To: Miss Shyu
I am so sorry that I was intrerding your class.
I am so sorry that I was intrerding your class.
I am so sorry that I was intrerding your class.
I am so sorry that I was intrerding your class.
I am so sorry that I was intrerding your class.
I am so sorry that I was intrerding your class.
I am so sorry that I was intrerding your class.
I am so sorry that I hit "Elmer" in the hed with my folder.
I am so sorry that I hit "Elmer" in the hed with my folder.
I am so sorry that I hit "Elmer" in the hed with my folder.
I am so sorry that I hit "Elmer" in the hed with my folder.
I am so sorry that I hit "Elmer" in the hed with my folder.
I am so sorry that I hit "Elmer" in the hed with my folder.
I am so sorry that I hit "Elmer" in the hed with my folder.
I am so sorry that I hit "Elmer" in the hed with my folder.
Dear wiser teachers,
How do I teach self control? My students have taught me so much over the past two years, but it seems like it's never enough. I know to teach self control explicitly and kindly. I know to be stern and to identify self-controlling moments as they happen. I know to ask students self-reflecting questions to help them reconsider an action.
But it's never enough. How do I teach children with behavior disorders to control their cruel words, their abusive actions, their self-hatred? How do I teach all children to be nice? I think we've cultivated a pretty strong culture in my classrooms, but it's never enough. I never asked her to write this. I just found it sitting on my desk two hours after I wrote her up for hitting another student on the head. I know she didn't really mean to hit him, but she just did. How do I help her to teach herself control so she can stop apologizing?
Comments
Self-awareness is the first step to self-control. This student has taken the first--and most important--step.
Posted by: CaliforniaTeacherGuy | March 8, 2007 10:47 PM
Jennifer, it may be helpful to read Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs' "Maintaining Sanity in the Classroom". Though you have an even greater challenge with teaching your group of special needs children, I would imagine the book would still have information that would provide insight and tools.
Regards,
Tammy
Posted by: Tammy Simpo | March 9, 2007 12:42 PM
I ask myself this every day - every time I have to remind my students that tattling on their classmates' inane infraction only draws attention to the tattle-tale, every time I have to tell someone not to use a racial or sexual slur even if they do it to be cool not cruel, every time they don't keep their hands to themselves... I think it's an attention-seeking thing and one of the million ways they find to put off actually doing their work.
Posted by: Ms. Colon | March 15, 2007 7:50 AM
Miss Shyu -
You have been doing an amazing job for Teach For America on the reservation. When you mentioned that you would do anything for your students such as bribery for them to learn. Bribery should be considered a BIP and in my opinion you are using a cutting edge tactic or subliminal BIP in order to persuade your students to learn! More power to you - anyway that you can get a student to learn is fair game as long as they don't get hurt and come away with a positive attitude!
Posted by: Joe Curran | April 30, 2007 12:43 AM