Like many things with kids, the trouble and drama that was the twin girls, passed as quickly as it came. The next day both girls were okay and have since been fine. Now Utah class on the other had, has been exhausting, frustrating, and down right difficult.
It has been a long two weeks trying to implement strict discipline in the classroom and it's been hard. I made it known from the first day that I mean business and I haven't backed off. It is hard being a strict teacher, I don't like it. With my other class, Colorado, I don't have to be so strict and stern, I can have fun and joke around with them, but they aren't ready to kill each other at the drop of a hat.
I don't know what it is about the Utah class, they just know how to push each others buttons, and in turn, my buttons. For example, during Treasures class they will be sitting at their tables with their books open and a worksheet next to them. Now, the table aren't huge so their books and papers will touch each other and when that happens, it's as if World War Three just broke out. They freak out and yell at their friend and say, "Katie Teacher, Sally is touching my book!! And she didn't say sorry!!!" Really! Then just move your book so it's not touching hers! But then, Sally will purposely move her book closer so it touches the other person's book. And this goes on all day. They also can't seem to understand the idea of listening while others are talking. I realize they are 7 years old and they have attention spans of ants but when my other class is completely capable of sitting still and listening to directions for 4 minutes, I expect it in my other class as well. They just can't seem to listen or stay in their chairs. I have had to implement a rule that they have to ask to stand up, because if I didn't, they would be up walking around, looking out the window, and counting their stickers on their sticker boards, if there were no such rule.
I know they are kids and I know they shouldn't have to sit through 40 minute lessons without a break but they can be so out of control sometimes. I do feel like they are starting to understand how the rules go with me and I do believe they can become better at listening but it will take some time. And in that time, I might lose my mind!!!!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Being a second year teacher, I have brought my experiences and lessons learned from year number one to be a better teacher in year number two. A very important thing I learned was to be strict and stern with the kids. Last year I became "Nice Katie Teacher" too quickly and I lost my ability to take control of the classroom. This year, things are different. I implemented behavior rules the first day with both classes and I do not back down. I learned last year that a threat is just a threat unless there is follow through. Part of me last year didn't want to punish the kids because they are so young and they have so much pressure to succeed, I didn't want to add to that stress. But this year I have learned I must follow through with threats and behavior rules.
Each child has two sticker charts in the room. One chart is for behavior and the other chart is for participation and staying on task during lessons. During the lessons, kids can get 2-4 stickers for their participation charts. These charts are big and it takes them awhile to fill the whole thing, so giving them 4 stickers isn't a big deal. The other board, the behavior board, they can only get one sticker a day. They have to be good the entire day to get a sticker on this board. Once they get 5 stickers on this board, they get a prize from the prize box. The prize box is a huge deal to the kids so they have to try hard to get the stickers. Last year, I was not strict enough with behavior and having the kids really earning the prize box. This year, I have already made it hard to get prize box and the kids get really excited if they get a "prize box" sticker at the end of the day.
I have two classes again and one class, Colorado, has great behavior; I don't have to be "mean Katie Teacher" in that class. That's not to say I'm not strict and stern but I am much more friendly in Colorado class than I am in Utah class. In the first 4 days, most of Colorado has earned "prize box stickers." This is not the case in Utah class. Utah class is a whole different story!
Utah class is exhausting. There are 10 kids in the class and some days it feels like 25! There are 3 boys and 7 girls but some days I swear there are 8 boys in there! One of the boys, Elliott, is not physically able to have an indoor voice. Now, I should be the last one to criticize people for being loud but oh my!! This child has two volumes, loud and earth shattering! I probably spend 40% of my time saying, "Elliott, indoor voice." The rest of my time is spent making sure Solomon is in his chair and not pulling on the blinds by the window. Or it's making sure Sally's and Evy's books aren't touching, at all!! Because the world might end if they are. Or I have to make sure Maureen isn't making sure everyone is on the right page or following along, while she can't even manage to know what story we are even reading!
Then there is Ivy. Ivy has a twin sister, Irene. Irene is in Colorado class. Now this doesn't sound like it would be a problem, unless you are 7-years-old. Irene and Ivy have been in class together since they came to the school as 5-year-olds. For some reason, the school decided to split them up as 7-year-olds. Now, I'm not a fan of putting siblings in the same class, but if they have been in the same class for the past two year, where is the logic of splitting them up as 7-year-olds? Today, Ivy started crying in my class and would not stop. I had no idea why she was crying and she could not tell me why she was crying, all she could say was that she wanted to see Irene. At this point, I had no idea they were sisters (they aren't identical twins) so I didn't really understand why she wanted to see Irene. Since I had to get back to class, I got Irene from Colorado class and asked my partner teacher, Crystal, to see if she could talk to them in Korean so they could express themselves easier. Crystal let Ivy stay in Colorado class with Irene because when she came back to Utah class, she would just cry and cry and cry.
