[GoodApple]

This is primarily for middle/ high school teachers. Have you ever had to make a different set of lesson plans for a class that was very rowdy and couldn't handle your regularly-planned activities?

I have a class that has been a struggle since day 1. It's my last class of the day and they bring all of their social/rowdy/out of control ways to my class. I have gone over procedures, assigned detentions, called parents... but it's not just 1 or 2 kids. It's most of the class.

Would it be crazy to do a different lesson style with them? I would still be covering the standards but doing more book work (eeek) than the hands-on activities the other classes can handle.

I teach 7th grade English/Language Arts.

[MrsDriver]

you said it was mainly for middle/high school teachers but I wanted to respond. I teach 5th grade and I had to do what you are suggesting for my class last year. By the end of the day they were horrible. So math (morning class) was all hands on, science (afternoon class) was no hands on, it was all lecture and book work. It took about 4 weeks of this before I could slowly introduce the hands on to them. I don't see anything wrong with it. Explain why you are doing it. If you have a couple of kids who are behaving then have them do the hands on while the rest do the book work. Good Luck!

[GoodApple]

I shouldn't have limited that to middle and high! Thank you! I'm glad to hear you've done it as well.

I'm starting this today. Some groups can just handle more freedom than others.

[MrsDriver]

Good luck with it and by the way...

I love your picture.

I have found as a sub that those kids always seem to end up in one hour/block together. lol As a sub I do adjust the style of the lesson. I have to. If I dont' it will dissolve into loud chatting of social things and the lesson will be completely forgotten. What i have found that works is to slow it down. Also, to relate it to things going on today and their lives the best I can. This doesn't always work, but most of the time it does.

Perhaps analyze the poem and how it relates to situations today or if it talks of a time or culture they can't relate to explain that was going on while their culture/grandparents, etc were doing this this and that. Just yesterday my last hr h.s. engl was watching a film on communism. Since most of them were hispanic and new to our country they could not relate to any of this. They simply didn't have the USA backgroudn to put it into context. I stopped the flim a lot and helped htem through discussion find the answers to their worksheets (seemd to give them hope) we also discussed that while these chinese people were starving (film had lots of photos of that) americans were listening to elvis and the beetles and hippies were starting to show up - we had plenty to eat, we had nice homes, many that they live in now, kids didn't hav eot worry about spies turning them in for saying they didn't like the war, or the president, they didn't hav eto cook steel in their backyard, or work in factories for nothing. We also discussed how socialism principals are being discussed again in our health care - the kids took off w/ that discussion! Last week in 7th grade english we were discussing dust bowl era book of poetry - I had to relate how that child's life relates tot heirs - would adults be allowed to do those things today? Does it still happen? etc.

Anyway...I think it is okay to slow it down and get them interest however you need to. Many of our teachers have kids do hands on things such as posters, etc w/ lessons as well. I think a teachers goal is to teach it OVER staying on a schedule. Just like you teach different styles for auditory and visual learners so they all have an opportunity to learn their way - you have to adjust for the group. Capture their attention and be proud you are TEACHING them and not just being tough and staying on schedule. JMHO as a sub and a parent.

[mom2many]

That is exactly what I would do. They would have to earn back "fun" ways of learning.

[chad17]

the first day of school that we have certain things to learn this year, but the WAY we learn those things is up to them. If they keep themselves under control, and do quality work, we can do hands-on, more fun, activities. If not, I have plenty of books and workbooks that can cover the same stuff. It takes a few times of stopping the "fun" stuff and getting out the papers for them to get it sometimes, but they usually do!