Students Test Me
I have two students that continue to test me and what the consequences will be.
I have discussed their behavior with them one on one when we are both calm. We
have thought of solutions together. The students have chosen their choice of
solution. It would work for a few minutes and then back at it again.
Interesting enough a solution has been offered that consists of asking the
student to stop. They choose this one and within a few minutes are doing the
behaviors again. When we go back to the drawing board and discuss what's been
happening, I ask them to choose a new solution since that on hasn't been
working. They choose going to the time out table, then when they
begin to exhibit the behaviors, I feel like I am punishing them by asking them
to follow through with there chosen consequence. Any suggestions?
Testing you may be part of it, but not all of
it. If you taught you students to read one day and they still couldn't do it
the next day, would you think they were just testing you? Of course not. When
it comes to academics, we know it is a process that takes time. Class meetings
also involve a process that takes time. Kids have many skills to learn to be
successful at class meetings and they will keep getting better and better with
time and patience.
The part that may be testing is a direct result of the fact that you are still
testing yourself. It doesn't sound as though you are totally convinced that
class meetings will ever work. They will. And, once you develop that faith
yourself, you will be surprised at how your students will follow your lead.. It
will still be a process, and it will still take time and patience, but you
won't be thrown by the setbacks. You will simply see them as part of the
process and as opportunities to learn and to keep practicing.
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