My Classroom Management » Success Stories

How to Manage Cursing in the Classroom

jenniferw — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:09:35 +0000

Cursing, swearing, bad language, however you phrase it, the words that fly out of a child’s mouth can be filthy and inappropriate in so many ways. Many would be stunned at the words children say – as young as preschool and kindergarten – but teachers often have gotten to where nothing surprises them anymore.

How to discourage cursing in the classroom can be a tricky issue because usually at the root of the foul language, are emotions that are raging out of control. These words are the way their parents and friends have taught them to handle these crazy feelings and they know no other way.

Because of this, calling home or sending a note home is likely to fall on deaf ears, or in the worst case scenario, you’ll hear worse language through the phone in response to your interruption of the parent’s life.

Instead, it is time for you to step up and take the place of the parent and teach the child how to manage their emotions. The positive thing about kids who swear in the classroom is that they are willing to let their emotions out – providing a platform for teaching, whereas students who keep everything bottled inside often fly under the radar and are many times not helped.

Action Point for Curbing Swear Words in the Classroom

It’s time to break out those dictionaries and begin expanding the vocabulary of the students in your class. Start by translating the phrases that the student uses. Often, over time, this can solve the problem all by itself. Here’s an illustration:

Mrs. Smith “please put your pencil down, it is time to clean up and go to specials”

Student:”x8(3#^&@!(“

Mrs. Smith (DO NOT REACT TO THE SWEAR WORDS!!!! STAY CALM!!): “Mrs. Smith! I wasn’t finished yet! I hate it when you don’t give me enough time to finish what I was working on! (PAUSE) I’m sorry Johnnie, I understand that it is frustrating, why don’t you bring your lunch back to the classroom and I’ll help you finish so that you can go out to recess with your friends.”

This is just one example, and probably a poor one, but the point is to translate what the student said into something more appropriate, then respond to the frustration. This might increase the language problem at first, but one teacher has told me that over time in her classroom, the language slowly gave way to more appropriate exclamations of frustration. This then gave her the opportunity to better understand her students and how to help them.

You can also give the student a dictionary when they use a choice word and instruct him or her to come up with an alternative. Make the assignment non-negotiable, but consider giving extra credit if the student can find a way to use the new word in context.

Any other ideas for curbing a cursing tongue in the classroom?

Spread the Silence

jenniferw — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:05:39 +0000

Thanks for the teacher who suggested this idea!

“spread the silence”

When your students noise level has reached a bit too high (or a lot too high!) for optimal learning to take place, start to spread the silence by asking one student, “spread the silence please!”. That student is to then turn to another student, asking the same thing. This repeats around the classroom and the noise level will quickly reduce.

Any other great ideas for controlling the noise level in your classroom? Leave a comment telling us about it!

Classroom Management Grows With You

jenniferw — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:48:14 +0000

In talking recently with a third year teacher, I found a nugget of encouragement I wanted to share with all of you. He was explaining how his classroom management has grown even without him realized it, as he repeated an activity this year that he unsuccessfully attempted his first year. Not only did the activity go more smoothly, but the entire lesson was a much greater success.

As he grew as a teacher, his classroom management skills grew as well.

What can you glean from this?

First, don’t shy away from difficult activities just because you’re afraid of classroom management. Use your teaching skills to change the activity as necessary if it gets out of hand.

Second, if an activity goes poorly, reflect on it but do not throw it away. Pull it out again the next year or the year after and see how you have grown as a teacher.

Have you had an activity that went poorly the first time you tried it?

Brain Breaks Keep Students Energized and Focused

jenniferw — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:28:22 +0000

Brain breaks are just what they sound like: breaks for the brain. Giving the brain a break from thinking every so often helps the brain stay focused and attentive to the task at hand. This allows students to learn more and enjoy learning more.

Here is one of my favorite:

Want more great ideas? Check out Energizing Brain Breaks.

Give brain breaks a try in your classroom and see how the students respond! Did you try one you especially liked? Tell us about it!

Demand Attention Before Holiday Breaks

jenniferw — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:34:04 +0000

While many teachers demand attention from their students before a holiday break by cracking down on the rules or pleading with students to focus, one teacher came up with a much more creative method that had the students focused and having fun:

Success Story: Whisper Teaching

jenniferw — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:24:51 +0000

I once lost my voice during the school week. Since being able to speak is a basic requirement of teaching, I was worried what would happen the next day in class.

I made sure that I had everything planned out as thoroughly as possible, and had directions and a welcome written on the board before students arrived.

