Last year on the second day of class a boy walked up to me and said, "You are the nicest teacher I've ever had." Later, this same boy consistently asked me if he could go do his errands during my class, "Can I go to the counseling center? Can I go print something off in the library?" He asked me to check his grades constantly, would become upset if I didn't enter a grade immediately, and generally become a major pain. He was not the only one either, many students made me feel that I should just lie down because they were walking all over me. If there is any lesson learned, it is to not be so nice the first week of school and maybe ever.
They have to use a hall pass to leave my room and only get three per quarter.
They only get 2 late passes per quarter, after that, major point dockage.
If they aren't doing their work, they have to come sit by me.
If they are getting out of line I say "absolutely not" in a very stern way.
So far, they are just a little afraid. I heard this convo...
"Is Mrs. Plummer going to be mad if I don't have my writer's notebook today."
"I don't know. You better get one."
And already I feel a difference, like they are prepared to learn, like we can move forward quickly.
1 comment:
Students really like and respect teachers who are firm but fair. I'm sure they LOVE you. Thanks for the teaching resource. I've already pulled an inductive and deductive logic lesson from it.
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