Student Teaching: Am I Supposed to be THIS miserable?

[clarsct]

Now I feel really bad for all the subs we paid hell to.

We had a few that vowed to never darken our doors again. Our class sent a Band teacher to a mental ward. Literally.

Hmmmmmmm.

Respect is the name of the game. We never respected...hmmm...what was his name? Anyway, he showed very quickly that we had no reason to believe a thing he said. He also took over for a very popular teacher who had to move away, which helped very little. The poor guy was probably just trying to do a job, but I guess we didn't help much.

I think Pragmatist had the right idea. You're going to war with these kids, and they are ARMED. Only by being a good opponent are you going to earn their respect. Our class could respect someone who had bested us. It's a little wierd, but it worked. The only sub we behaved for was an 80+year old lady, and that was because she was just too sweet to torture.

We left the Ex-Marine DI crying on the Gym Floor...the fat guy who tried to do our theatre class walked out halfway through...man, McCann was PISSED when he got back..


These kids are proud of being tough and smart. You'd better be tougher and smarter.

I still feel like I ought to apologize, though..,,

I WAS one of those kids...

 

[slingblade]

Y'know, Clarsct, I'm angry with these kids, but I don't blame them for this.

I blame my program, my mentors, and myself.

I was not properly prepared for student teaching, for one thing. What is it they say in medical school..."see one, do one" or something like that? There is a vast difference, as I'm sure folks here know, between being a student and learning what is taught, and being the teacher and teaching what was learned. We saw a lot. We didn't get to do a lot, by way of practice.

My program did not offer practical experience in teaching my subject. We had one class on "methods of teaching English," one hour per week. In it, we learned how to write a CSAP (state proficiency test for students) question, and we graded one essay, for practice. This was not enough.

In "Literacy" we did a six-week lesson-study, based on the Japanese model. This taught us how to work with other teachers to develop lessons. It did not teach us how to work with students. It did not teach us how to teach reading.

I have repeatedly asked my mentors what I can do, specifically, in the way of classroom management: what discipline options do I have? So far, I know I can call the students' parents. No one has yet told me that I can give students detention, or how that's done. My mentors cut off my hands by telling me I, personally, should not send any students to the office for discipline, as this "will make you look bad." My options are obviously limited, and the students know it.

I know how to teach writing, as I've been a self-taught writer for almost thirty years now. No one ever taught me how to teach reading, and three of my five classes are reading classes, including sixth hour. I'm doing very well in the writing classes. I know what and how to teach, there. The school at which I work, however, has taken Comp/Lit and divided it into Comp classes and Lit classes. Comp students don't do much reading, and Lit students don't do much formal writing. This is counterintuitive and counterproductive, but it's what I have to work with.

The word "strategy" keeps beng tossed at me. What strategies are you using to teach reading?

My reply: I don't know; what strategies are there?
Them: Well, what do you want students to learn from this reading?
Me: I don't know; what things are there to learn?
Them: Well, have them do a "compare and contrast."
Me: Okay. Why will I have them do that?
Them: So they can learn to compare and contrast.
Me: Okay, and what will they get from that?
Them: Well, you'll have to figure that out for yourself.

This is ineffective. I can get no better answers than that. Folks here have told me to document everything that happens in the class, to back myself up. I agree, but when am I supposed to do that? While I'm teaching? If so, I'll have no time to teach. I'll have to stop my lessons in order to go get paper and pen and write. I'll have to do this a dozen times during the lesson. I can't keep it in my head to write down later; I've tried, and I forget most of the details, and can only give the big picture.

After Friday's debacle, I have decided to arm myself with a pad and pen at the podium. Names of students who give me grief will be written down. I will find out, beforehand, how to administer detention. I will begin giving these students after-school detention, during which they will write essays on whatever I was teaching that day. These essays will not be graded.

I hope they quickly ask me why they have to do this when it's an obvious waste of their time. I will then offer them a lesson on personal responsibility: if you can't learn this in class, you will learn it after class. Yes, it is a waste of your time. You have wasted everyone else's time in class with your behavior, so it's only fair that the favor is returned to you. Now, you can choose to act responsibly and maturely in class, or you can choose to accept the discipline of others until you learn to discipline yourself.

I am going to go to the principal's secretary and have her explain the esoteric mystery that is discipline. What is the school's discipline policy, and what is the proper chain of command, and so forth. She knows and likes me, and I am sure she'll help me. My mentor should have told me this, in great detail, from day one. Going to the principal's secretary ought to show them that something huge is being left out of my instruction.

Thanks, folks. Any other suggestions on either how to teach reading, or how to manage the classroom, are always welcomed...indeed, begged.

 

[slingblade]

(Sling runs back to copy/paste those great tips Pragmatist gave her. She temporarily forgot them, and regrets it now!)




ETA: my former Lit Crit prof just sent me some definitive strategies for teaching reading. Bless his heart, I know what to do now!

(It's been two years since I've had an English class, and those taught me how to analyze lit, not how to teach analyzing lit. I've discovered a widdle bit of difference, there.)

