Nightmare scenario

[Unregistered]

Hello,

I'm new to the substitute game and I am in a bit of a mix, hoping for some suggestions.
I'm replacing a teacher who retired. He was generally hated by the students, and he left absolutely nothing at all in terms of lesson plans or information for me about what to teach. In addition, exams are coming up next week, and I feel like I have to provide some review for these kids.
One of the classes is for kids who failed grade 9 math last year. These kids are terribly behaved. I'm sure they're not bad kids, but they can't behave themselves. The principal simply told me to babysit them as best as I can.
She said I'm not likely to teach them anything, and actually lectured them on the first day, calling them poor in human spirit and intellectualism.
I have these kids for math and computers, though the administration is very reluctant to allow them near computers, based on their history of rampant theft. Therefore, we're left in the classroom with nothing to do. Any suggestions for busy-work for really, really badly behaved kids?
To be honest, I feel like I'm failing more with the regular grade nines in math. They won't settle down to listen. With nothing to go on, I asked what was previously taught. The kids say the guy ignored the textbook, relying instead on handouts and his own notes. These notes are nowhere to be found.
So, for me, it's a matter of taking it day-to-day, and not losing my mind. I'm seeing this as a way of earning money, but I'd really like to try and get somewhere with these kids. I've just done 2 days, and apparently I'm penciled in for another 3 weeks. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Unregistered]

here are some ideas to get you started.

1)Ask the administration for expected guidelines, standards (or copies of the teacher's lesson plans) to give you an idea what they're suppose to be up to.)
2)Start them in on a review worksheet test style - testing them on their basic knowledge of math (pre algebra) and what the avrege 9th grader should know at this point of the year. If you notice general areas of no knowledge, then you can review those standards with them.
3)as far as the very badly behaved kids, if someone tells you "you are not worth much, I don't expect you to learn, since you're poor in human spirit and intellectualism" that sure isn't going to motivate and change overnight. But if you walk into class, with a conspiratory smile and say, "We're going to rebel. We're going to prove to everyone that you can do well if you only wanted to... and here's the game that we're going to play today -- and when we're done, you'll all be able to fill out the worksheet I'll be handing out, let's see the principal fall of his chair when he sees this.." that might get them motivated to think highly of themselves for a change, and they just might comply.

It's been a while since I taught math (now I teach English) and I therefore don't remember all the details of the game. I don't want to write it out, for fear that I might be giving the wrong details of the exact way to do this but if you google integers game on the web, you might find it(or google math games hs for other ideas) or other math games of your choice. Make learning feel like play, where the kids don't ever realize that they are learning. anyway, many people may disagree, but this is just MHO,

[Unregistered]

I'd also see if there is an exam already created for this course. Some schools have standard grade level exams. At least with this knowledge you know what areas you need to review with them.

[Unregistered]

how frustrating! keep ya head up...


"many people strive, few conquer"
http://www.flocabulary.com

[remthewanderer]

i feel for you but i think you can take this "baby-sitting" opportunity and really flip the script and get these kids to learn something.

i am not a teacher yet. i just started in my alternate route learning, but i do not feel i need to take special classes to get someone to learn something.


Start with getting to know the kids. I would suggest not even teaching a lesson the first few days. talk to the kids, see what they like and what they don't like about school life anything. just get them to talk and participate in class and incorporate correct behaviors little by little. start with teaching them to raise their hand to speak.

See the reason why the former of teacher of this class was so hated was because he did his thing and never bothered to care for the people he was teaching. I could go on and i might later but i have to get back to my 9 to 5.

[sterna_caspia]

well, i'm in a similar situation, so i can relate! i'm actually a student teacher, and the classroom teacher retired, left absolutely no curricula or lesson plans, and was greatly disliked by the students. i basically have to come up with a entire 9th and 10 grade science curricula as i go. i don't know what i'm going to do. at least you're getting paid! seriously, though, hang in there - you're not the only one.

[Unregistered]

The kids won't behave? Have you tried duct tape? (Seriously)...

Have you tried making an example of the most disruptive?

Frankly, this is an example of why compulsory education is pointless. People that don't won't to learn, won't. And yet we waste a lot of money trying to teach them. They need to go work in a coal mine for a while or some other hell hole and then they might just appreciate an education.


