[Teachldsseminary] Help--A few unruly students

[Linda Harper]

This year my class was combined with another one in our ward this year, one 
that had many problems and disrespect, etc. last year.   I was a little 
nervous about that as my class had done great.  Positive peer pressure has 
helped but. . .

Here's what I did that seems to have squelched problems before they started 
that you could still do:

I had a fireside with PARENTS as well as students and told them expectations 
and a little bit about class. Knowing expectations has been 95% of the 
solution.

I use D&C 88:121-125 as rules the Lord has set up for our class. We talked 
about what all of that meant early in the year.  I have a big poster that 
hangs in our classroom.

If I have had an unruly time, I don't compete, but stop talking and stand 
there. Usually the kids will quiet each  other up.  That works better.

I've had about two days where they just seem antsy and unruly.  I've stopped 
and we've reread the Lord's rules in D&C 88.  That helped.

I told them that I do  a lot of activities with class and review and SM 
activities and we can do that only based on behavior but if it gets unruly, 
we will stop what we are doing.  They love these activities and usually 
that's all it takes.

I also hand out a calendar and write a letter to parents each month so they 
know what material we are covering and I can talk to them about activities 
coming up, SM to work on, and any problems we may have.

So far it's worked great. I've not hardly had any tardies or absences and 
they all seem to be really enjoying seminary most days.

Some years I've had a particularly difficult student but have always been 
able to find what works for them and loved them through it.  I know you will 
get answers from the spirit as well and you will find what works for your 
class and your students.

Linda Harper
Duncan, SC



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <lorizee1 at comcast.net>
To: <teachldsseminary at latter-dayvillage.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 2:18 PM
Subject: [Teachldsseminary] Help--A few unruly students


Hi!  I'm very new to this forum (like a week), so forgive me if this is a 
topic already covered.

I team-teach an early morning seminary class in Washington state.  We have 
about 4 students (out of 15) who act up.  They come in late, switch seats, 
talk, throw papers at other students, want to leave (or do leave) in the 
middle of class to roam halls (and are often corraled and come back), 
text-message on phones, etc.  In general, they are disrupting class, A LOT! 
My teammate teacher and I are not sure what we can do about this.  (We do 
not teach together, but trade, with one teaching 3 times per week, another 
twice.  I confess the class is a bit better for me, but the "problem 
students" still misbehave for me too.)  This class has also been a problem 
for other teachers prior to this year.  This a class of Jrs and Seniors. 
The "disruptors" are for the most part 3 junior-age boys, with one 
senior-age girl.

I've posed the idea of visiting with each student (all seminary students, 
but beginning with the disruptors first) in their homes, one-on-one to (a) 
get to know them better, and (b) see if we can't make some ground with them. 
I believe that will help, but I'm not sure it is the cure.

Any suggestions?  All answers would be very helpful!  Our stake supervisor 
has offered a few suggestions, but I don't like the idea of having a 
"time-out" for the students, either.  Do you believe home study (with a 
once-a-week lesson) is a suggestion?  At what point should we start 
involving the parents?

Thanks!
Lori Zander
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