I told Ellie, our assistant director, what happened and she said she would help me if Ivy kept crying. Well Ellie's way to "help", was to yell at Ivy and tell her that 7-year-olds don't act like that. Now, I do want to be strict with the kids but this just seemed heartless and cruel. Ivy is 7-years-old and has been with her sister for 2 straight years, and just like that she is pulled away from her. Ellie seems to think keeping them separate is the best thing to do, even though when Ivy is in Utah class she doesn't participate and she is quiet and sad. Then when she starts crying, she doesn't stop and I can't take care of my class and Ivy at the same time. The way I see it, they need to put Ivy back in class with Irene. This will not only help Ivy but all of Utah class. But that's just what I think and why would the administration listen to their teachers?
Hopefully Crystal and I can convince Ellie to put the two back in class with each other. Otherwise, Utah class will be even more exhausting!
Each child has two sticker charts in the room. One chart is for behavior and the other chart is for participation and staying on task during lessons. During the lessons, kids can get 2-4 stickers for their participation charts. These charts are big and it takes them awhile to fill the whole thing, so giving them 4 stickers isn't a big deal. The other board, the behavior board, they can only get one sticker a day. They have to be good the entire day to get a sticker on this board. Once they get 5 stickers on this board, they get a prize from the prize box. The prize box is a huge deal to the kids so they have to try hard to get the stickers. Last year, I was not strict enough with behavior and having the kids really earning the prize box. This year, I have already made it hard to get prize box and the kids get really excited if they get a "prize box" sticker at the end of the day.
I have two classes again and one class, Colorado, has great behavior; I don't have to be "mean Katie Teacher" in that class. That's not to say I'm not strict and stern but I am much more friendly in Colorado class than I am in Utah class. In the first 4 days, most of Colorado has earned "prize box stickers." This is not the case in Utah class. Utah class is a whole different story!
Utah class is exhausting. There are 10 kids in the class and some days it feels like 25! There are 3 boys and 7 girls but some days I swear there are 8 boys in there! One of the boys, Elliott, is not physically able to have an indoor voice. Now, I should be the last one to criticize people for being loud but oh my!! This child has two volumes, loud and earth shattering! I probably spend 40% of my time saying, "Elliott, indoor voice." The rest of my time is spent making sure Solomon is in his chair and not pulling on the blinds by the window. Or it's making sure Sally's and Evy's books aren't touching, at all!! Because the world might end if they are. Or I have to make sure Maureen isn't making sure everyone is on the right page or following along, while she can't even manage to know what story we are even reading!
Then there is Ivy. Ivy has a twin sister, Irene. Irene is in Colorado class. Now this doesn't sound like it would be a problem, unless you are 7-years-old. Irene and Ivy have been in class together since they came to the school as 5-year-olds. For some reason, the school decided to split them up as 7-year-olds. Now, I'm not a fan of putting siblings in the same class, but if they have been in the same class for the past two year, where is the logic of splitting them up as 7-year-olds? Today, Ivy started crying in my class and would not stop. I had no idea why she was crying and she could not tell me why she was crying, all she could say was that she wanted to see Irene. At this point, I had no idea they were sisters (they aren't identical twins) so I didn't really understand why she wanted to see Irene. Since I had to get back to class, I got Irene from Colorado class and asked my partner teacher, Crystal, to see if she could talk to them in Korean so they could express themselves easier. Crystal let Ivy stay in Colorado class with Irene because when she came back to Utah class, she would just cry and cry and cry.
I told Ellie, our assistant director, what happened and she said she would help me if Ivy kept crying. Well Ellie's way to "help", was to yell at Ivy and tell her that 7-year-olds don't act like that. Now, I do want to be strict with the kids but this just seemed heartless and cruel. Ivy is 7-years-old and has been with her sister for 2 straight years, and just like that she is pulled away from her. Ellie seems to think keeping them separate is the best thing to do, even though when Ivy is in Utah class she doesn't participate and she is quiet and sad. Then when she starts crying, she doesn't stop and I can't take care of my class and Ivy at the same time. The way I see it, they need to put Ivy back in class with Irene. This will not only help Ivy but all of Utah class. But that's just what I think and why would the administration listen to their teachers?
Hopefully Crystal and I can convince Ellie to put the two back in class with each other. Otherwise, Utah class will be even more exhausting!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Year Two...Day One
Year two started with a bang!!