Throughout the day I would whisper teach, as this was as loud as could project my voice, and while I did have to repeat myself and move through the classroom teaching small groups of students at a time so that everyone could hear me, the students were quite well behaved!

I was thrilled to see how simply lowering my voice (even if it was not my choice at the time) can help keep students quiet and focused. I have used this method many times since and the students always respond well.

Checklist for Writing Class Rules

jenniferw — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:16:10 +0000

Writing class rules is a simple procedure that can make a huge impact on classroom management. In fact, class rules are so important that a teacher who realizes that the class rules are a problem should take the effort to change those rules even if it is mid-school year. Use the following check list to ensure your classroom rules are effective.

How many Rules do you Have?

Be sure to have at least three rules
Class rules should be kept to five at the very most
Combine rules to reduce the number and clarify more specifically to have more rules.

Positive Language for Class Rules

Do the students know what to do after reading a rule?
Each rule should state what students need to do rather than what they need to avoid doing.
Reword rules as necessary

Class Rule Clarity

Be sure there is no question as to what students are to do after reading the rules
Analyze each rule – can it be stated more clearly?
Can any rules have additional details added in order to ensure proper student behavior?

Teach and Reinforce Class Rules

Did you teach students what each rule meant?
Can students explain to a visitor what the class rules are?
If faced with a hypothetical situation, could students explain which rule applies and why?
Did you practice each procedure including lining up, preparing for lunch and recess and cleaning up at the end of the day?

It is never too late to go back and add or correct the classroom rules. In fact, starting fresh in the middle of the school year may make all the difference in the world and turn your problem class into a success story!

Succes Story: Silent Lesson

jenniferw — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:48:19 +0000

Submitted by: Anonymous

I have had a problem with my fourth graders being too talkative during lessons so I tried the silent lesson and it worked wonderfully! What I did was plan an entire lesson with lots of visual and tactile aspects. I also wrote the rules on the blackboard:

No talking!
Work together
Write down any questions you have
Anyone who remains quiet receives 10 extra minutes at recess

I included that last rule about 10 extra minutes at recess in order to motivate the students to stay quiet. I realized afterward though that I may not have needed to because they found the entire lesson as a game!

This lesson got them involved and focused on learning without focusing on chatting with their friends. I repeat the silent lesson at least once a month as a great exercise for my lesson planning skills and to remind my students that they can enjoy school even without talking to their friends!

Success Story: Having Confidence

jenniferw — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:10:57 +0000

Submitted by Elizabeth

I recently had a breakthrough in my classroom management strategy that I wanted to share. I have struggled for several years to get my students to listen to me and while each year my students followed the rules and obeyed for the most part, I recently experienced a great change.

I decided this year that I was going to believe in myself, and it made all the difference. Instead of doubting my decisions or questioning what I was doing whenever I dealt with a behavior problem, I forced myself to be 100% confident with each decision.

It was hard work, but with practice I got better and amazingly my students began behaving and responding to me better as well! Now when faced with a discipline issue I square my shoulders, lift my head high and take a deep breath and believe in myself before I speak. My students listen and I feel so much better!

Thanks for sharing Elizabeth! That is a wonderfully encouraging story!

How to Calm a Class Without Saying Anything

jenniferw — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:38:13 +0000

There are two types of loud classes – those who are unruly and out of control and those who are excited about learning and deeply engrossed in an exciting activity. With both classes, it is important for a teacher to be able to quickly calm the students and move on to the next activity. This can be done without speaking a single word.

In fact, speaking to the class will often have the opposite effect as students will raise their voices to continue to be heard over the teacher. Instead, a teacher should silently signal to the students that it is time to quiet down and move onto another activity. There are several ways to do this.

Turn off the lights, or flick them once to get the students’ attention.
Raise hand in a quiet signal and wait for all hands to go up and mouths to shut.
Clap a rhythm pattern for students to echo clap in response.
Utilize another quiet signal the students are familiar with.

Once the students have been signaled to quiet down, it is vital that the teacher wait. It may take 5 minutes, but it is important that students realize that they need to be quiet and settle down on their own. As more students calm down, they will help hush those students around them, especially if the time it takes for the class to quiet down is banked educational time that is then taken back from recess.

*Additional note from Anonymous*

I use a quiet signal in my classroom and it works really well. I challenge students to beat their quiet time and within the first week of school my students are usually all quiet within seconds of receiving the signal. This allows me great opportunity for extra instructional time and the students really like the challenge.