Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ttlesl]

I am curious to learn some teacher techniques for troublesome students whom the school administration admits are problems but will not enforce any discipline. Basically, they leave it up to the teacher to deal with the situation.

I ask this because there is a fellow teacher with a class (Grade 6 students) that the school has admitted that even the native teachers can�t control. They seem to just shrug and say they are bad (period). He asked me what he should do. I gave him the usual �proximity teaching�, choosing troublesome students for participation roles, etc. but he is at his wits end.

What are some options here? Any good classroom management techniques you all would like to share?

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Well I guess I could say something sarcastic like pepper spray. A lot of times I find it interesting that schools, and other organizations that deal with children tend to toss a bunch of real rough kids into the same class/group.

Obviously the first thing your coworker needs to do is step back from the proverbial plate for a few minutesl, and take a few deep breaths. Reining in a group of hellions can be stressful, and time consuming, but not impossible.

In the ideal world of supported teachers one would be able to get all the staff support he/she needed to deal with that type of class. It sounds to me that is not the case. Bearing this in mind I would suggest the following methods to bring the little buggers into line.

1) Keep its simple, stupid. This Acronym of KISS thinking would imply that a big ole convulted plan to deal with these kids is going to go straight down the crapper.

- as it sounds as if the whole class is acting like buttheads, then consquence the whole class everytime one of them acts up.

For example, when I have a rowdy class and I say be quiet more than twice then the whole class does time with hands up in the air. The first time the whole class does the same amount of time. The following times the kids who were not responsible were allowed to sit first. If the kids standing get mad then make the whole class stand up again, and never be afraid of peer pressure. Make it apparent that the kids who behave will get rewarded.

2) Target specific behaviors at first.

- This class sounds so far gone that getting them to behave with a broad plan of action will mostly likely fail. Have the teacher focus on specific behaviors.

For example, in my rowdy classes we focus less on actual school work, and more on learning how to act like quiet little angels in a class room. Meaning the kids learn when to shut their mouths, and also they learn when to open them.

3) Reward the positive.

- obviously if your busting down on the whole class then some kids are going to be angry. Have a plan set up to reward the kids that are doing well.

For example, reward the kids who behave with candy at the end of each class. Do not let the goodies build up, and then somehow be forgotten. Reward at the end of each class so that kid leaves on a positive note. his is one of those things where the support of their fellow teachers will help, but in failing this make it set up so that the good kids can win prizes like candy or stickers.


One last option would be to break up the class and send them to different class, but you all face the chance of spreading the poison so to say to other classes. Never a pleasant thought.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

This just sounds so typical. Your boss obviously values this kid's parents' money far more than the education of all the other kids in the class. Kick him out as often as he disturbs things and if he shows no signs of shaping up try to make his time there so unpleasant that mommy pulls him out.

[ttlesl]

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Hmm I missed the part about public school. Now that opens up his options way more.

Those kids are that nasty that he is worried about physical violence?

Sounds like prison, tell him to go up to the badass of the group and lay him out.

[babtangee]

[thebum]

Isn't pepper spray illegal in Korea?

[ttlesl]

[Dan The Chainsawman]

I must be getting old I never remembered teachers getting threatened with physical violence when I was in high school. This wasn't the nicest school I went to either. I imagine its bound to happen in some of the rougher inner city schools, but the whole thought of physical violence against teachers seems a bit unbelievable to me.

If its one core of potentially violent kids then further action needs to be taken to isolate the troublemakers from each other. I would take one or two of the troublemakers who have the most potential and move them to other classes. I would then have those classes impose the group consquence routines immediate. I mean really drop the flood gates of hell on those two kids. Let them know that its a new start for them.

Next when the numbers of the bad kids are whittled down, I would go to assigned seating as the first battle. Keep them seperated in class. Next let it be known that if anyone lays a hand on the teacher the whole class immediately recieves a failing grade in all course work for the previous week. Sounds extreme but if their are kids who want to do well they will make damn good and sure nothing happens to teacher.

[ttlesl]

Thanks Dan. You know, there seems to be no one-size-fits-all answer to classroom discipline. Meaning that what works for one teacher or class may not work for another teacher or class. For example, my solution was physical exercise for the whole class (it was an all boys school) in order to impose some semblance of order. Usually, I only had to do it once and the threat of more push-ups in the common area was enough to keep them settled.

I have passed on all the tips I have received and time will tell. I also realize that sometimes we (teachers) tend to exaggerate situations. This usually comes from exhausting all our known remedies.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

You know funny how a little pt can take the sting out of a group of teen age boys. Being they are the laziest creatures known in the universe.

Good luck for your coworker, and your right there is no one size fits all remedy for the problem.

Unless your General Patton, and that would involve shooting them all.

[jlb]

Not saying this was the best alternative by any stretch....but....when I got sick of a kid that the administration wouldn't deal with (ie. phone parents/kick out of hagwon) I would simply give them three chances. Actually everyone in the class got 3 chances. Then, I would kick them out of class and make them sit in the hall for 5 minutes. Then they came back in and if they acted up one more time, they were out for good, it didn't matter if there was 20 or 30 minutes left of class.

My view is that the bad kids shouldn't disrupt the good kid's learning. If adminisitration doesn't want to deal with the kid (or just plain doesn't know how to) then I didn't want to either.

Of couse, combined with this negativity, I gave out stickers and very occasional treats, as well as lots of praise for the good stuff going on.

[jajdude]

I've kicked some kids out of class before and just left them outside until class was over. It may not have done much good but it made me feel better.