How does a first grade teacher last the rest of the school year?

Question

I have a first grade class full of defiant, jaded students. When I first began teaching this class, the students were out of control but I managed to tame them into a class with only *minor*problems. Recently, two severely problematic kids were placed in my class. I'm a first year teacher and it's been hard enough as it is! I've suspended recesses, given tons of positive reenforcement (privledges, prizes, praise, points, fun lessons, etc.). I've read Harry Wong and Fred Jones, etc. I don't know what else to do! When a kid talks back to me and tries to run out of the room, I send him to the princpal but he gets sent back. When I call the kid's mom to come sit with him, she generally says no. Yesterday a kid destroyed a book of mine and he got send back from the office. I have hardly any parental or admin. support! There are two months left of the school year. I've spent so much money, put in hours of time, etc. There are a few innocent little ones, but not enough! Help!

Answer 1

First you need to remember the children are not jaded, defiant or problematic, their behavior is (every child is a good child).  Educational Assistance are usually hired to work with children with exceptionalities. However when I was EA, I would also do 'pull outs' with children who had behavior problems or were just behind, you'd have to find out if you can get an EA for a class. When you send a child to the office, they're still getting the attention they want, try putting their desk in the corner instead. Send notes home with the students, call to request meetings with parents. To be honest with you, in order to have a parent sit with a child @ school, it had to be something major & was either that or the child get expelled (I only remember this happening once). Keep a stern voice when you need to & keep a confident show  other wise they will keep taking miles when you give inches (my first practicum Principal told me this & it was  great advice). Talk to your prinicipal. Ask colleagues, they've all been there before & can give you some advice.

Answer 2

I feel for you girl.  All I can say, is you know now what not to do.  I was like you spending lots of money to bribe my students into behaving and like you it didn't work.  First of all, you need to make the students understand that you are the person in charge and not them.  You need to be firm with them.  Have the kids come up with a list of "Expectations" not rules.  The students should be able to identify what is expected of them and not forced on them.  This is my fifth year teaching and I have my best class yet.  At the beginning of the year we established our rituals and routines.  My students learned how to talk in "whisper voices".  I told them that they could talk as long as it was in a "whisper voice".  If they didn't' follow directions, I threatened them by telling them they wouldn't be able to talk anymore.  When students run in my room I pull them aside and tell them, "I am disappointed in you because you ran across the room.  When we run we can trip and hurt ourselves."  I usually end with I am not mad at you , I expect more from you.  The kids need to know that you are there for them.  If they know that they won't be defiant with you.  I had a little girl at the beginning of the year try to push my buttons, and I ignored it and told her that if she continued, she wouldn't be allowed any computer time (she loves the computers).  She stopped.  Occasionally, she won't listen to me, but I realized that I need to give her space and does listen.  One time she totally ignored me and I gave her my speech and she looked blank at me then, five minutes later she came up to me apologized and hugged me by herself.  The key to behavior management is to include the kids and make them responsible for their own actions.  Look into "Boys Town Skills" it is a great behavior management book!  Good luck and just remember, you only have 2 more months and pretty soon you will get a new bunch.   By the way I only hand out prizes to kids that get my question of the day.  Behavior prizes didn't work for me.

Answer 3

I am a Primary teacher myself, working in the U.K. and believe me, many teachers have been in your position. Respect from students comes with time and patience as I'm sure you're aware and its great to see the methods you have already enforced [rewards and sanctions]. Be persistant and follow-up your punishments, even working with 1st graders, many will look to others and the way they have been dealt with and follow examples in order to stay on your good side! We all know that children normally like to please the key adults in their lives.

With such little ones, try working on "positivity" and praise more than the punishment side of things, however. Sending a child to the principal is good practice and a powerful consequence but if used too often, may loose its effect. A marble jar works brilliantly in my classroom, where children earn a marble a day for all-round, whole-class obedience! They can "spend" their marbles with the equivalent in minutes of doing things they enjoy, perhaps on a Friday afternoon. You could adopt this for individuals having their own jars, or even producing a wall-chart, an individual plan of action for instant visual proof for the children who misbehave, to see how they have done in the day.

I've tried bringing in parents myself, and often this has a detremental effect on the child in my experience. This is down to parents often wishing the best for their children, but tending to be too much of a "comfortable support" for the child, making them more withdrawn and ultimately more devient in the absence of their adult.

Its sad that you don't have sufficient adult support or a T.A. in your class! Without mine, I would be completely at wits-end! I would urge ave a word with your principal. As your employer, he/she has the duty to keep you sane as well as provide the  best for your class! In the meantime, remain consistent and make the "good'uns" into examples of how you would like the rest of your class to behave. Naughty children can see how complacent ones are rewarded more frequently, which benefits them! Start in a positive metal frame of mind at the start of each day! Tell your class..."I am proud of [insert name] today!" ...praise little things such as sitting nicely or reading a book sensibly. Have faith, its lovely to see how comitted you are to transform your class, rather than giving up completely :]

Answer 4

I don't have any first grade advice, but I have first year teacher advice.

1) find a teacher mentor/ buddy. They can give  you specific things to try for specific kids and problem behaviors. More importantly they can listen and support as you complain.  They can also help you strategize about how to get support from administration.  Sometimes they will back you up more if you make sure to do X, Y and Z first.  Try to find someone who isn't complaining all the time. That kind will only drag you down. As a first year, you are allowed to complain a lot more.

2) understand that your first year you need to focus on your classroom management.  That is always the hardest.  Beg borrow or steal whatever lesson plans/ worksheets etc from coworkers as you can.  

3) remember that the first year is way way harder than anything afterwards.  We are almost to the fourth quarter.  hurray.

4) Try to find times in the day to enjoy your kids.  If they are just a mess when you are trying to teach them enjoy lunch and recess if at all possible.  Kids everywhere are a mixture of trying and wonderful.  

hmm. enough for now.  hold on and remember to get both practical and emotional help.

Answer 5

Oh man, that really sucks. Maybe the kids can see the effect they're having on you and it's just making them crazier. They know that you can't really punish them or anything.

Just tough it out, the year's almost over and you'll get a new crop of first graders. Or maybe you can ask for an assistant teacher.

Don't let them see that you're struggling.