32 comments
Fathi
Great ideas. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for your wonderful workable suggestions!
In addition, usually visual aids can be helpful as well especially for students who need additional aids to process information.
Great advice. I have a suggestion for expecting compliance that people find odd, but have tried and works. When a student hands me a report card at the start of lesson, I, in a very surprised voice, ask why on earth they need to be on that ?! I interrupt before they get started on the reasons, and tell them to just write an A in (or whatever is highest expected grade) and my subject, date etc, and just say “that way I can quickly sign it at the end when the lesson is over to save you hanging around”. I do this very matter of factly, as If I haven’t really needed to think about it. I have never once had to change the mark to a lower one. Students just accept that they are expected to do well as I have indicated they will. There is no room for discussion. They want the A, so they have to behave so I don’t change it and the exta bonus is they don’t have to wait around at the end for me to write it in and decide how well behaved they have been, which is rather demeaning really. They keep their head down so I don’t notice them all lesson other than to answer questions when asked!!
I’m not saying it will work for everyone, but it does for me!
Thank you for these – they are so “do-able” – looking forward to seeing the results!
Thank you for sharing ideas. I think I might try the pen trick. It looks interesting.
I can see where i’ve been going wrong! Something so simple could get rid of that horrible ‘knot’ feeling I get when I feel I’ve spent the entire day repeating instructions the children haven’t followed. I’m a supply teacher, and using instructions in the way you have suggested will give them less room to ‘play-up’
Thank you!!
thank you! I love your ideas
I find it powerful to follow up a request by saying ‘Thank you for understanding what I have asked you to do’. They usually grudgingly acknowledge that they have understood, and then comply, or, if they say they do not understand, it gives me an opening for a detailed explanation of what they should be doing and why, which soon has them complying just to shut me up!
Loved the follow-the-pen idea. I sometimes sing “I want listening” in tune to “Frere Jaques” and it works well too (often before I reach the 3rd line – maybe they just want me to stop hurting their ears!)
Thank you so much for all of your WONDERFUL suggestions! I will try the pen trick. The mystery student thing is working quite well for my classes! I am a 45-year-old 1st-year teacher (8th grade science), career-changer (lateral entry, MBA in Healthcare Mgmt, 17 years in that field, where I spent most of my career training adults), and I can’t begin to tell you how much I look forward to your new ideas. After I recommended your site to my principal, he sent it out to the entire staff – so I am sure it is spreading around our entire (huge) school district by now. You rock! 🙂
I am always grateful for the good tips you share, and have learned a lot from you. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your valuable comments. I don’t intend to be authoritative and unkind but I don’t always thank them or explain why we do things. I tend to assume that children know how to behave but as we all know most of them like to push our buttons. However I do have beautiful individuals (maybe 40 %) who know how to behave and why they come to class which is to succeed. I am grateful to their parents for having instilled in them good manners and a desire to better themselves
Thanks for the great tips! Sometimes it hard to admit our class is a reflection of ourselves and the message we are giving!
Thanks, very helpful.
Have pinned it – thanks! Sensible and practical advice as always!
I’ll share it!
Good suggestions. I tried them and they worked!
Will bear these in mind! Thanks for some raising some pertinent ideas.
Thanks Rob. Despite being a seasoned secondary teacher, sometimes the mix of a class can be quite disturbing and its good to have a fresh reflection on why something is not working. I’ve picked up on a subtle message I may be giving one of my classes from one of the points in this blog. Here’s to you.
Thank you so much Rob for what you are doing for the profession. I am a retired teacher but I still read your articles and watch your videos because I am the president of a knitting club ( yes!!) and they are the noisiest group I have ever heard and your startegies work wonders! I have never tried the ‘pen’ but will do next time I address them!
Seriously speaking,I give the link to your productions to many young teachers I know because They are so unhappy some times and They need help which they find with what you do! SSo , thanks again and carry on with your good job!
Always good to have these top tips clarified. I just need to remember to use them! Thanks
Wonderful strategies if sincerely followed since I strongly feel these tips are like a gust of fresh air into a sick bed-room. Thanks a lot.
Thank you for your ideas and i try to use them in my siruation here in Ukraine.
Thanks, as ever. You do a great job, Rob.
Hi,
I’m going to try the pen trick and see what happens. I like your other ideas too. Keep them flowing !
Excellent advice, just what I need and to be reminded of. Thank you so much.
Regards, Maryna Potgieter
I like the pen trick for getting attention and the idea of giving a reason (even if it is completely stating the obvious) and in a positive way: Thank you for getting right to work so you can finish before lunch.
I use the “thanks” in my requests often, and it does work! I am a substitute teacher, and it is a difficult job.
I’ll try the swinging on the chair comments first thing tomorrow with my worst offender. Thanks for the tip. I usually tell my lot a story about a boy I knew when I was at school, who broke his neck falling badly from a chair. That doesn’t work……
Thanks! I am starting my work as teacher and your ideas are helping me a lot!
For kids who are off task, I usually use the “First…Then…” Method. First we are going to finish our journal, then we will can get a drink of water/silent read/etc.