 

[wollery]

Hi slingblade,
first off let me say that I haven't read all of this thread, but I think I've got the salient points. If I repeat anything other people have said I apologise.

Most importantly it sounds to me that, other than this one particular class, you're doing great.

I did my teacher training 12 years ago and also had some rough experiences. One class in particular were really difficult. I asked their usual teacher (not my mentor) what I was doing wrong. Her immediate response was, "Nothing, they're just a bunch of ◊◊◊◊◊!" although she did go on to give me some pointers.

The bottom line is, a small number of teachers can control their classes because they have physical presence, a few because kids just like them and want to please them. However, most teachers have to work at it, and you'll never stop learning.

My first rule, which seems to be a problem you're having, was never have a shouting match with your class. I taught science (I don't teach anymore, I decided to go back to academia) so it was extremely important that I could be heard by every student, particularly during practicals.

To this end, don't engage them unless they're speaking in a civil, calm tone and one at a time. One of the earlier posts mentioned this strategy - just go back to your desk, sit down, smile, do something else, maybe get out some papers from another class to grade. Time how long it takes for them to calm down. Give them a detention that lasts that long. You're in charge, so make it clear that they can only engage you on your terms, and that if they don't they'll suffer for it. I learned this strategy after having to take a week off because I lost my voice!!

As long as you're playing by their rules you'll get nowhere.

There's nothing wrong with crying or kicking inanimate objects, just wait until you get home. Never give any sign in class that you are anything other than completely calm.

I'm not sure that there's anything more I can add, just to encourage you to keep at it, it seems like something you really want to do. Don't let one hard experience put you off.

 

[slingblade]

Today the students behaved and the teachers attacked.

Well, I no longer need advice, thank goodness. I know from now on, no matter what happens, all I can do is tough it out somehow for two more months.

Won't be taking any job at this school, however. Not that they would offer me one after today. What a nightmare.

Anyway, I wanted to thank everyone for all the great advice and support. It's meant a lot, and you are such kind people to be so helpful.

So, thanks.

 

[Larry Barrieau]

Slingblade, this is how I handle the class; 1. "Quiet Please" not raising my voice and then waiting a few seconds. If it continues, 2. "Be quiet", again not raising my voice. If it continues, 3. "You have a detention." This usually works for small things like talking, fooling around etc.

If it continues after assigning the detention I boot them out. Ask your friend in the office for a copy of the teacher's manual. Every building should have them. The school disciplinary code should be there. After you've done everything you can in class, send them to the office and follow the manual. There will be a form of some kind to fill out.

Don't be afraid to kick them out. You owe it to the ones who are not misbehaving. And you don't want a job at that school anyway so you're not worried about that.

I think you'll see a difference after you've kicked the worst ones out and they see you mean buisness.

 

[screw_dog]

Today the students behaved and the teachers attacked.

So, what happened? I initially read it as "the teachers attacked the students", but did you mean that they attacked you? Are you ok?

 

[slingblade]

Don't be afraid to kick them out. You owe it to the ones who are not misbehaving. And you don't want a job at that school anyway so you're not worried about that.

I was told by my morning mentor yesterday that a parent was trying to have me removed for picking on her boy. The mentor told me the vice-principal was in a rage, that I was in terrible trouble, and that my future was in jeopardy. All Idid was call the mom, as my mentors advised over and over, and it pissed mom off. I almost lost my entire career over a freaking phone call home.

It wasn't until hours later that I was told I had done nothing wrong and no one but the mom was mad at me, and that we'd have a meeting and get her straightened out.

No, I don't want a job at this school. Today (and just today, I hope) I am so discouraged, I don't even want to go back. I hate my mentors. My afternoon mentor, the one who dumped me into this class from hell without proper preparation, offered to take 6th hour back from me after Spring break.

She can have them. Now I just have to hang on until May and get the hell out of there. No wonder there's a frigging teacher shortage.

 

[screw_dog]

Thats awful! I almost can't believe the lack of support you are getting. I wish I could be of more help. Hang in there. I know you'll get through it, and if your posts are anything to go by, I know you'll be an awesome teacher.

 

[slingblade]

Thanks, folks. I don't know how I'm going to deal with this, but I know one thing. They are not going to stop me from becoming a teacher. These kids are learing things from me; I'm helping them become better adults and better people in general, and I love that aspect of this job.

These women are not going to take this away from me, if I have anything to say about it.

I may not.

But by god, if I get kicked out, it won't be my fault.

Bless your hearts and thank you so much, Larry and ScrewDog, for supporting me.

You know what's sad? I'm getting more support on this forum than I am from my program. I'm so grateful for it, don't get me wrong, but we all know that's not how this is supposed to work.

Thank you.

 

[Zbu]

Slingblade,

You're one hell of a teacher. Don't let them get you down, apparently what you have fallen into is the most incompetent school and teacher-group ever imagined.

Keeping holding on, everything will get better.

