[Teachldsseminary] Help--A few unruly students

[sjagnana@mac.com]

I am sorry that this is an issue that you deal with, but when you  
have 15 students and 4 are the problem it must be taken very  
seriously.  You owe this to the ones that are there to feel the  
spirit and learn.  Yes their parents should be communicated to  
immediately if the term "unruly" that you use is truly as you  
describe them.  But first I would contact you stake supervisor to  
find out your stake or area policy for dealing with these  
situations?  If these students truly are not wanting to be there and  
will continue to give problems and be disruptive you will want to  
know your alternatives, so that you can let the parents and students  
know how their actions will affect them from this point on.  This way  
you will be able to communicate clearly your expectations and the  
results of their actions either way they choose to behave.  Having  
the support of the CES program is very important in these situations  
and hopefully you will not need to use these actions ever... but  
letting students and their parents know that these measures are in  
place for students who are difficult in the classroom gives teachers  
a way to let them know that the CES program is serious about what we  
do.  And we are....  This way you and your co-teacher can establish  
your expectations and decide what and how you will conduct your  
classroom teaching experience to best facilitate the spirit being  
present.  Anything less than that is unacceptable for all of you.   
Personally, I would not have even one student that is allowed to take  
this kind of control for even one other in a classroom before getting  
involved.  My heart goes out to you completely...  I only give the  
firm advice because I am confident that you have already been through  
the other channels of discipline and/or you are dealing with a  
"group" mentality which can be more difficult to deal with in  
general.  But I do agree that the other teacher may need to be in the  
room for at least a while until these students realize that you are  
both on the same page.  Best of luck to you.
Kathryn

( just remember what they same about even "one bad apple"... not that  
these students are necessarily bad, just one can change the entire  
dynamic...)