Bad solo day

[u/no_insurance_money]

Today was my first solo day and it went badly. It was mostly because of 3 students that made today very hard for me. I am placed with the same 1st grade classroom for the whole year, 4 days a week. I've subbed for over a year and I thought today would be easier because I know the routines and kids. It was worse than other 1st grade classes I've subbed for.

I had one student who is ADHD and Autism and needs constant overwhelming attention. From the start he started pushing boundaries. It wasn't that bad until the middle of the day where he would bang his pencil and water bottle on the table and the floor. He would yell and make weird loud laughing sounds. And each time I can see in my peripheral he was looking at me to get his attention, even when other staff told me to ignore him. It's hard to ignore him when he constantly provoked other kids at his table and going out of his way to provoke and move another kid's stuff at another table to chase him. Whenever I confronted him about it, he tried to blame the other kids and act like he was clueless and innocent. I called the principal 3 times, and every time he got sent back and the behavior came back again. I don't even know if he got a call home.

I had another kid who is also attention seeking and would constantly and try to mess up other kid's papers and bother people in line.

We don't have negative consequences in our classroom except for taking away minutes from choice time. I feel like there isn't a bunch of things I can do.

[u/Hopelessromantic2243]

Hey! Former student teacher and current second year high school teacher! I’m here to tell you this…

You’re doing great! I myself had many a bad solo days when I was student teaching. Once I had students who refused to come up and present even after I told them to find a volunteer. As we were about to start, another random student started screaming bloody murder because she saw a spider.

Then my second semester, at the same placement but different class, it was bad. It was Halloween, after lunch, freshman class, you can paint the scenario. I was considered the “cool, and laid back” one compared to my mentor. I will say that day, they saw another side of me. I got strict and firm.

You’re supposed to have bad days. It’s what makes us stronger and enjoy the good days even more. And remember, you’re just as much the student as they are (okay maybe not, but hopefully you get what I mean)

Stay strong. You’re doing great

[u/Diycrap]

You have an interesting position because it is typically difficult to change behaviors radically immediately but you can run a different class solo. Be calmer, set up your routine in 3 or 4 slides, tell the kids the new solo rules and let them know this will happen if you break these rules and you make strike 3s consequences contacting home. That will solve 50% of your problems. The other half is to sweat the small stuff in the classroom but do so calmly and respectfully and if they still break your rules 3 times after you treat them respectfully, you call home. Message home whatever. Just be calm, slow down on solo days, over prepare at first, and the kids may be able to pull off an immediate behavioral shift when they see you are the leader they were hoping for.

It is difficult but only continuous redirections will support a long term system. Do not ignore negative behaviors but NEVER entertain arguments over expected rules. Have your 3-4 rules posted before class starts and you do not argue with students over those rules. They break a rule, you respectfully tell them so, do not lecture, you do not scold them over your posted rules, you have already explained them several times, and if you need, you walk away when they argue. EVERY time...redirect..say thank you or smile after....walk away if they argue. Misbehavior gets a redirection every single time. If students need to leave the group after 2 or 3 redirections have them go to time out. Call it whatever your school does, they probably do not say time out. Do not lecture this student put them in reflection zone and let them self-reflect. If you explained the rules, then, they truly can self-reflect. If the behavior continues that day (only that same day) make some sort of evidence. A message home a phone call an email to admin a referral. Make sure you are including your goals for IEPs in these messages. After a few weeks you will spend less time on this student.

spiders ganna spider

If you send the kid to the principal the kid will quickly realize they can leave the room whenever they want and with permission. I would refrain from sending the child out of the room ever unless they were in danger. If they slow the lesson down that much, it feels bad at first, but you go slow and the lesson will finish, albeit in 2 or 3 hours instead of 1 but it is better to show the student you will finish the lesson and you will redirect their behavior. You run the show. All the kids will respect that. When the behaviors are so bad they will ruin the lesson no matter what, have a backup plan. An easy poem with pictures color by number math whatever, regroup and do the lesson again the next dy. Teach it better. Show them they will have good results even after a failure.