Comments on: mean ’til Hallowe’en: classroom discipline and the first day of the semester http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/ siobhan curious says: teachers are people too Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:22:59 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Siobhan Curious http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-179 Siobhan Curious Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:13:18 +0000 http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-179 Man, I love that movie - I should go watch it again right now. Man, I love that movie – I should go watch it again right now.

]]> By: Kermit http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-174 Kermit Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:14:47 +0000 http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-174 In reality I don't learn all the details in one week and I only have about 70 students total...and I often forget the detail and ask them again (Do you raise dairy or beef cows?) I just watched To Sir with Love (again) yesterday on Mpix (love that channel 216 or 217 if you are with videotron). I think maybe most of what I believe about teaching can be found in Sir's (Sidney Poitier's) approach... In reality I don’t learn all the details in one week and I only have about 70 students total…and I often forget the detail and ask them again (Do you raise dairy or beef cows?)

I just watched To Sir with Love (again) yesterday on Mpix (love that channel 216 or 217 if you are with videotron). I think maybe most of what I believe about teaching can be found in Sir’s (Sidney Poitier’s) approach…

]]> By: Siobhan Curious http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-170 Siobhan Curious Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:18:03 +0000 http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-170 Also: Kermit: the idea of learning one detail about them other than their names is a terrific one. I don't think I could do it right away - it takes me a couple of weeks just to get 100 names straight - but through individual meetings and other interactions, I do try to get to know a little something about who they are (but, as you say, without getting too personal...) Also: Kermit: the idea of learning one detail about them other than their names is a terrific one. I don’t think I could do it right away – it takes me a couple of weeks just to get 100 names straight – but through individual meetings and other interactions, I do try to get to know a little something about who they are (but, as you say, without getting too personal…)

]]> By: Siobhan Curious http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-169 Siobhan Curious Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:15:13 +0000 http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-169 Your last comment gives me food for thought, Jose - although the particular student I spoke to privately, who was stretching and yawning in class, was a perfect angel after our discussion, some other students in the class were not. I wonder if that was because they saw him "getting away with" stuff at the beginning. And I think the theme that comes through in all these comments is that, although a firm hand is necessary, we need to be true to ourselves. I think one reason I've been having difficulty these last few years is that I've been trying to shut down my natural tendency to be warm and enthusiastic in the classroom, in favour of being detatched and a bit cold, because I hoped that would help me maintain better control. It hasn't worked, so this year I'm trying a different tack. I'll let you all know how it goes. Your last comment gives me food for thought, Jose – although the particular student I spoke to privately, who was stretching and yawning in class, was a perfect angel after our discussion, some other students in the class were not. I wonder if that was because they saw him “getting away with” stuff at the beginning.

And I think the theme that comes through in all these comments is that, although a firm hand is necessary, we need to be true to ourselves. I think one reason I’ve been having difficulty these last few years is that I’ve been trying to shut down my natural tendency to be warm and enthusiastic in the classroom, in favour of being detatched and a bit cold, because I hoped that would help me maintain better control. It hasn’t worked, so this year I’m trying a different tack. I’ll let you all know how it goes.

]]> By: Jose http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-162 Jose Sun, 02 Sep 2007 18:38:51 +0000 http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-162 Before I read all the comments, let me just say that, while everyone has this great ideal of being all cheery and such during the first couple of weeks in school, the problem is that some kids will immediately take your kindness for weakness, and that's an issue. Kids want a teacher in front of them. They want high expectations badly. It's been shown time and again. If we don't set a respectful and serious tone from the beginning, then kids start to act funny. Even if you have a smile on, your demeanor should be a professional one. It's something I learned early and quickly. Kermit brings up a good point about how classroom management: building a rapport with students goes a long way. For Kermit, that works because that's part of Kerm's persona. It's part of mine, too, but I try to find that balance between cordial and strict. They're not adverse to each other either. And not to say anything that might contradict good sense, but it's OK to misjudge as long as you misjudge correctly. What I mean is that, if you catch a kid yawning and acting out, regardless of whether or not he / she meant it, as long as you call them on it, that's perfect because it lets everyone know that if they plan to do it intentionally then they're going to get a nice talking-to. Before I read all the comments, let me just say that, while everyone has this great ideal of being all cheery and such during the first couple of weeks in school, the problem is that some kids will immediately take your kindness for weakness, and that’s an issue. Kids want a teacher in front of them. They want high expectations badly. It’s been shown time and again. If we don’t set a respectful and serious tone from the beginning, then kids start to act funny. Even if you have a smile on, your demeanor should be a professional one. It’s something I learned early and quickly.

Kermit brings up a good point about how classroom management: building a rapport with students goes a long way. For Kermit, that works because that’s part of Kerm’s persona. It’s part of mine, too, but I try to find that balance between cordial and strict. They’re not adverse to each other either.

