Kelli+Moss

Kelli Moss

The same two or three students try to answer all questions you ask.
==== This scenario is happening in one of my classes for TOSS. There is a girl in the first class that I teach who blurts out the answer before I have even finished stating the question (and it's even more annoying because she almost always knows what I'm going to ask). At first, I was excited that a student knew the answer to the challenging questions that I was asking, but once I saw the blank looks on the other students' faces, I knew she was alone in the understanding category. ====

==== I let it slide at first, but after the third time I reminded her that she was supposed to be raising her hand. That still didn't solve the problem - was I simply supposed to ignore her while the others came up with the answer at a slower pace? I chose to wait until the students were completing a worksheet to quietly approach her and say, "I can't believe how quickly you grasped today's lesson! I'm so glad that you are excited to answer the questions I ask, but since you and I both know that you already understand this material, can we give the other students a chance to participate?" I chose to talk to her almost as an equal, so she wouldn't feel as though she was being punished, and I made sure no other students could hear me talking, since the discussion would have probably made them feel inferior. I also feel that I should mention that this student is not an obnoxious know-it-all. She genuinely wants to show the extent of her knowledge, and she does not do it in a malicious way towards the rest of the class. ====

This response worked for me, as she now waits until others have attempted to answer (or time has passed and no one has volunteered an answer) before raising her hand.

Nice choice. The student is complimented and the other students will not be insulted by your comments. I also like you addition that this student is not obnoxious, because a totally different approach would be necessary student with behavior problems. If the first discussion does not eliminate the behavior, the teacher must then tell the student that he/she can answer every third or fourth question only, and only by raising his.her hand. If that does not work a meeting after school (otherwise known as detention) may be necessary and at that time the teacher needs to ascertain what the student's actual problem is, and if that does not work, parents should probably notified. (CK)

**Five students have asked to use the restroom during the lesson.**
This is somewhat of a touchy subject, since I honestly feel that kids sometimes get distracted and don't really realize that they have to go to the bathroom. In this case, however, I think that it depends on the students who are asking. If they are all straight laced students, I would allow them to go one at a time. If they were all troublemakers, I would allow maybe one or two of them to go one at a time (obviously, the key here is one at a time - I never let my students leave the room at the same time unless they are going to their lockers and I can see them from the classroom).

That is how I would react the first or second time this scenario happened. If it became a pattern, I would threaten to revoke bathroom privileges in my classroom, making sure the class knew that the next time I suspected a student of asking to go to the bathroom to simply get out of class or meet up with friends, that student would be responsible for the bathroom restriction. I know that most, if not all, of my students would be horrified at the idea of being responsible for that decision.

The first part of your solution is a good choice. One at a time prevents restroom parties. However, s teacher risks repercussions if he/she even considers revoking restroom privileges to all students. What I have done in the past with repeat offenders who ask to go to restroom more than once every 10 days or so is ask them (privately) if they have a medical problem and if they respond yes to that question, I ask for a note from their doctor (NOT parent) telling me that student has a chronic health problem that forces him/her to need restroom frequently. (CK)