I used to do a lot of subbing back when I was doing contract work. I've taught everything! Preschool, elementary, middle, highschool and college! I think I've seen just about everything now!

You don't really have to be be so tough but you do have to be very firm & consistent and follow through on whatever you say. The first time they step out of line straighten them out right then & there.

Even if they get on your nerves you gotta find a way to make it fun for yourself otherwise they'll just stress you out. I always tried to find new & creative ways to discipline the real headaches in my class.

Zakiya, a valuable piece of advice that I was given when starting out was not to overdo things. In spite of any pressure (or guilt!) you may feel during your first year of teaching, don't worry about committing to extra-curricular activities and additional responsibilities. Focus on your students - and just your students because this alone will create a tremendous workload. Also, be sure to communicate with your colleagues, team teach where possible and request resources so that you don't end up reinventing the wheel. I know this is easier said than done because I'm guilty of not asking for help myself!

awww that's sooo sad....and very typical of HS students...if u want luv from student teacher the younger ones...middle schoolers are soo much fun

ne-how...hey FRK786, how about some classroom management techniques??? or anyone for that matter...

Hahaha...oh my world, these little are so ungrateful...No thanks, No goodbyes...:D Perhaps, its their way to tell you that they'll remember you next time they eat donuts. Who knows!...

Wow, what little brats!!! Although, you never, some way down the line, they will remember you when you or they least expect it.


Peace

Oh and here's a perfect example of how rude and unmannered my students are. My worst class behavior-wise is my 3rd period. Oh and they are a nightmare! There's about 4-5 who are really loud and obnoxious and they just ruin the mood for the entire class. Anyway, I surprised them today with donuts b/c they all passed their final exam (which was a state exam, I had no control over it). This exam is a really big deal for freshmen as their scores are usually very low, particularly in math. So ALHAMDULILLAH I had a 100% pass rate in both classes and so I'm rewarding my students. Anyway, they devoured those donuts as if they'd never seen one before. Guess how many thank you's I got? 2. TWO out of 26 !!!!! And how many "bye's" did I get as they were leaving? ONE. When the bell rang I told them "bye have a great summer!!" And I get ONE goodbye! I had 2 tell me they were going to come see me on the last day of school (cuz it's my birthday)...but the rest........NO thanks and NO goodbyes! They hurried out of there as if there was a fire drill or something.

Rude little brats! grrr

I duno, I definitely don't show any fear. I don't think anyone would ever come into my classroom and say that the kids have the control, not me. Actually I've been complimented for my classroom discipline my very first year. One of the asst. principals was so impressed with that and what she saw in her observation that she told the head principal and I was awarded Teacher of the Month last year. Also, I was asked by an administrator last year if it would be okay for another teacher to come in and observe my classroom discipline techniques. And this was not a first year teacher...
Just the other week we had a girl who is still in school...going to start student teaching in the fall....who was hired as a sub since one of the math teachers got fired (don't ask :)) and she was having ALOT of issues with discipline so they asked me to go in there and help her out. I set those kids straight :)
So yea, definitely not lacking in that area. I'm just dealing with alot of bad attitudes this year. I guess I just really lucked out with pretty good kids last year. I teach "better" types of classes this year so it doesn't make sense why I have so many bad kids. I've heard next year's group of frehsmen are even worse!!

God help me. *:

i just went to the HS the other day and they put together 2 boxes filled with books and lessons for me to go through...so at least i don't have to start from scratch...

There's no need to be scared beforehand. Im confident that things will work out well for you. However, it would be best to ask for their answers, jokes, comments... to your friends/acquaintances or relatives who have been Teachers for years.

i went to visit the school i'll be teaching at before i officially took the job to see how the students were...and i felt like one of them! it was kinda weird...i usually work with middle schoolers so there's a bigger gap with then versus the HS kids...that makes me apprehensive...i'm not the type to show that i'm scared, but i'm scared about not knowing answers...i mean come on...we all know how 1st year teachers are looked at as...dumb...not knowing answers and then asking the class the question lol...i totally caught on to that one in HS myself...

True Peacetwou. Older children are harder to teach. Some of them turn to have no manners, no discipline. It looks as if as soon as they are in contact with other youngsters they become contaminated and undisciplined/unmannered/misbehaved .

Zakiyah: On your first year, you'll learn more and get to know their tricks, comments, reactions... Always remember that you're the Adult and they're the children. Keep up your good work and show them NO fear...otherwise they will take control of the situation.

Which is why I don't teach older kids, way too many hormones :# But you will get over that feeling as time goes by. You will learn toyou cherish the good moments and you will also find that those few good moments keep there (A) Keep your chin up and more importantly, SHOW NO FEAR! :P


Peace

uh-oh...now i'm freaking out because this august will be my 1st year teaching...i'll be teaching HS social studies (US Hist, sociology and govt)...like you mentioned, i always heard that the 1st year is the worst year of teaching and then it gets better...maybe the better part is that youhave lessons that you just need to edit?? it seems like the students are getting worse when it comes to behavior in my opinion...i student taught 7th graders....wow...they talked back soo much, but i just talked bk lol...humor is how i deal with behavior problems...

i'm always annoyed with parents because everything is my fault...God forbid they take any responsibility for their own children