Nikos, when I read this I can hear your frustration. You feel this technique/methodology won't work because the children are already in the classroom and when you send them all out they think it's a game. OK, three things: 1. If kids are out of control in a classroom they shouldn't be in the classroom. So you are right to take them out and have them line up again until they enter the room in an orderly manner. 2. They will think it's a game if they think they're wasting YOUR time rather than their own. And 3: Not all the class members will be out of control in this way. So.... taking 2 and 3 a little further: Make sure you bring those students who treat this as a game back to practice lining up sensibly during their break time. If they spend 15 minutes messing you around at the start of the lesson, they owe you 15 minutes of their break to practice being sensible. If you are diligent in following up with these students and ensuring they pay back the time they owe, they will quickly see you mean business and won't want to lose their break in future. And if you do this in a firm but friendly manner - carefully explaining that this is for their benefit in the long run, they will grow to respect you all the more. Reading this and thinking 'he hasn't taught in my school with my kids, this will never work'? Believe me, this works. But here's the most important bit and most struggling teachers miss this...Remember that not all students in a class like this want to waste your time. They get caught up with the group and with minimal instruction and fair treatment they will do as you ask. Be sure to acknowledge and praise those students who follow the rules. By switching your attention to those who do the right thing - giving them positive attention, you'll find the whole atmosphere will change with this group and more and more students will come on side. I would say this is actually the secret to success with this group - switch your approach to looking out for the good rather than focussing on the bad. Kids want to be valued and understood above all. Usually their behaviour is a cry for attention and help. Give it to them and watch them change.

@@needsfocusedlessons Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it, you are a wonderful person!

@@nikosefthymiou6499 My pleasure

@@needsfocusedlessons You are dealing with ideal situation in our schools we faced the students already have a mind map like they are inside a room with their own behaviors and only confrontational statements work as they most of the time take you for granted and all your efforts were useless and no matter what you do the class is not going to change .I applied your strategy in class focusing on those who were taking interest but half of the class was least interested .

@@nadiasajjad6604 I'm not totally clear on what you are saying I'm afraid. Am I correct in thinking you feel that no matter what you do or say, the class is not going to change? If so I totally understand how you feel; it is incredibly frustrating when our efforts seem to make no difference. All I will say in response to that is that our best efforts, applied in a sincere manner from a foundation of wanting what is best for these children, most certainly DO make a difference. We might not always see our efforts repaid straight away, we might not see positive changes for days or even weeks in some cases but... with consistency they will come. And when they show even the slightest glimmer of improvement, that is the time to acknowledge them and show them you've noticed. I do hope I don't appear patronising because I do truly understand how difficult this is. But I also know, having been on the receiving end as a child, parent and teacher, the ONLY way to help make a difference with these tough, hardest-to-reach kids is to show them you care about them, try to understand them and convince them that they matter.

What about when they do wrong? Why do you think crime among the under 21s is so high, partly weak parents, largely weak teachers that do not discipline. I am now a teacher I started by teaching my own kids, they needed a good start in life that does not include someone that is weak as a teacher, weakness is why our society is in such a bad way, sorry but you are not a good teacher, I have a 1 year waiting list of students wanting lessons with me try discipline, maybe you can get $40 an hour like I do, if you would like some advice drop me a line I will help you.

There are good arguments against "catching kids doing good," but Paul's comments seem way off base to me. Why? How so? Let's consider what he wrote. "What about when they do wrong?" Good question. I think the best answer is a couple other questions: 1. How do we define "wrong"? Is it natural high-spiritedness? Is it asking questions we the teachers don't want to hear because they are not convenient for us or because we fail to see the important or value of them? Is it following a natural urge to explore social relationships when the teacher wants the students to be good little robots focused on academics? Other? 2. Why are they doing "wrong"? Are they bored because the teacher is not engaging them or challenging them properly? Do they have an unfulfilled emotional need for attention? Other? "Why do you think crime among the under 21s is so high, partly weak parents, largely weak teachers that do not discipline." This ungrammatical sentence makes HUGE assumptions, and offers ZERO evidence to back them up. We'll just go on to the next point. "I am now a teacher I started by teaching my own kids, they needed a good start in life that does not include someone that is weak as a teacher, weakness is why our society is in such a bad way, sorry but you are not a good teacher, I have a 1 year waiting list of students wanting lessons with me try discipline, maybe you can get $40 an hour like I do ..." Oh, my. You're a teacher? You teach LANGUAGE? You teach GRAMMAR? Do you even know what constitutes a sentence? Do you know what a period is? (Or, as the British would call it, a full stop.) You just typed ten--count them, TEN!--sentences and connected them with six commas. A teacher of third grade children would not accept this from his or her students. Let's break down that mess you wrote: "I am now a teacher I started by teaching my own kids." There is an overabundance of people who are really horrible, misguided teachers. You have said nothing to indicate that you are not among them. "weakness is why our society is in such a bad way" You are welcome to your opinion, but I would suggest that fear and close-mindedness do far greater harm to society. "sorry but you are not a good teacher" Sorry, but based on your comments, you are far from being qualified to judge whether anyone else is a good teacher. "I have a 1 year waiting list of students wanting lessons with me try discipline" Or perhaps it is the parents who put their children on your waiting list, because their thinking is as misguided as yours. "maybe you can get $40 an hour like I do" Bragging doesn't earn you any Brownie points. It just makes you a boor.

