kids takeing advantage of new teacher

[jillan_Barber]

I am a new 8 th grade teacher and some of the childeren feel as if they can take advantage of me in some way or another wether it be turning in homework during class work or anything, since i am new like a month new they think i am weak disadvantage to tell you the truth right now i am feeling just that. Please any advise or comments will help and make a frustrated newbie happy!

[BigDaddyTeacher]

In any new situation, there will be the sheep and the wolves. Now, I don't mean to trivialize the situation, but which are you? As the new teacher, you must assert yourself right from the beginning - let the class know you are the boss - or else they will take advantage of you for the rest of the year.
Establish basic classroom rules that must be followed, then back up your rules with action. The theory is, you can be a "hard nose" during the first part of the teaching year to let them know your are in charge...then, later, as the class understands your style and is showing you the respect you deserve, show compassion and back off a little. You will still have their respect, but they should know by then that you mean business.

[Jack Furr]

Read the message board archives for more pointers. You learn ways around some of those behaviors. When you take up homework staple it together. This way they can't sneak it in later. Check it off and ask them about it as you go. Video the class so they can't lie. Be FAIR, BE FIRM, BE CONSISTENT. Be respectful, expect nothing less in return! Don't yell or denigrate them. Give consequences when they cross the line. And hang in there, nothing worthwhile comes easy. Most good teachers were not born that way (even if they don't know it) :)
Also, don't re-invent the wheel, ask other veteran teachers for advice (and be accepting, open, and honest when it is offered).
My two cents.

[Unregistered]

The best advise I got as a new teacher was remember you can start over. If you have problem getting them settled down have them line up and stand quietly before you let them in. Meet them at the door, set the tone for your class at the door. If you have a disruptive student stop and have them call thier parents right there on the spot, if they say thier parents is at work tell them to call them at work... let them know that they interupted your job of teaching so they should understand as their parents should understand that you can interupt their parents at work.. explain the same to the parents. Do not allow the parents to leave the burden of teaching their children to behave on you...put the responsibility back on the parents...tell the parents that they as parents have a right to save their child from failing and you as the teacher are giving them their chance to save their child now. Be firm, childern need someone to be in control. Remember they come from so many different backgrounds and you may be their only stability. If a child is rude or talks back be firm and tell them ," I do not appreciate you speaking to me in that tone, I am not your parent, I do not have to put up with you." Be firm but always remember not to hold a grudge, let the students know that everyday is a new day and a fresh begining. Be consistant, don't be wishy washy. Form a relationship with your students and before you know it you will fall in love with 160 students. Before I forget always remember it is their job to be trolls at this age. Also remember that if one thing does not work try something else you can always start over, you can spend days going over rules and discipline
Good luck

[Unregistered]

I am a new 8 th grade teacher and some of the childeren feel as if they can take advantage of me in some way or another wether it be turning in homework during class work or anything, since i am new like a month new they think i am weak disadvantage to tell you the truth right now i am feeling just that. Please any advise or comments will help and make a frustrated newbie happy!


I read your statement about your problem and I am unhappy and a little frighten about it. This year I will be a new 6th grade science teacher and despite my excitement of joining the educational field I am also nervous. I believe I have remarkable behavior management skills, however I will not know until I get there. I expect my students to test the limits but I hope we can gain a mutual respect for one another therefore that will eliminate some of the manipulation. Nevertheless, if you can give me some pointers I would really appreciate it.

[Unregistered]

Perhaps I'm being too persnickity, but it seems to me that teachers should be able to spell and use correct grammar. I realize we all make typos and sometimes we think faster than we type and leave out a word or two, or a comma or period, but some of the postings I read lately seem more suited to students than their teachers. Does anyone else wonder if some of the posts we're reading were actually written by college graduates?

[Lisa's Hotscakes]

I don't think you're being too persnickity.

[Unregistered]

I thought it was just me. I know some people (teachers included) aren't great spellers. But teachers still have to try much harder.

[Unregistered]

I read a great book by Lee Canter "Behavior Management in te Middle School Classroom." He lays out the ground work for having a successful school year by being fair and consistent.

Good luck in your new teaching assignment, 6th grade can be a lot of fun!

[Unregistered]

Check the book Tools for Teaching by Fred Jones. LOTS of great ideas that will help in this situation.

[Unregistered]

You may also want to read Ron Clarks "The Essential 55." He gets down to the basics!

[Unregistered]

Thanks for mentioning the lack of good grammar and spelling...teachers should know that BTW and HW are not words!

