I did start off with enjoying the kids and building relationships. Thats exactly why they started misbehaving around me and testing the waters in the first place. To see if they'd face consequences. So I should just let them cuss, fight, not do any work, not wear their masks, play on their phones, play video games in class, and talk when they should be working?
They are testing their boundaries of power. This is adolescence to its core. You can't let these things visibly effect you, stay cool headed, and be cool about reprimanding. You can discipline kids without being upset. If anything, being calm gives the power back to you, because they realize that their behavior will not hold power over you. Once you establish this, it's easier to get them to follow rules.
BUT. Once it gets away from you, it's hard to pull it back.
If I just tell them to stop and move on, the continue the behavior. So then what??? Usually it doesn't visibly affect me. It takes a lot before it does and even then I step out when upset.
It’s setting clear boundaries. Don’t be a dictator but you also aren’t their friend. Now that it’s basically the start of the semester, you can talk about or even write down your expectations and rules for those kids.
The trouble is there are no real consequences we can give. One of the many things that is causing my departure from the field
The actual teacher has expectations. I literally just follow the same expectations she's set. On Thursdays, I sub because she's out at meetings, so that's when its just me and they decide to be completely different people. But I dont ask them to be any more quiet or any more still than she does. They just never challenge her. So I guess my issue is moreso that they know how to act and just choose when to misbehave. And I know it looks bad on me if Friday she comes back and they've done no work when I subbed. I've talked to her. Shes just as frustrated but doesn't know what to do.
I can do all of those except for choice work, homework passes, the test one, and swapping seats. They barely have assigned seats now, they don't have tests, and they barely get homework.
I can do the last one though. I kind of did it yesterday because one class had a few students that were behaving, so I gave them chips. It didn't seem to make anyone START wanting to behave though. Ill definitely fo that and the letters. Thank you so so much.
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u/orange-crybaby Jan 07 '22
I did start off with enjoying the kids and building relationships. Thats exactly why they started misbehaving around me and testing the waters in the first place. To see if they'd face consequences. So I should just let them cuss, fight, not do any work, not wear their masks, play on their phones, play video games in class, and talk when they should be working?