Does it ever occur to anyone in the ed. biz. why kids hate school? Think about it. Which of you adults would tolerate being treated the way kids are? Tested all the time, degraded by grades. Being told they are idiots because they don't conform to somebody else's rules? Not one teacher I know would tolerate getting an F (zero pay for the day) if they were late with an assignment (like turning in grades on time). Teachers aren't into merit pay, being judged the way kids are, and the A teachers getting more thant the C or D or F teachers.

Why do kids hate the former teacher? Probalby because he hated them.

Why won't kids behave? Because they are forced to take classes they have absolutely no interest in taking. And why? Because someone somewhere said they need to know this stuff. But do they really? I'm all for those that want an education to be educated, but must everyone be a college graduate? Can't some be auto mechanics or gardeners?

[BigDaddyTeacher]

I'm trying not to take your comments out of context, but I may move similar thoughts together...

The kids won't behave? Have you tried duct tape? (Seriously)...

Yeah, but the silver doesn't really go with any of the fashion these days...

Have you tried making an example of the most disruptive?

Sometimes this works. Other times it just gives more attention to the most disruptive, which is what they are craving in the first place. What type of punishment would fit the crime?

Frankly, this is an example of why compulsory education is pointless. People that don't won't to learn, won't. And yet we waste a lot of money trying to teach them.

And yet, for the most part, our students turn out OK, even the ones who whine about being 'forced' to attend school. I do agree with one of your statements: if a student doesn't want to learn, no amount of teaching will make him/her learn. We cannot force the education on the student, we can only present the material in an informative, coherent manner, and hope they're interested.


Why won't the kids behave? Because they are forced to take classes they have absolutely no interest in taking. And why? Because someone somewhere said they need to know this stuff. But do they really? I'm all for those that want an education to be educated, but must everyone be a college graduate? Can't some be auto mechanics or gardeners?

Sadly, your first statment may be part of the problem. I remember back to my high school days - I was actually allowed to choose half of my classes each semester, from a selection of 'standards based curriculum' classes. It made me want to attend, because I was able to choose. (especially being only one of two boys in the field hockey class!).

And no, not everyone is required to be a college graduate.
However, your two examples of professions actually do require some basic educational knowledge:
Auto Mechanics: reading skills, math skills, business skills.
Gardener: math skills, business skills, reading skills.



Does it ever occur to anyone in the ed. biz. why kids hate school? Think about it. Which of you adults would tolerate being treated the way kids are? Tested all the time, degraded by grades. Being told they are idiots because they don't conform to somebody else's rules? Not one teacher I know would tolerate getting an F (zero pay for the day) if they were late with an assignment (like turning in grades on time). Teachers aren't into merit pay, being judged the way kids are, and the A teachers getting more thant the C or D or F teachers.

As a teacher, I am tested all the time. Parents want to know what my curriculum covers. Administrators require me to teach certain subjects in a certain manner, and then observe/evaluate me. The state wants me to be highly qualified, so I must take tests to prove my competency. Do I like it - not really. But I understand why it is done. Mabye if the students were made aware of the standards we are being held to, they might be more tolerent of the tests and grades they are taking...

BigDaddy

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

i feel for you but i think you can take this "baby-sitting" opportunity and really flip the script and get these kids to learn something.

i am not a teacher yet. i just started in my alternate route learning, but i do not feel i need to take special classes to get someone to learn something.


Start with getting to know the kids. I would suggest not even teaching a lesson the first few days. talk to the kids, see what they like and what they don't like about school life anything. just get them to talk and participate in class and incorporate correct behaviors little by little. start with teaching them to raise their hand to speak.

See the reason why the former of teacher of this class was so hated was because he did his thing and never bothered to care for the people he was teaching. I could go on and i might later but i have to get back to my 9 to 5.

sounds like somebody has watched Dangerous Minds too much. I wonder if you are still teaching at this point now that you realized that situations like this sub had taken over are not fixable in reality.

[Instructorus Rex]

I wouldn't say it's "unfixable", but I suppose that depends on your definition of "fix". I took over a few classes midstream as a long term sub and the best part of taking over for a bad/burnt out teacher is that if you're even a half descent teacher you basically crap gold for about a month. You are already at rock bottom, you can't do much of anything to make things worse and can take all the credit if things get better. And if you are the sub who stays with the class from hell, lays down the law, and gets any kind of positive results that school will never forget you. You will be their go-to sub for every job.