You have to have that teacher attitude/face/whatever you want to call it. In
other words, ou have to come out swinging the very first day. NO SMILING. NO
COMPLIMENTS either. I think of the worst villian (Saddam Hussein? Osama?
Hitler?) in the world and take on their persona--seriously!! I pretend I am
Eva Braun!!! I tell them I will not put ONE crayon in their hand if they want to
act like fools. I talk to them as a class. As a class community, they must
police themselves, I tell them. I won't let them in my room if they are acting
wild in the halls either. Sometimes I keep them in the hall the whole
period. Too bad. So sad. They will learn to act like human beings whatever it
takes, even if it kills me! And you know what? The next time they come to art
they KNOW they have to act appropriately--it does work. They don't want to
stand in the halls again for 40 minutes. If one kid acts inappropriately...then
I punish the whole damn class! Unfair? Sure, but life is unfair. So the kids
MUST behave themselves in MY room. No excuses. Post RULES and CONSEQUENCES.
And call PARENTS immediately. Tell them you want them to sit in your class
and babysit for their child. I also give the kids points every week. That works
too. What teacher in your school has good behavior management ? Sit in on
that teacher's room on your break to observe and learn. That' s what I did-
it helped a lot.
The last thing I want in my school is anyone's help-not the Principal's,
Disciplinarian, anybody's, etc. I try to solve my own problems in my class.
You'll get a good rhythm going and it'll be ok. Kids need boundaries. The kid
who is the class clown needs attention. Take him out of the room or at the end
of the class period and talk with him and tell him you need his help, etc.
etc. etc. I wouldn't discipline him in front of his peers. That's exactly want
he wants. Don't get into a power struggle with this guy either because you
know who always wins. One on one is best in my experience.
I am a petite white woman in a very large Chicago public school of 1500
kids (African American & Hispanic)--I am the minority in my school. It took me a
loooooonnnnggg time to get to this point in my career where my kids don't
mess with me! GOOD LUCK!
Jill (BT)
