What if my Students LIKE going to the office?

Question

I have a student who calls out everything in his head, whether it's rude or not. He doesn't do his work and he walks around the room making comments and touching other students and their things. I can't send him to the office anymore because "he likes it too much" (according to admin. and even the boy himself). So that's it, huh? I'm just supposed to let him stay in my class and be out of control? I'm told I can call admin. to my class, but whenever they leave, there he goes acting out again. He is not the only problem student, so I can't focus all of my attention on him.

I'm also told that I can call this kid's mom (as if I can afford to interrupt more lessons). I've tried but she sometimes doesn't answer her phone. She has a talk with him everyday (for the past 3 months) and nothing has changed! We even had a meeting with admin.

What can I DO? I don't feel like I have any rights. My colleagues said they would take prob. students but they all refuse to take him! I'm SICK.

Answer 1

I am a kid at a school and i have a classmate that really annoys a lot of people. Our teachers try to be nice, but nothing happens. Once, he even jumped on a desk. If i were a adult, i would take him to the principal's office. punish him by not letting him get electives, or fun things. Our teacher is taking us to field trips, but if you were bad, no field trip for you!

Answer 2

Sounds to me like this child has emotional and/or behavioral issues neither admin, you or his mom are trained  to deal with.  Maybe you could try talking to mom ( really nice letter might do to initiate contact) in a "I am really concerned about your son" manner (not mentioning what a pain in th a** he is)and steer her towards coming up with getting him in to see a professional.  You could say something like "I can see how much you care about (name), and we have all tried to help him correct his behavior but nothing seems to work.  I was wondering if you ever knew anyone else that might have had this problem with their child?"  If she does then ask what they did.  If she doesn't, say you have (everybody has heard of a problem like this if they read at all), and some professional counseling worked with everybody's help.  Have some numbers available, or the community help line or health department depending on finances.  It will take time and effort you shouldn't have to put out, but less time and effort than it will to have to continue to deal with this child at the expense of the other students learning and your sanity.  Who knows, the kid might have tourette's or something, a medical evaluation may be in order as well.  That's my 2 cents, hope you find the answer you need.

Answer 3

Hi I have taught students with similar conditions.  The next step is to rule out any possible medical conditions that might be effecting his behaviour.  He should get a referal to a pediatrician.  Are you familar with Tourette's Syndrome.  It a disorder which fits perfectly to what you are describing.  How old is the child, is this a pattern that has been repeated during his schooling?

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Keep writing paperwork, and on EVERY SINGLE STINKING ONE you should include several of the following:

It is my professional opinion that (Johnny) cannot function in a mainstreamed classroom. .

I firmly believe that (Johnny) needs to be evaluated by district specialists to determine his eligibility to be mainstreamed.

His constant disruptions are in direct violation of the OTHER STUDENT'S RIGHTS to an education in the least restrictive environment.

I have (29) other kids who are suffering because of this one student.

Every effrort has been made by myself to solve this problem, but I feel that my efforts have been made in vain. I sincerely wish to discuss, in person, this problem with both the administration, district specialists, the superintendant, and (Johnny)'s parents.

(Johnny)'s out of control behavior may be tolerable to some, but clearly it is only getting worse. How long will the administration stand by while (Johnny) becomes an INCREASING LIABILITY to the school district? I fear it is only a matter of time before (Johnny) finds new, and more harmful, ways to act out. Then who will take responsibility?

The point is, you gotta get the attention of the administration by using imposing, scary, doom-predicting words....the kind that a psychologist might use. Big words that carry heavy conotations. You have to DOCUMENT EVERY THING!!!!!! And write that kid up EVERY DAY!!!!

At worst, who cares if he LIKES going to the office???? You want him out of your room!!!!! Mission accomplished. YES, you CAN KEEP SENDING HIM THERE! Get that kid out of there......at some point he has to be accountable. And when he ends up a miserable failure in life, it wont be your fault.......he'll have put himself in the gutter....not you.....get that kid OUT TODAY!!!! And do whatever you can to get some attention on that kid. Even if he "likes it".....GIVE HIM ALL THE ATTENTION he wants! I gaurantee......there will be a point when the attention becomes the kind he wont like....and you just keep heaping it on until you break him! Like a wild horse! You gotta snap that kid in half, figuratively speaking.

Answer 5

Ask his mom to sit in on one your classes.  Let her see what he is like. He won't act out during her visit.  It will change the problems for awhile.  The problems will start again.  When they do, have her come in again.

Answer 6

I totally agree that he WANTS to go to the office! Whatever you do, don't give in to that one!

Have you tried sending him on a "Time Out" to another classroom? I know it seems cruel to dump him on another teacher, but sometimes just taking the student out of their element is enough to settle them down. (Is there a teacher that he never misbehaves for? If so, thats the one to make a deal with!)Make sure to send him lots of work! If that does not work, demand that the administration suspend him from school. The truth is that sending him home for a few days is probably what he wants, but at least you will get a vacation.

There are tons of behavior management/classroom management websites that might have some tips that you will find useful!

Answer 7

Unfortunately, that's the problem this day and age...there is NOTHING teachers can do with horrid kids.  We are given absolutely no recourse to deal with them, and yet we are expected to run a smooth classroom.  What grade is it you teach?  Could you make him just sit and write?  (Would he even do that?)  Or, send him to the office with math problems or make him write The Motivator while in there?  I guess what I am getting at is make his trips to the office almost unbearable.  Unfortunately, that's all I've got.  I'm in the same boat as you...I have a girl who is such a bully and always makes sexual obscene comments, steals, fights, harms and cheats whatever chance she gets, and all I can do is give her detention--like she cares.

Answer 8

Does the school have a disclipline policy you should follow?

If so, I wonder why the office didn't tell you to follow it?

Answer 9

First off, what I would do is make up a behavioral contract.  I would talk to the student and see what it is the student wants.  If he likes to go to the office, I'd write that into the contract.  Something like this-

"If I act appropriately during the whole class period, without any verbal warnings, the last five minutes of class I will help out in the office.  If, however, after three verbal warnings, I am not acting appropriately, I will stay in class during recess and lunch."  Then both you and the student sign the contract.  From then on, when he's acting up, give him a verbal warning and let him know which one it is.  "Okay Steven, this is your first warning.  Two more and you're going to have to stay in during recess."  

In our school, we have two other things we can do.  One is a Union suspension.  It's basically an in house suspension done through the teacher's union.  The suspension doesn't officially go on the student's record, but he is not allowed into your class until a parent conference is held.  So for a few days the child will be out of your class giving you a break.  Speak to your union rep to see if that's an option.  Secondly, we've had parents come to school and sit with the child through all of their classes.  This works on a few levels.  One, the kid for that day will be on his best behavior.  And two, depending on his age, he's not going to want his mom sitting next to him through all his classes.  After it's done once, that threat of doing that again hanging over him will get him to act (hopefully) a little better.  Talk to your administrator to see if that's an option.

Good luck and I hope it works out for you.