 

[pgwenthold]

I was told by my morning mentor yesterday that a parent was trying to have me removed for picking on her boy. The mentor told me the vice-principal was in a rage, that I was in terrible trouble, and that my future was in jeopardy. All Idid was call the mom, as my mentors advised over and over, and it pissed mom off. I almost lost my entire career over a freaking phone call home.

One thing I recommend in this situation is to go immediately to the vice-principal. If the VP is po'd with you, he needs to tell you directly and not going through your mentors. Or if he does go to your mentors (they are, ultimately, responsible for your actions) they should be owning up to the fact that they told you to do it. Either way, you have every reason to think you did the right thing and no reason to fear the wrath of the VP. Of course, in the interaction with the parent, he better be taking your side.

 

[slingblade]

I went to the VP myself this morning to express my concerns. It went very well! She had scheduled a meeting for that afternoon with my mentors, my supervisor, and me, but she graciously listened to me this morning and reassured me, "This is not the student teaching experience we want you to have! We will fix this."

And this afternoon, she did.

No, my mentors never 'fessed up, but a couple of times I gave them quick, pointed looks, such as when the VP said, "You must feel free to send any problem students to the office and let us deal with them. We expect you to have to do that once in a while, and it will in no way reflect badly on you."
(My mentors had told me never to do this, and it turns out they were wrong, wrong, wrong.)

Hee.

After Spring Break, we will tell the 6th hour students that this phase of my student teaching has ended and I am moving on to the observaton phase. I will still be in the classroom, and will still teach sometimes, but I will no longer be going solo with them after this. That way, they won't think they won and got rid of me. And I'm not going anywhere, so even if they suspect this was due to their efforts, they may be dismayed to see I'm actually still right there.

The VP told me, "We don't expect you to have to deal with a classroom this out-of-control in this phase of your career. And if you were a teacher, we wouldn't leave you to deal with such a class on your own, either."

I'm so pleased at how this turned out. But though I've said it already, I want to say again, I could never have gotten through this without your help. You all gave me the courage I needed to stay with it until I could get it addressed and mended. Thanks so much.

 

[alfaniner]

I've been teaching for 20+ years. The first 15 years -- I don't think I know what the hell I was doing. But every bad experience made me a better teacher.

 

[screw_dog]

Go Sling!

I'm so glad that the VP has finally given you the support that you've needed all along. Seriously glad!

I'll take your thanks in the form of help next time I need advice, ok?

 

[slingblade]

I've been teaching for 20+ years. The first 15 years -- I don't think I know what the hell I was doing. But every bad experience made me a better teacher.

I learned a great deal from the entire experience, no doubt about that, and what I learned, I can use. I know now how to stop that behavior before it speads into a wildfire no one can put out. I found that there are diplomatic ways to go over someone's head and get positive results.

And I learned, once again, I can survive almost anything.

Screw Dog, I'm happy to help, any time you need it!

 

[slingblade]

Last night, after parent-teacher conferences, my morning mentor pointed out some papers she'd printed for me on mythology, and at the bottom of the stack was a print-out of the school's discipline policy, along with the proper steps to take for given situations. Also included were five or six of the forms we use to send a student to the office for discipline.

Not one word was said to me about it.

What the heck--better halfway through the semester than not at all, eh?

(Passive-aggressive so-and-so, mutter, grumble, knowing smile.)

 

[Zbu]

Sixth hour gave me hell again today.

I dared to tell them that the Great Depression is considered to have begun on Black Tuesday, Oct. 29th, and they immediately began to get angry, tell me I was wrong, and thrust their history books under my nose to show me the date was actually Oct. 24th, and I should have said Black Thursday.

I explained to them that both dates are correct, depending on what one means. Oct. 24th is the first day of the stock market crash, but Oct. 29 is considered the actual "day" the Great Depression began.

I tried to explain the importance of my use of the word "considered." In point of fact, the Depression did not begin on a particular day, but was the culmination of years of careless financial "strategies." However, historians generally point to Oct. 29, 1929 and say, "That was the day it all crashed."

They wouldn't even let me get the first sentence out of my mouth. They verbally ganged up on me and I couldn't do a thing about it.

I feel so stupid.

This is hindsight, but one of my old History teachers would have called our bluffs with a five page paper with three references in order to back up our assertation. No using the textbook either; if the students feel it's that important to become outraged with it, then let them do the legwork. A little research never hurt anybody.

And it's single-spaced, get some knowledge onto that page one way or the other.

 

[slingblade]

My morning mentor gave me snide passive aggressive hell today about my lack of knowledge about teaching. (?)

She has called a "private meeting" for tomorrow between she, myself, and the afternoon mentor to discuss what kind of evaluation they will be writing up for me.

I happened to have the good luck of buying a second-hand mp3 player-recorder, about which neither of them knows, and will be recording this "private meeting" for my protection. I have also notified my college supervisor and invited him to attend, but it's such short notice, I doubt he'll come.

 

[Zbu]

Yeah, I'd tape it and show it to your college supervisor. Something isn't right here at all and honestly, it stinks.