| Dear Miss Ruth, I’m student teaching and could use some advice on how to tame a wild, unruly class of lazy high school freshmen. The class is an agricultural science class that is not taken seriously by many, and at least 65 percent of the students in the class have learning/behavioral disabilities. I wish there were only a few instigators but, unfortunately, half the class is nearly unmanageable. The regular teacher did not structure the class nor set expectations, so now these kids hate me. What they think
of me, however, isn’t as important as their learning. I've experimented
with various methods of teaching, activities, and discipline. Nothing
is working. I would appreciate any advice you can offer! Thanks. Dear Jeanne, Your goal to teach something to your uncooperative class is admirable. It sounds as though this is a problem that cannot be solved by you alone. You must immediately ask for an emergency meeting to get the help you need. First, contact your supervising teacher at your college and discuss the situation, without giving the percentage of students with disabilities or your opinion about the “real teacher.” Explain the various approaches you have tried and your goal of having each student learn from your lessons. Then, ask your supervisor to arrange a meeting with your mentor, the classroom teacher, and yourself to brainstorm a remedy for this class. Taking the initiative to find a solution should not be viewed negatively in regard to your ability. Please write back if you need other ideas after meeting with your team. Best wishes as you pursue the sometimes rocky road of teaching! Miss Ruth Ask Miss Ruth is Kappa
Delta Pi’s teacher
hotline, to which you may submit your questions. Miss Ruth
is actually an expert team of National State Teachers of the Year, including
Betty Amos, Johnnie Bennett, Barbara Gilman, Peggy Moch, Marian Moeckel,
Art Peekel, Edna Rogers, Diane Schlitz, and Peggy Tordoff. |