in the past year i have been increasingly interested in reading self-help/improvement materials. one such item (which i can't remember specifically now) said, "when you are in a difficult situation or you feel extremely nervous you should say, 'i'm glad to be here. i'm in control, and i'm glad to be here.'" this is one of the many things i didn't think to try today when i almost had two fights within 2 hours at summer school.
first, this crappy kid that's been a thorn in my side did not get kicked out of summer school yesterday for yelling at me and throwing a book. instead, he showed up late to class. next, this little girl that i didn't know came marching up in my classroom (imagine the gumption of this child) and starts yelling at one of my students. "where you're boyfriend at. . . " to which i'm like, "um, excuse me. helloooo? i'm the teacher, what's the problem?" so i'm standing there between the two girls who are yelling (which is made worse by terrible acoustics) thinking about how there's no phone to call security. so i go out into the hall and say, "security? hello?" finally, a maintenance man called someone on his walkey talkey. so i get the class calmed down, and then security comes and wants a statement. and i get class calmed down. and then admin comes and wants 3 witnesses that i should choose randomly as the kids are looking at me. and i get the class calmed down.
take 2: all this being over, 2 girls in my class start having a verbal altercation about how one of them talked for too long which results in them getting in each other's faces and 2 teachers coming to help me pull the girls out of the room and apart. it was so stupid and such a waste of time.
talking with one of the other teachers, she said you just have to be assertive and tell them to sit down and shut up. she said, "it's rude but it's what you have to do. it's all they'll listen to." thankfully, this didn't completely blow my whole day like it would have last fall when i had never seen a fight, but it puts a little crimp in there for a minute. i think i'll get some tapes on being assertive.
2 comments:
wow dude...sounds stressful. Even though being assertive in that way works for them...make sure to stay true to yourself. I know any mutual students we had loved you, and don't change the great teacher you are. But I know for me, I need to be a little sterner next year, but will not compromise my moral code! Hang in there!
Oh my. I can't say I miss that stuff. I had a hard time compromising my "self" for a more assertive approach in the classroom. I'm pretty assertive in real life...getting in a 15 year-old's face....totally different. Especially when you have an audience of 30 other teenagers who will judge you on your reaction. Girl, I'm on your side. Don't give up!
Come, let me buy you a coffee. We can discuss self-help.
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