I had a visit this morning from a fellow enrichment teacher. She has the same students in her enrichment at the end of the week that I have at the beginning of the week. They are all thrown in together, a holding pen, for students who are not in other RTI or band or chorus or language classes. The problem is, there is no rhyme or reason for where students are placed, and there are so many students who should not be put together. I heard stories of students jumping on tables, of students not being quiet while the teacher was reading out loud from the book, students spitting on the floor in the library. What is this about?
Why can't students care about someone other than themselves? How are we supposed to teach them anything if they don't behave, and if there are so many students who are not good combinations together? Why is it ok for the allied arts teachers to have groups of students who have not chosen to take the class together all in one place who are not a good combination when it would never be a group together in math, science, social studies or language arts? I have to say, it isn't fair. However, I have found my way to order in this group.
I have also found a way to keep them accountable. I send home a comment sheet through the mail to their parents at the end of each quarter. This makes a huge difference, and now I can keep them from turning over tables or spitting on the floor, because if they do these things, their parents will hear about them doing it. It is quite the deterrent, I have to say, as it makes a difference to them what their parents might think. It works, and I have a better behaved class, who write poems, monologues, podcasts, dialogues and plays for me throughout the year. Have a great week!
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