" They kept getting
out of their seats, talking so loudly I couldn't even hear myself
think. They would not sit in their assigned seats. I had one student
who could not sit still and was just roaming the room. I instructed
him to sit by himself so that he could focus, and he refused. "
Stacy,
You are to be congratulated on your efforts to turn this class around.
However, you can't do this all alone. When a student REFUSES to do
something that you ask, that is INSUBORDINATION. That was where I drew
the line when I taught middle school/high school students. If a
student was insubordinate, I quietly and calmly asked the student to go
to the office. If the student did not make a move to leave, then I
called the AP's office ( in charge of discipline) and asked someone to
come down and remove the student. I would not put up with that kind of
disrespect. Once that student was removed, the other students quickly
observed that I meant business and that I would follow through. It was
amazing how few students were insubordinate after that. You need the
support of your administration and it sounds like you are beginning to
get it. It's okay to ask for help. Don't go this all alone or you
will definitely burn out. Let your administrator know that you will
not tolerate insubordination and she needs to help you put a plan in
place in the event that a student refuses to follow directions. It's
time to start protecting your sanity and your well being otherwise you
will not be of any good to your class.
Marian (who used to teach HS art but now teaches art education
students)
