How do 5 year olds already know how to be rude and angry with each other? How do they already know how to manipulate, lie, cheat and deceive?
I have a class of 17 students and about 5 of them sometimes make our day miserable. They have to see who's first, they have to shout out constantly, they lie about what happens, they cheat at stations, work and testing. How can you become such a con at 5 years old?
*If you are one of the parents in my class and you're reading this...let me assure you that it's not your child*
Example 1: One student (A) who pinched another student (B) after lunch (not good). I ask A why hands were put on B and A said that A wasn't even sitting beside B. A was sitting beside another student (C), so C is called out for questioning. Low and behold, C was also pinched by A and said that A also pinched B. So, A is called back out and after A realizes that A has been busted, A finally fesses up....just be honest!
Example 2: Student (D) gets in trouble a few times and ends up on orange. I ask D to bring me his folder at the end of the day (which should be in our basket already) and D says I don't have it. And you know how kids have that "look"...well D had it big time. I walked over, unzipped D's backpack and there it was. Now D is on red...just be honest!
Example 3: Students (E) AND (F) pitches a fit, rolls on the floor, crawls on the floor, screams, cries, hits head on the table rolls eyes and anything else you can think of whenever E or F get in trouble. Usually for lying, talking back, running in the room or hallway, putting hands on others..whatever. You would think it was the end of the world! How come E and F can't figure out that if E and F would just behave and do what is right then E and F won't get in trouble.
There are several other examples I can give, but these are the most fresh in my mind. I replay the kiddos reactions everyday. I think of what I do in my classroom to promote good behavior. I see that it works with well over 1/2 of the class so how come these few can't jump on board!
I give rewards, I praise, I give hugs and love, I have other students make a big deal about their success. We are crazy packed with LOVE in our room. How come these few don't get it!
I would love to take the easy way and blame their background before coming to school. However, I have finally figured out that I cannot worry about what is not in my zone of control. In their home, they maybe raised in an environment where structure is not available, where they kick and scream and get what they want, where they are yelled at for the tiniest thing instead of being told what they need to work on, and where their parents don't know how to be parents because they are still too self involved. I can't fix their home life...I try to fix their course of direction at school. I try to undo 5 years of home training that was done improperly. I can't do that though can I?
So, what do you do next...sink to the level of yelling, keep wishing that corporal punishment could be reinstated because you know a could "whoopin'" would set them in the right direction? =)
I'm just losing my mind!
That's why I'm glad that I found those Norms instead of Rules. I know I've posted about it like three times this week...but I'm really hoping that it will work. It is a brilliant idea! Simply brilliant! <--said in my best British Accent
I know a lot of you have enjoyed the posters that I've made, but has anyone ever done something like this before? We are three days in and I'm just not sure if it's going where I want it to. I know I need to give it more time and be more consistent with it...just trying to feel out my audience =)
What have you done with unruly students who have pretty much been that way since day one and you feel like you are making NO progress!!!!
And that's my vent for the day =)
