Korean Job Discussion Forums

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

Who handles (or is expected to handle) discipline in your classroom?

This morning was a very liberating experience for me--I refused to take care of any disciplinary problems while I was teaching, effectively forcing my coteacher to take care of inattention, rudeness, talking, etc. When the CT was teaching, I took discipline into my own hands and made sure everyone was paying attention to him.

It may have been a fluke, but that class is normally my "hell class." Evil or Very Mad

Today they were not only tolerable, but almost (not quite, but almost) civil.

(I hope I'm not coming across as naive. Maybe this is how things are supposed to be done??)

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

I usually pull out my baseball bat which is wrapped in barb wire. Unfortunately I had to use it on one of the 3rd graders this morning, but at least it got the class to be quiet.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Always be prepared to handle things 100% yourself if need be. Showing a clueless CT what to do while he / she is teaching is one useful approach, yes.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Best case scenario: You handle the discipline yourself.

Next best case scenario: CT & FT handle the discipline equally.

Worst case scenario: CT handles the discipline. Not only might you look "weak" but the CT might resent always being the "bad cop."

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

A big problem with letting them do 100% of the discipline is that they're not always going to be in the room. What do you do if the CT isn't there and the kids are going crazy? That's frustrating for me as the kids here arre trained to follow Korean teachers. Next semester I've got to find away around that.

bosintang · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 8:21 pm Post subject:

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

But, I like the idea of having a "liberating" experience. Every Tuesday I teach 4th graders who go completely apesh*t, even when the coteacher is in the room. The run around, fall out of chairs, hit each other, throw things, etc., so doing anything constructive isn't even an option. It makes me crazy that he lets them get away with this, so I think tomorow I'll go through my lesson, whether they're jumping around or not. I'm just the "techer's assistant," after all.

Sody · Joined: 14 May 2006

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

I have very little to no disciplinary problems in my classrooms.

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

On Mondays I have to 'co'-teach four MS classes with the useless rookie temp. Today, not for the first time, I ended up punishing a student for being rude to him. During the one minute of the 45-minute lesson I get him to teach (translating a short dialogue), a girl started calling out 'No! No! No! No!' in a really obnoxious voice. OK, kid, your coming with the waygook.

I just keep reminding myself that the rest of the world is backwards and my school makes perfect sense.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

The thing to do is keep them busy from the get-go of your lesson...my kids don't have time to misbehave as I use many varied activities and games in my lessons and I make quick transitions form one to the next. Also, it's good to look and act like you know what your doing and have your plans and props ready when the Ss enter the classroom. It's also good to treat the kids like people and show them a little respect as well...respect is a two lane highway, ya know?

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Alyallen · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 11:19 pm Post subject:

My coteacher and I both handle discipline.

At this point, I can get my students to be quiet with one pointed look. It also helps to have a word that they must all respond to the same way. The students are taught that if they hear "Stop!" they all hve to say "Ice" and turn around and look at the teacher. It is helpful because sometimes kids just go off in their own little world and I think of it as an harpoon that drags them back into the classroom.

It also helps that I speak some Korean and have no problem telling them in Korean and English (or vice versa) to be quiet, open your book, pay attention, or get out of my classroom.

Be firm. Be consistent. They will cave in.

OH! And play them against each other! If one kid misbehaves look at him or her pointedly, punish everyone and watch the mutiny begin. No one likes getting in trouble for someone else's mistake, so use that to your advantage. Kids are self absorbed brats all over the world, so make someone else's behavior their problem Wink