I teach a class and the children don't behave...please help!?

Question

These kids are K-3rd grade and I feel like I've been too relaxed with rules. I tried to focus on being their friend so they would like me instead of me being an instructor. I teach a dance class and even if only a small amount of kids come (I usually have between 5 and 15) they still get super-loud and don't participate. We play fun games and they drift in and out of participation, but when they're playing, they're having a great time! We switch activities every 10-15 minutes so I don't loose their attention. They always say they love me and don't yell or talk back but they just get lazy, complain, want to sit out, etc. What can I do to motivate them again? I've tried threatening them with taking away the game we play at the end of class but it doesn't seem to phase them. They know the rules (only speak if you raise your hand, no running, etc.) but I have to explain them 20 times a day because they don't obey. How can I get them to listen to me?

Answer 1

Be more firm and make it clear who's boss. Kids need guidance and discipline to have fun.

Answer 2

If they misbeahve sit them out for 3 min. You should never have tried to be the friend, they will walk all over you

Answer 3

Your first mistake was attempting to befriend the children.

You should start the new week with a Hitler like attitude. Threaten the children, let them know you mean business. Get some of the kids together that do behave well for you and create an SS like organization with them. Use them to root out the trouble makers and punish the trouble makers accordingly.

Soon enough you'll be in complete control of your class. Maybe even the whole school.

Answer 4

Be stern to them. Try to do some interesting activity to attract their attention.

Answer 5

you need to suck it up be a little mean  they need to know your serious. it like they use a puppie dog face against you

dont let them control the adult . be nice not there friend

Answer 6

Watch the Nanny or Super Nanny

She will give you ideas.

You can't be their friend, but you can make things fun .

Figure out a way that THEY set some boundries. And you have a way of rewarding them.  Ask them idea's for making sure that they behave in order.

Tape them. Then show it to them. Tell them to show them the opposite........then show it to them

Rewards work and consistance works.

Don't make rules that you can't keep.

Make it fun for all of you

A way I taught my kids to have a volumn control on their face. Just pretend or put a little sticker on their cheek.  Have some fun with them.....make their voiced louder and louder,  you do this too, Then softer and softer until you can barely hear each other. Do it  louder again.They will love this. Tell them that you need to find a good volumn and play with that. Finally ask one person to listen to the other students. and this student chooses what volumn the class should be at. It can go both ways. if everyone is too soft spoken ask them to turn up the volumn/

Maybe set up elections. Who is the door preson? Who is the person who takes role count. Another person who gets to do some of the teaching. There are rewards for each thing.

There needs to be some sort of accountablitiy.

If this is a after school activity the kids probably need some nutrition to get their blood sugar up.

Good luck

Answer 7

You could try ensentives instead of taking things away. Although I think it is great that you are trying to be more of a friend then a instructor I also think that children need discipline. Are you allowed to put them in time out? You could make a chart with different things like, best listener, best participater, most quite, ect. and give each of them a star when they diserve it. At the end of the month whoever has the most stars gets a reward. You could get little toys or books for them to win at the end of the month. Maybe a month is too long for them maybe every week they try to earn a new reward. Kids don't really care what it is or how much it cost they will probably like just about anything. I would have a boy and a girl toy or coloring book on hand. I hope this helps.

Answer 8

Lots of candy.

Answer 9

This might not be the greatest idea but could you come up with a reward system with some sort game that you could play with them. Like bingo where you ask a question, and the answers are on their bingo boards you can play a couple times and the reward can be as simple as candy or some toys from a dollar store.

I don't think it is an issue with punishment, they are just kids and if they can get something from winning a fair game like bingo they should be happy.

Answer 10

well...........freetime all day long!!!!! just joking. i am a p*****n and i think you should just give them detention.

Answer 11

You have to explain to them 20 times a day because they are CHILDREN, not adutls.  They don't have the rention adults have, they don't have the attention span of adults.  Maybe if you stopped expecting them to act like adults you'd have an easier time.

Answer 12

Well, you made the mistake by trying to be their friend 1st and their instructor 2nd. They completely disrespect you because of it. But they're kids and if you give and inch, they'll take a mile. You need to think of some creative punishments for them.  Perhaps focus in on a couple of the worst offenders first. When they don't listen, stop all activity and it's heads down and quiet for x amount of minutes. Or maybe make them assume a difficult dancing stance or do x reps of a strenouous move. When they equate bad behavior with no fun, they'll soon learn.

I teach Tae Kwon Do and when the kids stop listening, all fun activities stop and the pushups start!

Answer 13

When you set down the rules, you have to set down the following consequence and you can't let up even once. Also, you can't be their friend, that is why they are treating you that way, just like they would treat their friends. You are the instructor, you are in charge.  You have to have specific, uncomfortable consequences and use them. Try Love and Logic, google it

Answer 14

I think the best thing that you could do for these kids, is open up your college books. Behaviour Modification is key when dealing with children, specificaly school-aged.

If you use the methods taught in this program that I am sure you MUST have taken in order to be in the position of teaching and being responsible for young kids..

Answer 15

be stern and let them know your serious and if they don't listen punish them

Answer 16

I am so glad you care about the children you are working with, but it is not your job to make children happy, it is your job to educate them and prepare them for the world.  Them liking you will be a consequence of your boundaries, believe it or not.

Set up a discipline system, say a strike system.  1 strike, nothing happens "because we all make mistakes".  Strike 2 they are not longer able to participate in the game at the end of class (don't punish the whole class for one child's mistake).  Strike 3 you can give them a note home or a homework assignment of your choosing.

When you explain it for the first time I would acknowledge to them the fact that the current way things go isn't working for your or for them.  Tell them the rules (whatever they are, you must participate or write a papper on X (or do X work with the same material), you must raise our hand, you may not tease friends, whatever)  Then explain the new  rules.

Remember, the first few days you may get to strike 3, it is a child's job to test boundaries, but stick to your guns and in a week or two, everything will smoothe out!!

Also, the more excited you are about the subject the more interested they are in it.  I don't teach anything I am not excited about.  I either get excited about it or change my lesson plan!  The 15 minute topic switch is a great idea.

Best of luck!!!