I started today in a complete panic. It went okay considering. My
elementary kids weren't too bad, and it didn't hurt that so many of
them were absent. Unfortunately, my middle school kids were a different
story. They were terrible! The first day with this group, and they were
already showing their true colors. I had a students trying to brush
each other's hair while I was lecturing, folding up the syllabus into
notes and eating candy in the middle of the class. Two other students
would not shut up, and I finally hit the table with my book and raised
my voice. The jumped and looked scared, and I explained that I will not
tolerate this behavior in my classroom. I told them that art can be fun
or it can turn into a writing class that is not fun at all. I want to
come armed tomorrow in case they act up again. I need to nip this in
the bud straight away because I refuse to let them drive me crazy this
nine weeks. I'm thinking of coming up with a list of essay questions.
If they act up tomorrow, I think I'll have them copy my rules ten times
and take it home for a parent signature. If they act up the next time,
I'll ask them to take out a sheet of paper and spend the period writing
an essay. It will be their grade for the day. I'm also thinking of
having a student stand in the corner if I have to speak to him or her
too many times. Perhaps I'll tell the student to remain there until he
or she is ready to sit quietly. I'm just thinking that I need to start
off this term much more strict and mean. I hate to say it, but I think
I need to scare them a little. Middle school kids just don't respond
like the younger ones, so I need to really put them in their place. The
behavior log really doesn't do much on its own, so I think I need to
take some other actions. I don't want to continuously punish the whole
class if I notice that it is perhaps 5 or 6 kids who are causing the
most trouble. Today, I'd say it was about half of the class in little
pockets. Tomorrow I'll be assigning their seats, so that might
initially help a little. I know that this subject has been talked about
many times, but I'd love any extra advice. I'm still reading your
responses to my other posts. I'm currently trying to work on my
curriculum map. I also received the Art Took Kit, which looks very
promising. I'm looking for anything to make my life easier! Thanks! You
guys are great!
