I know these are a lot of questions, but I could use all the help I could get. Thanks a lot:)
Answers:
I taught a combination third and fourth grade class and fourth grade can be challenging but it can be awesome all in the same time. Students in these grades are grappiling with the fact that they are no longer small children, but yet they are not the "elders" fo the school yet. I always have a smile on my face and make sure that the environment in my room supports safety and growth. On the first day of school I have the students break into groups. Each group gets a piece of chart paper and a marker. They are told to come up with appropriate classroom guidelines. We then share these guidelines with the class and combine these guidelines for our classroom guidelines. All of the guidelines are written in a positive way (not using the words no, not, etc.). I write these guidelines on a piece of chart paper. Then everyone in the class signs it like a contract. I laminate the paper and post it in the room where everyone can read it. The students like this because they feel ownership in these guidelines and therefore are less apt to break them. I also then send a copy of the guidelines home to the parents so that they are kept up to snuff.
I also use a marble jar for rewards. I have a regular mason jar that I put marbles into when the students are good and take them out when the students are not behaving appropriately. When the jar is filled the students are able to make suggestions as to what they want for their reward (I guide them as to what is realistic and what is not). This is a huge motivator for this age group!
I hope that this has helped you. Just think positively and good luck! Don't forget to have fun and smile!
I'll just wish you lots of luck and rejoice I'm not in your shoes.
Be calm and smiling. It would help if you think this will be an enjoyable experience. Don't worry about problems until they arise. Children like positive and determined characters.
i'm not a teacher but my son is going into grade 6 and i have learned thru his experiences that he always liked the teachers that were super nice and made teaching fun, like games and stuff. In grade 4 if he did something good he would get a little ticket and he added up the tickets at the end of each week and he would get to pick a prize out of this box. Or when it was summer they got freezies. To make things easier try not to make kids work, work, work, teach a small lesson like in spelling for 30minutes then tell the kids its break time for 5 minutes. To deal with troublesome kids just try to talk to them as if you are their best friend. Some kids have underlying problems at home and you have to know how to spot those.
I hope i have helped.
Hi,
It's important to set your rules on the first day, other wise they will run riot. After introductions etc, get the children to think of rules themselves which will make the classroom a fun place for everyone. Get them to writeor draw their rules on a poster. therefore when any break any, you can refer to the poster and show them theat it's there rule they are breaking. I do this in every class and it works. BY a nice, fun teacher, hekp them learn through games and role play. Make sure they know how far to push you. The first day is the most important for rule setting. You can also make charts for the children, so if they behave they get a sticker or smily face, and if they get so many by the end of the week, they get 10 mins extra play in the class or something. This will work well for any children who have Special needs or are very naughty, break up the tasks they have to do and reward these tasks singualy, this will have a greater effect on their behaviour. For example if 'Ben' is naughty and finds it hards to get from the cloak room, to his chair, to his tray etc, Make targets for him such as, Ben will be able to walk from the cloak room to his chair without distrubing the other classes. Hope this helps, good luck!!
I'm a kid myself
am going to be in year 9(14 years old)
i like a teacher who is kind,makes lessons fun, not just writing, different activities. don't be too soft or we (the kids) take advantage and start messing around. be firm and strict but kind at the same time.
have table points. you should put the kids into table groups about 6-8 kids in a group. tell them to choose a name for their group. so for tidying up the quickest or for getting the most answers right in a quiz give them points.give them table points have a tally for every group. the group with the most points at the end of the week gets a prize. maybe sweets. change the prize every so often or kids will just think ''its sweets nothing special.''
change the groups every half term. this way kids learn to get along with each other and at the end of the year have worked with nearly everyone.
have group activities.
kids like writing on the board so let them write on the board with their answer. they be more enthusiastic to give an answer this way.
at my school we have a consequences board- we call it the C board. whenever someone gets into trouble they get put onto the C board
C1-verbal warning
C2-break time detention
C3-half an hour after school detention
C4- senior staff detention on call
C5-isolation
so at the start of class make a table starting from C1 at the bottom. C2 then C3.
most students don't tend to go higher than C2. i don't.
in every class there's a trouble maker. you'll find out who on your first day. treat them like anybody else. or they'll learn not to like you so they'll give you trouble all the time.
GOOD LUCK!
Read Harry Wong's "First Days of School" immediately, and follow his instructions. His advice is on how to manage a classroom effectively. His ideas are a lifesaver for teachers. And whatever you do, do not listen to the person who told you to act like child's "best friend." That is a recipe for disaster. You are the teacher, you can certainly be nice to your students, but when you start becoming their "friend", you lose respect and lose control of the classroom. Listen to the 14 year old's response over the person who told you to act like their "best friend."
Hi! Just be yourself. I'm new to teaching. When my son was in 4th grade, his teacher (I know this now) was never prepared and disorganized. I quietly talked to other mothers and we privately wondered if she had the beginning of Alzheimer's Disease. Homework was in other children's backpacks or "never received". Tests were taken and grades were not recorded! The nightmare continued all year long. On top of that, some families were going through divorce, my household included.
Just be yourself. Smile and give children second chances. And, yes, kids do witness problems at home. And, I know you'll do this: please be organized and prepare your lessons. Wishing you the very best!
Buy the book "The First Day of School" by Harry Wong ! Read it and follow it. It will make your job so much easier.
This article contents is post by this website user, EduQnA.com doesn't promise its accuracy.
More Questions & Answers...