Ever taken points from the whole class because one kid won't get it together?
My students were doing independent work today and included me in a conversation about a teacher. Generally speaking, I refuse to allow conversations about other teachers in my class, but sometimes you're in one before you know it. The line of questioning went as follows:
Student: Have you ever taken points off the whole class because one kid was talking?
Me: Yeah, but that wasn't fair of me.
Student: Mr _____ did that today.
Me: Let's not talk about other teachers. If you have a problem with it, you should go to them directly instead of talking about it to all of your friends.
See how that happened? I was in it before I knew it.
Anyway, while I have been one of those teachers, it isn't fair to the kids to punish them for my inability to manage one child. I get it. You're having a bad day, you want the class to manage itself, you want to turn the class against that kid so maybe they do right, and you are at the end of your rope because it's the end of the week. That doesn't make it right. Also, when you cool down and realize you were wrong, there's nothing that says you can't restore the points, apologize, and reestablish classroom norms. I've done it a million times. The students appreciate it most of the time.
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Related Blogs:
Reward and Consistency as Discipline - A Dallas Teacher Blog
Dallas ISD Suspension Debate
Dallas ISD student discipline from petty teachers
When Dallas Students Don't Listen
DISD and Dallas Education Rundown - September Week 1
***New*** Dallas Education Podcast - August Mailbox (Listener Questions Answered)
Student: Have you ever taken points off the whole class because one kid was talking?
Me: Yeah, but that wasn't fair of me.
Student: Mr _____ did that today.
Me: Let's not talk about other teachers. If you have a problem with it, you should go to them directly instead of talking about it to all of your friends.
See how that happened? I was in it before I knew it.
Anyway, while I have been one of those teachers, it isn't fair to the kids to punish them for my inability to manage one child. I get it. You're having a bad day, you want the class to manage itself, you want to turn the class against that kid so maybe they do right, and you are at the end of your rope because it's the end of the week. That doesn't make it right. Also, when you cool down and realize you were wrong, there's nothing that says you can't restore the points, apologize, and reestablish classroom norms. I've done it a million times. The students appreciate it most of the time.
Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher
Related Blogs:
Reward and Consistency as Discipline - A Dallas Teacher Blog
Dallas ISD Suspension Debate
Dallas ISD student discipline from petty teachers
When Dallas Students Don't Listen
DISD and Dallas Education Rundown - September Week 1
***New*** Dallas Education Podcast - August Mailbox (Listener Questions Answered)
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