Candidly, one class kind of sucks. Mostly the boys - their behavior is a problem. I keep a journal/organizer. (It's titled Power Notebook! and I drew lightning bolts on the cover). Here is an excerpt about bad class:
The boys are shitheads. Anything is a toy: socks, rocks, coins, pencils. [They are] constantly shuffling around, talking, falling, fighting, and spilling water. No focus or participation.I can empathize because once upon a time I was the problem child. My mom could tell you about my preschool alter-ego whom I named Sassy. In high school, I was suspended for putting laxatives in a teacher's coffee. However, I'm a grown up now. (?) More importantly, a teacher who is being paid well by these kids' parents.
Classroom management is critical to teaching this class effectually.
My first method started with putting names on the board and adding X's. The students knew that three X's were bad. This was a poorly planned idea. Creating a threshold only encourages more dicking-off up until the threshold. Basically, I clarified precisely how much dicking-off was allowed: 2.9999999 X's. Also, fear was short lived - soon they were less scared and more curious about that third X. I thought about a few options that, ultimately, would have been too lax or, on the other extreme, gotten them beaten (seriously) by their parents. I didn't like either option.
Next, I tried a combination of publicity and physical punishment. I had the troublemakers stand up on their chairs and hold their arms straight out. This was too much a distraction (and dangerous).
Then, I singled out troublemakers with a barrage of reading and questions. Better, but singling out one kid gives the others free reign. Also, the problem is compounded when the girls get bored because they aren't engaged.
Lastly, I started constantly walking around and standing over their shoulders. To date, this has been the most effective tactic for keeping them under control. Obviously, not effective when I must be at the whiteboard. Also, it makes me feel like such a disciplinarian.
I'm not too worried, though, as I think my disciplinarian role will be short term. Eventually, they'll be conditioned. When that happens, I'll lighten up and start to have more fun with the class.
I'll be the pack leader:
Just great, South Park - much better than advice from TEFL books. You can watch the full episode here: http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s10e07-tsst
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