But my students aren't like your's

I've thought it many times when reading others posts: But I don't have those kids.

True.  I have my kids and you have your's, but my 1st period and 3rd period aren't the same kids either.

When I write about my kids, I write about them the way I see them, the way I believe they can be.

I see them as learners with mostly good hearts, who want to be heard, be understood, be loved, do better, be smart, graduate, and make it on their own.  I also see them with challenging backgrounds, too many responsibilities,  and no breakfast.  Students who are frustrated and intimidated by books and words and schools.  Young adults who want to be respected, taught, acknowledged, heard.

Sometimes I write about their frustrations, their learning curves, their in-class challenges.

I rarely share that some are felons, gang members, drug dealers.

These are the same kids in the stories I share that are working, kind, empathetic.  This is how I see them.  And in return this is the behavior that I get.

Of course, there are exceptions.  The ones who keep their distance, try every last nerve, and refuse to learn at all.  And there are exceptions now and then with the others, but we usually talk it out and work it out without severe behaviors or consequences.

So, do I understand the struggle to teach the student

who has spent every night for the last two weeks at a different location?

who has a scary reputation that others are afraid of?

who has a felony charge involving a gun?

who was molested and still has nightmares?

who is afraid of her stepdad for multiple reasons?

who may actually be living on the streets?

Yes, I do.  I have them.  I teach them.  I care about them.

Reading Relay Races

Reading passages and answering questions is BORING!

Reading passages and answering questions you found in Easter eggs while competing against other teams is A LOT LESS BORING!

In contemplating how to handle energetic students, who are kinesthetic learners, I kept coming around to outdoor recess and the need to run.  This is not an option - because it's high school, because of our room location, because of many risk factors, because....., because......  

So, what would be close to outdoor (not in desks) recess (activeness)? A relay race!

Can't run - 2nd floor & injury risks - so they walk on their knees.

And egg relays have just as much tension, but less running anyway.

And so was born the Reading Relay: 

Students are divided into teams with 4-5 students per team.

You will need 6-8 eggs of the same color for each team.  So, if you have 5 teams, you will need 6-8 plastic Easter eggs in 5 five different colors. 

You will need to print a set of numbered questions and the text for each team and an answer sheet for each team.  The answer sheet should just be numbered.  If you print the questions, they will answer them there without going for the eggs.

Each egg within a color set will contain one of the questions. 

The day of, put all of the eggs together in a location equidistant from all the teams. (I put the eggs in the middle of the room.) Divide into teams. Give each team a copy of the text and an answer sheet.  Assign each team a color.  Explain the rules.  I also give each team a spoon on which they have to carry the egg and they can only hold it at the back of the spoon, not up by the egg. 

For my classes students have to walk on their knees with the spoon to the egg basket (or box).  Place an egg of their color on the spoon.  Holding the spoon at the tip away from the egg, they walk on their knees back to the group.  As a group they read and answer the question making sure they answer next to the correct number, since the eggs are out of order (Stress this point).  Then they go back for another egg.  I allow them to trade out walkers on each turn.

I give an extra 5 points to the first team finished so that if everyone gets 100% correct, the first team to finish wins 1st place.  Otherwise, 1 point per correct answer and the highest points win.  Sometimes they win bragging rights and sometimes jolly ranchers.

Sometimes there's resistance and "it's childish and stupid", but it's not optional and it's a grade (mostly participation).  Enforce the rules and build the excitement.  "No, on your knees.  Go back."  Now, the team will enforce the rules, because the others are ahead of them.

It's loud and animated, so if you like quiet and calm, this is not for you.

But suddenly passages and questions aren't so bad.

Have fun and let the games begin!

Sometimes you have to be the bad guy

I'm not talking about the bad guy because you gave a low grade or corrected behaviors.  I'm talking about letting them blame you as the bad guy.

Ashley did not like me from day one.  I had her last period and she was usually the first to arrive.  I greeted her daily with "Hey, how're you?" or "Hey, How's your day?" or something similar.  She rarely spoke to me at all, not even if asked to answer a question in class about the assignment.  Nothing!

It's the end of first semester.

The class was getting too loud and unproductive one afternoon. 

I told them. 

Then warned them. 

Then warned them of assigned seats. 

Then assigned seats for the rest of the period.

Ashley refused to move to the assigned seat. 

I explained she could move to the other seat or she could move her desk up against the wall facing the wall.  She opted for this choice.  We got her desk moved.

The class got it together, so the next day they would be able to seat where they wanted.

Ashley arrived first, as usual.

"Why am I not up against the wall?"

"Ya'll got it back together, so no assigned seats today....unless you want one."

"yeah"

I moved her desk just as others start to arrive and I tell them they don't have assigned seats.

Ashley's friends ask her to join them and she says she can't.

They ask why and she says she has an assigned seat.

Her friends ask what happen.

"You know how she is." 

So, they turn to me with promises that Ashley will behave.  They promise.  What did she do?

I respond, "It's between us."

---------

She went back to her seat and friends the following day.  And she spoke to me and greeted me and smiled when she saw me from then on.

I have no idea why she needed an assigned seat and I never asked.

Sometimes they don't know how to separate and take time for themselves.

Sometimes you can show them and teach them. 

Sometimes you have to be the bad guy.