Thread: First rough water....

Oh dear! Well, hopefully the daughter will forget.

I am having the same problem with some of my 8th grade boys. they finally were removed from the activity and given worksheets covering the same concept. I figured that must be the way they prefer to learn.

:lol:

Oh my....well, just don't get upset, so you don't get tongue-tied...(I have a tendency to do that myself). Hopefully, all you get is a memo....

Being a tongue-tied devil myself, all I can say is "This too will pass."

Originally Posted by wag

Oh dear! Well, hopefully the daughter will forget.

I am having the same problem with some of my 8th grade boys. they finally were removed from the activity and given worksheets covering the same concept. I figured that must be the way they prefer to learn.

:lol:

Sadly, at times, I think that 8th graders are incapable of group activities. They need to know exactly what to do and when to do it and are not very good at any task that allows them the freedom to make choices and decisions on their own. Of course, some of them are mature enough for activities with ample room for individualizing the task.

I personally hate the worksheet and overhead routine, but have resorted to it many a time just to maintain my sanity.....Interestingly it has been because of 8th grade boys in the class right after lunch.

Last year was my first year and I think I tried to give them too much freedom too early in the year to be successful. This year, I am saving the small group actvities until all students are able to comply with classroom expectations on a regular basis.

I absolutely refuse to talk over anyone. I decided this year I would not repeat directions, either. I will give the directions once, allow them time for any questions, call on several students to repeat the directions and explain what that looks like. Give one more opportunity for questions and then they are off. I provide both written and oral directions and write the steps to follow on the board.

Now, does anyone have a good technique to use when students are working (in my case on writing) and several need (or want) assistance at once? I ask them to wait, but I do get interupted while conferencing with a student. How do I prevent this?

On a positive note, today when I was working with another student, one student attempted to get my immediate attention... raised hand...called name....waved hand around...called name (even though I motioned for one minute). I turned and looked and "Lo and Behold" this student went to the bookshelf and got a dictionary and to the best of my knowledge, actually looked up a word. He did not "beg for attention" again during that class.

I once was observed by a person from my university during my first year, who noted I didn't use small group instruction during his visit, which he really wanted to see because he was the guru of such things and wanted to spread the gospel of small group instruction. He noted that as a pejorative, and left it to me to read. A week or two later, another individual from another university, one of the education profs, came and observed. She said to me "you have some very naughty children" and when I mentioned the small group thing, she gave me some very good advice: "if it is not appropriate, then do not do it." I can't remember her name, nor much else she had to say. But it was sound advice.

Yes, sometimes group activity isn't the thing...for some groups.

I modified things a bit, still did the labs, did them more "step by step" and the problem subsided some. That is a technique I have had to use before.

I also pulled aside some of the main perpetrators and informed them, before class started, that I would send th em out if they caused anymore problems. They didn't, but one girl went down to the principal and complained about me.... I don't know excactly the substance of her complaint but the principal dismissed it with a simple..."she's crazy!"

Don't think I will do 8th grade anymore after this year....

Originally Posted by billybob

Yes, sometimes group activity isn't the thing...for some groups.

I modified things a bit, still did the labs, did them more "step by step" and the problem subsided some. That is a technique I have had to use before.

I also pulled aside some of the main perpetrators and informed them, before class started, that I would send th em out if they caused anymore problems. They didn't, but one girl went down to the principal and complained about me.... I don't know excactly the substance of her complaint but the principal dismissed it with a simple..."she's crazy!"

Don't think I will do 8th grade anymore after this year....

Give yourself some time. Yes, they can be a real challenge and some of them will challenge you all year, but they really do grow on you. Year two is much easier than year one... partly because you have realized that someone will hate you everyday, but not to worry they will love you tomorrow.

Mind you, with that small groups thing...

I use "bus stop" activities to get work done fast. I put around the room 4 "things" to do with the topic. At the moment it is short stories, so for each "bus stop" I will have a different activity. BS1: Dictionary definitions. BS2: Plot summary. BS3: Describe main character. BS4: What is theme/idea/message etc

Students only get 10 minutes per bus stop before the conductor (me) rings the bell and they have to move onto the next stop.

It sure put a fire under their whatzits.

The beatury of it is that (unless you mix groups) the kids that are really annoying me by last period friday will all group together and I can ignore them as they move around because they're all stuck together and not working. The other three groups I can work with. Hee hee.

Originally Posted by JohnBoy

I once was observed by a person from my university during my first year, who noted I didn't use small group instruction during his visit, which he really wanted to see because he was the guru of such things and wanted to spread the gospel of small group instruction. He noted that as a pejorative, and left it to me to read.

I remember one professor when I was taking my masters degree saying to our class (of 50 students): "It is never appropriate to teach to the whole class." I asked if there would be any exceptions and he replied, "Never". People in the class looked at one another and smiled - he still didn't get it!
It's so easy to preach about small group instruction but so hard to do it in practice.