I have 2 6th, 2 7th, and 2 8th grade classes. I am
having behavioral issues with one 8th grade class. In
this class, there are very popular students...boys and
girls. I let them sit where they wanted for the first
few days, but then told them they are not at assigned
seats yet. I wanted to first get an idea of how the
students interact with each other. I warned the class
that if they were talking to their friends, I would
move them. So, I did move them. Now that I move
them, they think I am "mean". I am the new art
teacher at the school. A few of the students told the
other art teacher that they now want to be in her
class. She has one 8th grade class. We are going to
switch her one 8th grade class with one of my 6th
grade classes, so that I have ALL 8th grade classes.
I gave one student an infraction for getting out of
his desk after a few days of this. Finally, I sent
him to the office becuase he was disrupting the other
students. One day he was actually very good, so the
next day, at the beginning of the class, I mentioned
how well he behaved the day before, how much I
appreciated his behavior, and I wanted to see this
behavior again from him that day. He looked at me
with a blank stare, then halfway through the class, he
started acting up again. The thing is that he is a
"leader" in the class, and when he misbehaves, it
doesn't take long for the other boy students to act up
in class. So, I want to get this situation squared
away. This is my first contract year teaching, and I
am relatively young (30), but unfortunately, look even
younger. I had a really bad headache Friday after
leaving school. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.
=====
Tracey Faizi
510/794-6103
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