Disciplinary Methods
Workday - 8:15am-3:45pm
When you work with kids who are your run-of-the-mill smartasses, you'll eventually be able to predict their behaviour (it's funny how kids think they're smarter than their teachers. Doesn't anyone tell them that teachers were not only young once, but also have years of experience on top?).
I learned long ago that when a student's doing something "bad" he's not going to stop when you ask (let alone demand). At best, he'll stop a minute (or so) later. Even more likely, he'll exacerbate his actions. The key here is to know the right way to phrase your request.
You want to find words that make whatever he's doing far too embarrassing to continue. Something to note here is that no teenaged boy is comfortable with homosexuality. None. Not even boys who are homosexual ("out" or not).
Case in point: two boys start hitting each other, poking, and generally play-fighting. If you say, "guys! Stop fighting!", they'll probably look at you, glare, and fight harder.
My wording, on the other hand is, "guys! Stop touching each other!".
Or sometimes, "listen, you can touch each other all you want after school. Until then, hands to yourselves."
I have yet to see one male student follow that up with exaggerated touching of his classmate. In fact, 9 times out of 10 the exact response (by one or both boys at the same time) is "Ew! Yeah, dude, stop touching me!"
Perhaps one day we'll finally be so comfortable with our own sexuality that teenaged boys can touch each other with impunity. I'd be happy when that day comes.
Except I'll have to find new words of reproach.
When you work with kids who are your run-of-the-mill smartasses, you'll eventually be able to predict their behaviour (it's funny how kids think they're smarter than their teachers. Doesn't anyone tell them that teachers were not only young once, but also have years of experience on top?).
I learned long ago that when a student's doing something "bad" he's not going to stop when you ask (let alone demand). At best, he'll stop a minute (or so) later. Even more likely, he'll exacerbate his actions. The key here is to know the right way to phrase your request.
You want to find words that make whatever he's doing far too embarrassing to continue. Something to note here is that no teenaged boy is comfortable with homosexuality. None. Not even boys who are homosexual ("out" or not).
Case in point: two boys start hitting each other, poking, and generally play-fighting. If you say, "guys! Stop fighting!", they'll probably look at you, glare, and fight harder.
My wording, on the other hand is, "guys! Stop touching each other!".
Or sometimes, "listen, you can touch each other all you want after school. Until then, hands to yourselves."
I have yet to see one male student follow that up with exaggerated touching of his classmate. In fact, 9 times out of 10 the exact response (by one or both boys at the same time) is "Ew! Yeah, dude, stop touching me!"
Perhaps one day we'll finally be so comfortable with our own sexuality that teenaged boys can touch each other with impunity. I'd be happy when that day comes.
Except I'll have to find new words of reproach.
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