I also heard this, Edward, and thought it made excellent sense. Until I read an opposing view. (Not that of Paul Garrett, who I would NEVER send a child to.) One problem here is that when you point out the one "doing good," you risk putting them in the position of being seen as a "brown-nose" (AKA a goody two-shoes, an apple polisher, a teacher's pet, etc.) Another problem is that you are rewarding behavior that should be seen as normal rather than admirable. This sets the bar too low. And if other kids start behaving that way, and you don't praise them all, you risk being seen as playing favorites--or, worse, individual students may conclude that you just don't like them. I wonder if it wouldn't it be just as effective to remind the kids of the behavior that is acceptable without pointing out who is already demonstrating that behavior. I suggest you check out Michael Linsin, who has written extensively on classroom management. (He has books for sale, but he also has a blog you can subscribe to for free.)

@@paulgarrett1622Mr. Garrett,Building relationships with students and their parents is a 🔑 key to managing the classroom. I do agree that when we care for someone we quickly correct erong behavior. The caring comes first.

@@paulgarrett1622 P.S. Let someone else peaise you. Good Luck

Very true!!

I definitely agree that when you let your students feel that they belong and they are heard and valued you will totally gain their respect.we might not know how they are being treated at home that is why they are behaving that way.so taking time to hear their story and show them that you are interested to listen and that you sympathize allows you to gain their respect.and if that happens they will always want to give their best in the class because they love their teacher and they want him/her to be happy.

@@EldeljoyRusiana I totally agree with you but this should not be at the expanse of the time and the aims of the session .In addition, If you hear each student story this will be time wasting and if you choose to listen to a particular student then you will be unfair. I find it really difficult to be a teacher.May be the most tough job.😥

I will try it too

And suddenly #COVID19 comes out! :(

Some teachers love to hear their voices yelling , lots of thus is common sense

Any updates on this and if it worked for you?

Cheers Lisa, happy to help :-)

Agreed, the first step is realizing that you are handling the situation incorrectly. Rob seems to have done that and also come to some effective measures.

I have been in a public school teacher for over 30 years. I like to re-visit classroom management techniques So it keeps me on my toes.Thank you very much for this motivational talk.

I keep a few 20's in my desk.

your likesare gay

Read my original comment at the top of the page from 12/3/2019.

Alexandra .Willitts It will not be at the top for us because we did not write it!

Michael James, look in the "sort by" prompt, and then click on the "newest first" prompt and then go from there.

What makes a good teacher? I want to go in as some sort of supporting role.

This is good stuff Rob...... meet them on their terms and be positive....

Yes! I just had a send them all out day, so I’m here for help! 😅

Rob Plevin Hi Rob, I have a 8 year old going on 9 in October this. Our house doctor diagnosed him with ADHD and then put him on meds when he was still 6 years old. With in 2 weeks of using the medication, he started becoming violent and his tantrums got out of hand. He is a sweet child, but the only way he would have gotten violent was by force, though he loves to argue and debate with a person, but as soon as the violence began and the out of control tantrums. I took him of meds and did it the tough way. I am not crazy about meds and I think like most parents I was distraught out it. I have seen his ADHD becoming worse. He has all the signs they can give you. Except most nights he will pass out very early. I have been thinking about taking him to someone that can do the tests with him to be diagnosed and then taking it from there, but I am still so affraid, as I have seen good stories and bad stories of the tables for ADHD. Even deaths occurring What do you think about ADHD and what I have told you? All his teacher has told me he is a highly intelligent child, but needs to pay more attention and needs to sit still and start to complete his work in the classroom I just need some advice from different points of view and it seems you have found your way around the small stuff .

Thanks so much

+Rob Plevin (Behaviour Needs) Thank you so so much! I've just started teaching and this is really helpful for me!

This is even helping me in Mexico with my First Grade students. Thank you. Very useful! ;)

I behaved because I felt sorry for teachers who didn't have the magic at school

KingHarlaus1 very true !!!!!!!

Thank you Serena, that's very kind x

Laura Hogan my students don’t take me seriously it sticks and I look real young and just started in middle of the year

Darknloveli did u manage to get over the challenge

P.S. My email address is the following: cdvelez@dons.usfca.edu

I envision a lot of learning from you. I am from India and culture plays an immense role while dealing with the tough nuts. Your comment is very educative. Can you share specifics on classroom management?

You mean most can't take corrections. The learners are so pampered.

It could be that it isn't that they aren't taught respect at home, rather, they aren't taught anything- which is to say they are dropped off at school (where all parental responsibility is abrogated) and receive very little interaction, let alone instruction from parents.

Well you could be nice and then become authoritative at the same time. The method always works, and all of my history teachers use it. There will always be that one student who will not pay attention because they've never been properly disciplined. Ignore them, they're wasting your time. Kick them out for all you care it's a nuisance for the rest of the students who want to learn in class.

kids are kids

That's great to know Martha