The start of a new school year can always be trying, but today had an extra kick. We all arrived at school a little before 8:30 to a very frantic and upset administration. Apparently the owner of our school had come to school earlier that morning and flipped a lid! He was really upset with how messy the teachers room was and how "unprofessional" it looked. He then told our administration that he will no longer supply paper and if we wanted paper we needed to buy it ourselves!! I'm not sure what happened to make him so upset but no rational person really thinks a school can function without paper. After he went on his paper rampage he proceeded to go through everyone's desks and throw out and "unnecessary" papers and "clutter" on their desks. Some of our Korean teachers had whole lessons thrown away because he thought it looked messy. He also got rid of everyone's water bottles and coffee mugs because it also made it look messy!! I think this man has a serious case of OCD and may be bi-polar!
Thankfully our administration realized how crazy he was being and assured us we would not have to pay for our own paper. They also gave us a place to eat our lunches and have food that is not the cafeteria.
After the paper fiasco settled down, we had to start our day. All the kids were shuffled down to the gym when they first arrived to meet their teachers and their classmates. I am teaching 7-year-olds again and my kids are on their third year at the school so they know what's going on. After we got everyone in the gym, they played a few songs and then let us take the kids up to our rooms. It was a morning of introductions and games and not a whole lot of learning, which I was totally okay with. It was also a time to make rules and instill discipline. I am teaching two classes again this year, Colorado and Utah, and this year is starting much like last year. I really enjoy being with my Colorado class and not so much with Utah. Colorado has many sweet and respecting students, while Utah has a few issues. I was warned about this class from their previous teachers and it was a fair warning!! They are a bit nuts and have some problems following rules. It will take Utah awhile to see "Nice Katie Teacher." It will also take them a while to have the privilege of having song and dance parties to the Beatles. Yep, I am teaching all my kids Beatles songs this year! I taught Bristol and Leeds "Can't Buy Me Love" and other Beatles songs last year and it was adorable. I am hoping my new classes can learn them as well.
It was a very trying and tiring afternoon but there was a bright side.....teaching after school. This year, I have a much different view on teaching the elementary students in after school, I actually look forward to it. The reason, I get to teach all of my kids from Bristol and Leeds in our after school program! I was so happy to see their faces today! It was a breath of fresh air! I am so lucky to be able to see them even after they graduated from the kindergarten program. There is one bad side to this though, it will make it that much harder to say good-bye to them after this year. Such is life.
All in all it was a crazy, busy, frustrating, hectic, exciting, day. And it all starts again tomorrow...
The start of a new school year can always be trying, but today had an extra kick. We all arrived at school a little before 8:30 to a very frantic and upset administration. Apparently the owner of our school had come to school earlier that morning and flipped a lid! He was really upset with how messy the teachers room was and how "unprofessional" it looked. He then told our administration that he will no longer supply paper and if we wanted paper we needed to buy it ourselves!! I'm not sure what happened to make him so upset but no rational person really thinks a school can function without paper. After he went on his paper rampage he proceeded to go through everyone's desks and throw out and "unnecessary" papers and "clutter" on their desks. Some of our Korean teachers had whole lessons thrown away because he thought it looked messy. He also got rid of everyone's water bottles and coffee mugs because it also made it look messy!! I think this man has a serious case of OCD and may be bi-polar!
Thankfully our administration realized how crazy he was being and assured us we would not have to pay for our own paper. They also gave us a place to eat our lunches and have food that is not the cafeteria.
After the paper fiasco settled down, we had to start our day. All the kids were shuffled down to the gym when they first arrived to meet their teachers and their classmates. I am teaching 7-year-olds again and my kids are on their third year at the school so they know what's going on. After we got everyone in the gym, they played a few songs and then let us take the kids up to our rooms. It was a morning of introductions and games and not a whole lot of learning, which I was totally okay with. It was also a time to make rules and instill discipline. I am teaching two classes again this year, Colorado and Utah, and this year is starting much like last year. I really enjoy being with my Colorado class and not so much with Utah. Colorado has many sweet and respecting students, while Utah has a few issues. I was warned about this class from their previous teachers and it was a fair warning!! They are a bit nuts and have some problems following rules. It will take Utah awhile to see "Nice Katie Teacher." It will also take them a while to have the privilege of having song and dance parties to the Beatles. Yep, I am teaching all my kids Beatles songs this year! I taught Bristol and Leeds "Can't Buy Me Love" and other Beatles songs last year and it was adorable. I am hoping my new classes can learn them as well.
It was a very trying and tiring afternoon but there was a bright side.....teaching after school. This year, I have a much different view on teaching the elementary students in after school, I actually look forward to it. The reason, I get to teach all of my kids from Bristol and Leeds in our after school program! I was so happy to see their faces today! It was a breath of fresh air! I am so lucky to be able to see them even after they graduated from the kindergarten program. There is one bad side to this though, it will make it that much harder to say good-bye to them after this year. Such is life.
All in all it was a crazy, busy, frustrating, hectic, exciting, day. And it all starts again tomorrow...
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