to be professional and deliver Quality. If they don't I explain I expect them to give quality because that's what they are. They are the future CEOs, Movers and shakers of the world.

Give them faith, respect, and don't ever allow them to "just be kids". You lose all respect if you allow them to be children.

BTW. Candy is ok once in a while, but I only do it and make it clear that's not a reward nor that I like them. I just happen to have candy I don't want. If I give them candy as a reward they are smart enough to see that it's just me manipulating them.