Question for teachers in inner-city schools!?

Question

I'm entering my second year teaching special ed inclusion in an inner-city school (6th grade). I have received advice which gives me contradictory messages: to act mean and tough and relentless while also working to get kids 'on my side' - so they want to listen to me. I need SPECIFIC STRATEGIES for doing this. Thanks! Please ASAP.

Answer 1

I teach in East Los Angeles - about as inner city as you can get.

Here is the deal - you will get nowhere with the above advice - the dont smile thing is really bad advice. and you are correct, the advice you have been given is contradictory. You cannot be tough and relentless and get them on your side.

You do however need to think of it differently. You shouldnt try tough, *or* try to get them "on your side". There should be no sides. thats adversarial - your classroom should be inclusive - and you should try to be an advocate for every kid - even the ones who dont seem to want it.

(I do know that the above seems vague to a new teacher) I mentor newer teachers and see the struggle every year. At some point you will come to the realization that every kid has individual needs and if you work with that - its more of  a guidance issue rather than control.

specifics to ground this:

1. procedures take away the need for a myriad of rules. Harry Wong is really good on this - If you read "the first days of school" - it gives you the idea that most behavior problems are kids not understanding that there *is* a way to do it - it just hasnt been made clear - so they as a class will try every. single. way. to do it - making us miserable.

2. It just came in todays mail - an article about this very subject - the authors say it more eloquently than I could ever hope for - so see the article "Assuming the best" here:

http://ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/templat...

3. memory - perhaps when they said relentless they meant this: never forget, and always deal with it. Say a kid is chewing gum - It might not be the perfect time to deal with it now. confronting, arguing are common mistakes new teachers make - you always lose when a kid has to save face. When its work time, or at then end of class, you can quietly talk to the student about it, send notes home - do things that perhaps show a caring side rather than punitive. A few words of encouragement when the child shows up without gum works wonders.

They want to know that you have a plan for them. read the article - its a good one.

Answer 2

1rules should be clear, posted, and fair.

2they should be evenly enforeced

3When they do something that violates rule 1 - ask them what's the rule? and wait for an answer.

What you want them to do is to respect you - when they respect you they will listen

We used to joke in teaching many years ago that you shouldn't crack a smile until Thanksgiving.

Too many try to be 'buddy' at which point you lose control and respect.