Anyway, my major point of reference was my student teaching...I saw what a great repertoire the teacher had with her students, and I thought I would be able to just step in and things would be the same for me. Big shocker! The best advice I got, and have used many times since then in both teaching and personal issues is this: MAKE YOUR EXPECTATIONS CLEAR. If you don't tell your students what you expect of them, ie. homework turned in at the beginning of class NO EXCEPTIONS, Quiet when you're speaking, attentiveness to other students, guests, and teachers, etc. there is no point in continuing to try.

We would like to think that middle school students would know better, but if they are not challenged to attain a certain level of behavior, they will resort to kindergarten antics, every time. Set your foot down and tell EVERY class that THIS is what you expect, and if they do not reach your expectations EVERY day, STARTING NOW, then they will need to expect detentions (or another reasonable punishment). You won't have to hand out many before they figure out that you mean business, but quit being so easy on them!

[Lisa's Hotscakes]

Thanks for mentioning the lack of good grammar and spelling...teachers should know that BTW and HW are not words!

True, but teachers are equally guilty. I have seen "w/" written for "with" on many whiteboards. In my opinion, all words should be spelled out, otherwise students simply pick up on our bad habits.

[Unregistered]

I have a similar problem. I have the eighth grade students the last period of the day. Their teachers they have before my class are very strict and they are not allowed to talk much. When they come to my class, they talk their heads off. I cannot get a word in. They won't watch a video. They will work on art projects but are loud while doing so and tend to get up a lot. I have better luck with other grades, but these students are very difficult. They are bright children who probably have had everything they have ever wanted in life. Other teachers have trouble with them as well, but not as much trouble as I have. It is so bad that the principle has to come in--without my requesting it--he hears them and they are loud. I am soft spoken and may not be teacher material. I am considering doing something else. Any help will be appreciated.

[Unregistered]

I just survived my first year at an urban middle school (73% free lunch). Being young and new, my 8th graders did want to take charge of me and they did for a little bit. But, the trick is relaly just being consistent and letting them know what behaviors you accept and don't accept. Also, if they want to be little harda**es, you should be also. For instance, my 8th graders would leave a mess in my room. Well, I blocked the door and insisted it be cleaned before they can get to class. Other things I've done -- CALL HOME. It's amazing how involved parents are, even in your worse-case scenerio schools and families. If you can call home, collaborate with another teacher and do a home visit (its safer with another person.) Home visits are LOVED by busy parents. You'll get a great response with it. Just take charge of your situation. You're smarter and quicker than they are.

HOWEVER, remember that being positive works really well also. I've had the worse students come up to me and tell me, "you're the first teacher who's really written me a nice note." or.. "you're the first teacher to call home and give my parents GOOD news."

Know when to discipline and when to be positive.

[Unregistered]

Before teaching my first year, I read Harry Wong's book "First Days of School" more than once and I also met Phillip Schreiber and bought his book "Trench Teaching". I enjoyed both books but Phillip's book is nonsense and directly to the point with some good pointers for working with difficult students. I went into my first day and year with confidence and consistency. My goal was to gain respect and make sure my students learned - that's it! If the students liked me that would be great but if they did not, oh well (and many did not like me until the year was nearly over and they appreciated me for "staying on them so hard"). Consistency is key. If you say no, give your reasons and consequences and move on. You are in charge and there's no need for a lot of negotiating or putting up with the whining or confrontations. Let them begin each day new but reinforce your rules daily. Establish and discuss every rule, expectation, procedure, and consequence upfront, don't wait until things happen, you will have to aniticipate every imaginable situation (ask veteran teachers around you) and be flexible only when necessary. Revisit all these things as often as necessary, like when students return from vacations. During my first year, I had two major instances where my 8th graders were out of control (and I consider myself a strong manager of my class, even then!) One instance, students were cursing, arguing, and not focused on the lesson at all. I stopped teaching and called a few parents right then on their jobs and repeated every action and word coming from their child. After the calls, my room settled immediately. We missed some instruction but at least not all of it. Another instance, after a vacation, students were breaking a few rules and even with reminders continued to disrupt. This was a day that I was being observed. I stopped instruction, turned to the administrator and told him that he may want to return another day because I would not complete my lesson in chaos. The students did not even respect the administrator enough to settle down. I used the rest of the class to review my rules and consequences in a firm and serious manner and the administrator smiled, said good job, and came on another day. I let students know each day that I have a planned agenda and as long as there are no unnecessary disruptions, we can complete our plan. If we don't complete the agenda for the day due to student disruption, homework and a quiz will be given as planned whether I finish the lesson or not, their decision, their grade. Document behaviors, call, and meet as many parents as possible. Make sure the students know you are serious, firm but that you also care. If students sense you really don't care about them nothing you do will matter because they won't respect you. Eighth graders are a little more "sophisticated" then given credit for sometimes.