OH yeah--go outside and make a little pit and burn them--their smoke and ashes will go to the sky and
mix with the universe. You might have to burn them a few at a time to keep away the fire dept.
>>> StacieMich@aol.com 01/03/06 4:47 PM >>>
Today went better. It wasn't even close to perfect, but it was better, so
I'll take it. The kids came in, and I told them that they all needed to take
out a sheet of paper because we were going to have a quiz. I think it freaked
them out. It got them quiet and settled though, which seemed to help. After
the quiz, we went over the answers together. Then I handed out a list of my
rules with the consequences on the back. I went over them and asked the
students to sign and date the handout and turn in for credit. After that, I asked
the students to think of some specific behaviors that they should practice in my
art room. Sixth grade did very well, but the 7th-8th grade were being
wiseasses at first and then gave some real answers. I wrote them on the board. As
we went through them, I would stop whenever a student was breaking a rule and
ask the class, "Look around, who is breaking a rule?" A student would call
out, and I would ask again, "Now who's breaking a rule?" The student would
sometimes laugh, realizing that he or she had broken the rule of calling out.
Sometimes they were totally clueless! I made it kind of like a game, asking the
students to point to anyone who was breaking a rule. Some were using both
hands, and I suggested they might need to use their legs as well because so many
people were breaking rules! I would ask the students themselves which rules
they were breaking. They got a hoot out of it, and it was a good review, but I
don't want them to think it is all fun and games, so tomorrow we will review
again, and I will pass out behavior notices to anyone who breaks a rule.
After that, I had the students write down their assignments in their grading
worksheet and explained that they need to do this every time they have a new
project, exercise or quiz. Then I asked for two students to be volunteer
teachers. I told them that I needed them to teach the students who were absent
yesterday about what we had learned and how to do the project. So many of them
wanted to do it. In one class I actually picked a troublemaker and a quiet
student to work together. I like to give my wild kids responsibility because
I've found that sometimes it's just what they need to shape up. They really
wanted to prove to me that they could do my job. Fat chance! I even gave them
behavior forms and told them that if they had a legitimate reason to give a form
to a student they could. I explained that they should not tolerate the
students being disrespectful. Each student did give out a couple of forms. I
asked the "student teacher" for the reason, and if I felt that it was valid, I
made the form stick and those students had to fill them out.
After that, I let the students work on their projects and told them that
there was a writing assignment on the board for when they were finished. The
assignment simply asked them four questions about their views on art. After
reading a few, I found out that several of them never had art classes, at least not
in many years. I'm wondering if it's because the area I teach in has mostly
F schools. In those schools, they often take out the electives to add in more
classes improve test scores.
Tomorrow I'm going to watch how my students enter the class. If they do not
do it the way I asked today, I will make them all go out side and enter again
properly. I was also thinking of having them do some role playing...like
having two students come up, have one demonstrate the proper way to ask a question
and have the other student show the improper way, the same with getting out
of his or her seat, having a conversation, etc...Have any of you done this?
The kids seemed to respond well when I used humor and when they could poke
fun at each other or even at themselves, and it was good to see them having fun,
but I also need them to be able to get quiet...so we'll see how it goes.
Tonight I'm going to compile some essay questions to have on hand when a student
has comitted three offenses. The hardest part is going to be staying on top
of things, not letting things slide because I'm used to it or because I want to
continue with my lesson for the sake of the good kids. I need to develop
discipline habits, and that will take time. I'm thinking of always having a
stack of behavior logs and rule sheets in my hand as I talk so that I can continue
talking as I quietly place the document in front of a student who is goofing
off. I really respect those of you who have a system that you have perfected,
who simply make the right choices at the right time and act and react without
flinching. That's my goal. I want to be smooth, to always retain my
composure, to glide through the classroom with a plan that works.
I know that it will take time and experience and much practice, but at least
I have you guys to help! You don't know what a blessing it has been!
On a side note, a nice thing happened today. The music teacher came into my
room and told me that she had an essay for me to read. She made her sixth
graders write essays today because they were so rowdy (it's not just me!), and
she asked them to write about their New Year's resolutions. One student, whom I
taught in the first term of the year, wrote that she wanted to have a party
with Ms. d'Albenas (me) because I was the best teacher out of all of the
specials teachers and that she wanted to stay in my class and do art because it is
so fun. That was nice and made me feel good because I was a little tough on
her and gave her a b or c in behavior.
Now on to figuring out the rest of my lesson plans for the week!
Oh, one more thing. I'm having my students create Good Luck Chinese
envelopes out of paper. Inside, they are putting in their wishes or resolutions for
the new year. A couple of them asked if they were going to be sent somewhere,
and it made me think. I wonder if there is something cool I could do with
their wishes? I like the idea of sending them into the sky on balloons, but that
would take money for the helium. I thought about making some sort of
display, a wishing tree or something or even really sending them somewhere...maybe to
a school in China? Is this totally crazy? Any ideas?