And not to say anything that might contradict good sense, but it’s OK to misjudge as long as you misjudge correctly. What I mean is that, if you catch a kid yawning and acting out, regardless of whether or not he / she meant it, as long as you call them on it, that’s perfect because it lets everyone know that if they plan to do it intentionally then they’re going to get a nice talking-to.

]]> By: Kermit http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-160 Kermit Sun, 02 Sep 2007 16:39:02 +0000 http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-160 Early in my career (over 12 years ago,) my boss at McGill Cont'Ed, David Levy, said something that resonates with me still: 'Always remember that YOU are the master in your classroom.' I have a particularly rowdy group of 23 18-year-old farming students, 5 girls and 18 boys. Next week we will practice entering the classroom and sitting down quietly. I won't start the class until they get it right. And if the rabble-rousing resumes, we'll get up and try it again. I'll let you know how it goes. By the way, I hate the Mean until Hallowe'en attitude. I believe it's a survival technique for teachers more than a teaching strategy. I believe the opposite is true; you need to create a rapport with your students. If you are interesting AND interested, they will usually listen...Though I know I am lucky because I have relatively small groups and can build a rapport with each student individually overtime without getting too personal (tricky in ESL classrooms.) On the first day, I learn all of their names plus one other detail that I may ask them about at the next class. 'Did they win their hockey game, pass their math test, get their car repaired etc?' A little small talk can go a long way. I'm not trying to be their friend, just reminding them we are all human. Early in my career (over 12 years ago,) my boss at McGill Cont’Ed, David Levy, said something that resonates with me still: ‘Always remember that YOU are the master in your classroom.’

I have a particularly rowdy group of 23 18-year-old farming students, 5 girls and 18 boys. Next week we will practice entering the classroom and sitting down quietly. I won’t start the class until they get it right. And if the rabble-rousing resumes, we’ll get up and try it again. I’ll let you know how it goes.

By the way, I hate the Mean until Hallowe’en attitude. I believe it’s a survival technique for teachers more than a teaching strategy. I believe the opposite is true; you need to create a rapport with your students. If you are interesting AND interested, they will usually listen…Though I know I am lucky because I have relatively small groups and can build a rapport with each student individually overtime without getting too personal (tricky in ESL classrooms.) On the first day, I learn all of their names plus one other detail that I may ask them about at the next class. ‘Did they win their hockey game, pass their math test, get their car repaired etc?’ A little small talk can go a long way. I’m not trying to be their friend, just reminding them we are all human.

]]> By: Siobhan Curious http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-150 Siobhan Curious Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:35:47 +0000 http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-150 Fair enough, Clix. I think it's important to point out, though, that the teachers that I discuss in the post above claim to be both strict AND structured at the beginning, and to loosen up as time goes on, and that this approach works very well for them, although I'm not sure it would for everybody. The students respond very well to it, and respect the teachers as well as loving them. Fair enough, Clix. I think it’s important to point out, though, that the teachers that I discuss in the post above claim to be both strict AND structured at the beginning, and to loosen up as time goes on, and that this approach works very well for them, although I’m not sure it would for everybody. The students respond very well to it, and respect the teachers as well as loving them.

]]> By: Clix http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-149 Clix Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:39:11 +0000 http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-149 It seems that a lot of people confuse "strict" and "structured." We must ALWAYS enforce expectations firmly and consistently - first day or forty-fifth. It's also important to have expectations that are age-appropriate and communicated clearly. It seems that a lot of people confuse “strict” and “structured.” We must ALWAYS enforce expectations firmly and consistently – first day or forty-fifth. It’s also important to have expectations that are age-appropriate and communicated clearly.

]]> By: Siobhan Curious http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-148 Siobhan Curious Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:45:02 +0000 http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-148 Thank you! The balance I'm always trying to strike is between being kind/friendly and firm/stern when necessary. It's always a challenge. Good luck to you too - let us know how it goes! Thank you! The balance I’m always trying to strike is between being kind/friendly and firm/stern when necessary. It’s always a challenge. Good luck to you too – let us know how it goes!

]]> By: Frumteacher http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-147 Frumteacher Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:37:38 +0000 http://siobhancurious.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/mean-til-halloween-classroom-discipline-and-the-first-day-of-the-semester/#comment-147 Food for thought indeed! I have read quite a lot about classroom management, and know I HAVE to be stern and strict tomorrow, yet I doubt whether I will be able to act that way I know I should. I hate myself for not standing strong, because it will give me problems for the rest of the year. But having a positive, easygoing and friendly nature makes it a real challenge to act 'mean'. I guess it will take some years to get that right. Good luck to you! Food for thought indeed! I have read quite a lot about classroom management, and know I HAVE to be stern and strict tomorrow, yet I doubt whether I will be able to act that way I know I should. I hate myself for not standing strong, because it will give me problems for the rest of the year. But having a positive, easygoing and friendly nature makes it a real challenge to act ‘mean’. I guess it will take some years to get that right. Good luck to you!

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