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i learned to be MEAN (kinda)
Feb. 24th, 2025 08:09 pmi finally did it 🥺 i've been struggling with behavior management for like a month cuz i'm such a people pleaser and i'm terrified of making my students feel bad (no matter how much they might deserve to). one time this kid told me "you're not a real teacher", and i just kinda laughed it off. but today.
today my cooperating teacher was absent, so i did all the teaching by myself :) i still legally had to have a substitute in the room, but he was so great and friendly. he just took attendance and let me take over 100%. he's a retired teacher, but he didn't even step in to help with any behavior issues, and that was exactly what i wanted so i would have an opportunity to practice.
and practice i did !! i yelled and made everybody go quiet. proud of myself for that alone. and then we had several kids who were very mouthy and disrespectful, and i was calm and firm and shut it down quickly. 7th period still talked a LOT, but to be fair, my cooperating teacher has trouble with that group, too. they just loooove to yap. i managed like 14 minutes of silence with them (i was aiming for 20) and i think that's honestly pretty solid.
i wouldn't say i was scary. my cooperating teacher can be scary when she wants to be. i was just serious and firm and told them my expectations, and everybody did their best to adhere to those expectations. when they forgot, i would remind them. before today, i was much more likely to smile awkwardly and say (loudly, but gently) "guys, i need you to be quiet, please." or some other incredibly polite, half-begging statement. today it was more like "this is a silent, independent activity, guys. i'm not sure why i'm still hearing voices." feels like an indirect threat lol.
anyway this is clear solid visible progress and i'm really proud of myself :)) in two weeks i'll be finished here, and i'll have to see how everything i've learned holds up against high school students who are truly only 4-7 years younger than me. maybe it'll be easier. maybe it'll be awful. whooooo knows !
today my cooperating teacher was absent, so i did all the teaching by myself :) i still legally had to have a substitute in the room, but he was so great and friendly. he just took attendance and let me take over 100%. he's a retired teacher, but he didn't even step in to help with any behavior issues, and that was exactly what i wanted so i would have an opportunity to practice.
and practice i did !! i yelled and made everybody go quiet. proud of myself for that alone. and then we had several kids who were very mouthy and disrespectful, and i was calm and firm and shut it down quickly. 7th period still talked a LOT, but to be fair, my cooperating teacher has trouble with that group, too. they just loooove to yap. i managed like 14 minutes of silence with them (i was aiming for 20) and i think that's honestly pretty solid.
i wouldn't say i was scary. my cooperating teacher can be scary when she wants to be. i was just serious and firm and told them my expectations, and everybody did their best to adhere to those expectations. when they forgot, i would remind them. before today, i was much more likely to smile awkwardly and say (loudly, but gently) "guys, i need you to be quiet, please." or some other incredibly polite, half-begging statement. today it was more like "this is a silent, independent activity, guys. i'm not sure why i'm still hearing voices." feels like an indirect threat lol.
anyway this is clear solid visible progress and i'm really proud of myself :)) in two weeks i'll be finished here, and i'll have to see how everything i've learned holds up against high school students who are truly only 4-7 years younger than me. maybe it'll be easier. maybe it'll be awful. whooooo knows !
