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Original poster

how to be very strict

96 replies

hercules · 25/02/2005 19:16

I always considered myself to be a strict but fair teacher but I'm clearly not strict enough for the kids I'm now teaching. I've been struggling with a few kids in a class I teach and the lsa said I need to be more strict. I know she's right but not sure how to be more strict without being a bitch.
I do all the recommended stuff but it's not enough. What else can I do?

OP posts:
Original poster
hercules · 25/02/2005 21:01

His mum say's she cant do anything.

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Original poster
hercules · 25/02/2005 21:01

His mum say's she cant do anything.

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popsycal · 25/02/2005 21:04

just thinking out loud here.....

can you get him in before the rest of the class?
can you have a table and chair outside the class for him to sit at 'when he is ready'

can you provide him with the equipment ready on his desk (not solving the problem long term but pre-empting other issues)

Original poster
hercules · 25/02/2005 21:11

Again, none is possible. Kids arent allowed i corridors during lessons apart from a few moments before being brought back in. The way our school works is they come to us enmass.

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popsycal · 25/02/2005 21:12

what about the beginning of the lesson

the lenght of time it takes him to get in is the lenght of time he stays behind at the end........

he comes in first and the other kids wait outside
will take ages to start with but it may work ????

Original poster
hercules · 25/02/2005 21:15

i like the idea of stuff on the desk. I'll try that. I have to get the kids in as soon as possible as otherwise there will be out on the corridor blocking 300 other kids coming down the same narrow corridor. Been down the detention route lots of times already.

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popsycal · 25/02/2005 21:16

give the equipment thing a try. tell him that is what teachers have to do in primary school

bobbybob · 25/02/2005 21:21

I think you have to make the other kids hate him, so that they don't rise to his acting up and get drawn in. They all need to be punished a few times for things he does and they join in(not fair - but it is strict which is what you wanted)and then they will pressure him to behave, or at least ignore him.

popsycal · 25/02/2005 21:22

A tricky one - I feel unsettled about punishing the good kids though......I know what you mean and see where you are coming from but it sits uneasily with me.....

Original poster
hercules · 25/02/2005 21:25

Yes, that's a difficult one. I try to be fair and this isnt to the other children although I can see how it could work.

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popsycal · 25/02/2005 21:29

reverse isolation....remove other kids to a vacant classroom - dont know how possibe this is in your school but i have done it before and it leaves them a little gobsmacked

happymerryberries · 25/02/2005 21:32

A mate of mine did that with her class once. Worked a dream. Very dramatic, but difficult if SMT will not play

popsycal · 25/02/2005 21:33

agree HMB
but it does work well. you need to have the other kids on side (or bribe or threaten though )

Original poster
hercules · 25/02/2005 21:36

Love to try that but have no spare classrooms. I know a teacher who did this when year groups were smaller and it worked.

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happymerryberries · 25/02/2005 21:39

Is this kid like it in every lesson (bet he is)? If he isn't can you pick brains for what does work?
I was lucky enough for one
of my persistant trouble makers to leave the school and the other is getting the psychatric help needed one lesson in two

pixiefish · 25/02/2005 21:40

i found that i've built my 'rep' so to speak by being very very firm in the first few months with year 7 and then once the kids know me i slacken off a bit. i had to be ultra firm in my first year of teaching but after 5 years at the school the kids know me and it's only year 7 that i have to be firm with. i have very firm boundaries and very structured discipline/ detentions. Like you our SMT are a bit pants but I have been known to go round the school field herding the kids in to my detention cos they didn't think they had to do it. They soon learnt. I know that some would disagree with me doing this but if i'd passed it on at school then nothing would have been done.
I know that you stick to your guns and don't want ot be a 'bitch' but i think you may well have to.

Original poster
hercules · 25/02/2005 21:40

In some, not in others. I've spoken many times to other teachers and we cant work out what's different about from i teach at the end of the day in a smaller room.

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happymerryberries · 25/02/2005 21:43

God, last lesson syndrome! Awful!.
Can you sit him nearest the door so that he can't walk past the others knocking things over?

You are probably doing this but chunk the work and offer them a carrot of a few minutes break if they finish the first bit etc

Nail the little bastard with a litter picking breaktime DT and supervise him doing it (I use picking chewing gum from benches, they only even get that one once)

Original poster
hercules · 25/02/2005 21:45

I will do the sitting next to the door. #
We're not allowed to have kids picking up litter - too many parent complaints.

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happymerryberries · 25/02/2005 21:47

Oh ffs! the little buggers throw enough of it!

Original poster
hercules · 25/02/2005 21:48

Yep.

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Original poster
hercules · 25/02/2005 21:48

I'm looking to change schools.

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pixiefish · 25/02/2005 22:08

did you say your room was smaller than the others in the school. Maybe this is it. one of my colleagues had a small room and there was one particular class that were awful. anyway I swapped rooms with her for their lessons and they got a bit better- I admit that I had to bellow at them a few times though cos it was my room. this wouldn't really be appropriate for you though- she was in her first year teaching and it was acceptable for me to bollock them. I spose it would undermine an established teacher- unless it was a HOY

CarrieG · 25/02/2005 22:22

Can you stick him with a colleague (ideally HOD) who has a much older/younger group? Provide VERY structured & deadly dull work & make it clear he'll not be returning to regular class until YOU are willing to have him in?

Sorry if that is unfeasible/duplicates other suggestions...absolutely shagged meself from ghastly Year 7 class ( as you don't expect it from tiddlers) & general Fridayness...!

pixiefish · 25/02/2005 22:23

or alternatively outside the head's room... if they're so lacking in support...

so long as you provide work for him it's ok- it's not a refusal to teach then

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