Thanks for all your suggestions. I am a rotary teacher. I basically take students out for ESL or I cover planning time for other teachers. So I don't have my own classroom. What I do is i use the classroom management techniques that the students' classroom teachers would use. All of them are incentive based. I have been using incentives when I get the students. I also give students warnings about their behaviors. For example, if I give them warning in phys ed and I have to give them another one they will not participate in 1 game, and so on. I am finding students with behavior problems in particular students who are in need of or are in special ed to be challenging. How do you deal with students no matter what they still don't listen and behave? These students are being identified or are identified as special needs, how do you deal with students of such nature?

Salaamu alaikum,

I thought I'd add a little to the good advice you've already recieved from many others.

Classrooom management is certainly a big topic. It takes practice and patience and you have to just try different things. What you do depends on the dynamics of the class as well. One year you can get children that are very well behaved and other years, you might have a class that needs to work on their skills.

But whatever the dynamics of the students are you need establish routines and have structure in your class (and for yourself). This means having enough work for your students to do so that they are more likely to stay out of trouble. Also, you should try to make them aware of what they will be doing and when. For example, you may have a read aloud every morning and then coral reading after lunch etc.

1) Review class rules on a daily basis by asking students to briefly say what the rules are and give an example. During the first day of school, I would have my students tell me what the class rules should be. Then I would write the five most important rules (making sure to write them in the positive way ie. Instead of writing No talking when the teacher is talking, you'd write, Be respectful: Listen when someone is speaking).

2) To get their attention try using clapping patterns. Clap a pattern and have them follow. (This becomes better when you practice with them. Tell them you want them to repeat your pattern and when you are finished they should all be listening quietly). They usually enjoy this.

3) When I found my students kept talking to each other on the carpet during story time, I gave them carpet spots. It really helped.

4) When it was taking too long for the kids to line up, I gave them line spots. That helped but you need to spend time practicing with them so they don't forget where to sit.

I don't really like the idea of giving external rewards (ie. stickers) for good behaviour but sometimes you need to. And if it means that it will help the entire class---so that it allows others to learn than perhaps it is what should be done.

Another thing to remember, it takes time to become better at classroom management!

I wish you well,
wa-salaam.

I think no matter how old your students are.. learning should always be fun! I had to go through 3 weeks of training at my current job. I was really dreading it. Luckily our instructor was really entertaining and was able to make even such a boring subject fun.


I know I can't sit still for more then 5 minutes either I start falling asleep! You've got to be able to hold their attention but the students have to be cooperative too.
Once you've established some order in the classroom everything will be alot easier.

Everyone's got their own style of teaching and over time you'll find what works for you. Every student is different and every day is different too.

Use the interactive learning.
kids start disruptive behavior because they
are bored.
try the triangle or the circle of learning...
lecture, problems, asking questions..if you have graduate students you can lecture for an hour and they keep up but kids you need to interact with each of them.

Peacetwou- great advice!

Yeah let's see what I can add to this..

Well if the kids are taking advantage cause you're too nice which seems to be the case ..don't worry! It's never too late to start getting tougher on them.

Being consistant is really important. I'd start off the day and have a very serious talk with the whole class. Let them know there are certain things that are simply unacceptable and need to change..starting right now! Then let them know what the rules and consequences are. No more second chances no more ''sorries' You do the crime you do the time!

They talk when you talk ... name on the board. One check you're in for recess ..they complain act like they didn't do anything.. even make a sound.. you double their punishment.. they still whine and make a fuss..tell em they can stay in for the whole week you don't care!

When I taught I always had a sense of humor, was very fair but strict when needed too. I let the kids have fun and be kids but I made them understand there's a time to play and a time when they need to be serious and do thier work. The more cooperative they are they more we could get done and faster and the more time we'd have to do fun activities too!

Giving them more responsibility which they have to earn works really well. At this age they still want you to like them. You gotta figure your kids out and see what motivates them. You'd be surprised sometimes that's all it takes to get them to behave and take interest in their school work.


If they're not on task.. what works really well..is walk around the classroom alot and stop right behind a kid who's not doing what they're supposed to. Usually you don't have to say anything ..especially if you've mastered 'the look'! lol

I guess it does take alot of patience but my way was to make the kids understand they are responsible for their own actions and how the day would go. I never talked down to them. They realised I did genuinely care about them and respected them..and in return they did the same.

Of course there's always gonna be that one kid who gets on your nerves and won't listen even after you've talked to their parents.

I could go on and on.. let us know what you try and whether it works or not.

here's a link you might like to look at. It has some suggestions of incentives.
specialed.about.com

another with some good advice on classroom management
specialed.about.com

I personally set the rules when I first enter a classroom and establish my authority. They have to learn from the begining what I expect from them and what they can also expect from me. Also get the parents involved. I find that when parents and teachers work together, it makes it much easier to get good behavior in the classroom.

Also, when I notice too much talking between the students, I separate them. Don't let friends sit together. Call on the students more to answer questions, especially the talkative ones. Incentives and rewards are also good for young students to motivate them. Not all kids are school fish, some need more encouragement than others. But something they all have in common, they love to compete. I like to use competitive games and activities in the classroom.

Another thing, while it's okay to have fun with your students, don't lose your authority. While teaching, you are not their buddy or pal, you are their teacher. I worked with a lot of teachers who played around with their student during class and when they wanted to be serious, they found that the kids did not respect them or listen to them. They lost all control of their classroom.

Have you had your students a long time or are you a new teacher for them?


Peace

Students who don't listen and interupt. Students who are not on task. I teach at the primary level so grade 3.

Well what are they doing? Are they not listening to you? Do they talk all the time? Do they not do their work? Also what grade do you teach? You gotta be more specific.