Scenario 1: A student refuses to work. I chose this scenario because I am experiencing a student who is refusing to do his work in one of the classes I am observing for my TOSS internship. My Collaborating teacher is switching him out of the classroom. Here is what I would do differently: If the students are working alone in class, and a student was refusing to do his/her work I would go up to the student and ask him/her if he/she needed any help with the assignment. If they say yes, I would guide them in doing the work on their own step-by-step. I feel that sometimes students just want reassurance that they are doing work correctly. If the student refuses my help and insists on not completing his/her work, I would send an e-mail home to his/her parents to let them know that their student was refusing to do their work. If the problem persists, I would ask another teacher to watch over my classroom while the student and I make a phone call to his/her parent to discuss the situation. This scenario could be handled differently if the student was disrupting class. If the student was interrupting and causing a distraction for other students, I would move the student to end of the room that is closest to where I am teaching, I would then offer my help to finish the assignment. If the student refuses to finish his work, I will send an e-mail to his parents to notify them of the student’s behavior in my classroom. If the problem still persists, I would send the student to ISS and call the parents to discuss the situation during my planning period. The parents as I will discuss the best option for their student. If the parents think that moving their student into another classroom, for whatever reason, would be in their best interest, I would contact the student’s counselor to make a schedule change. I feel that it would be important for me to figure out why the student is acting out by refusing to do his/her work. If I, as the teacher, or my classroom environment is not best suited for his learning needs, I would feel responsible to get him in a class where his needs are met so he can succeed.
[Good thoughts here. Has anyone asked the student why they weren't doing the work? They may have a very valid reason. -RR]
Scenario 2: In the middle of class, Sparky raises his hand and blurts out, “What kind of beer do you drink?” If Sparky or any other student blurted this question, or any other question, pertaining to a subject that is off-task, I would respond with, “Sparky, I will not answer questions that have nothing to do with the lesson, assignment, or class. Please get back to working on the lesson.” After I make this statement, I will go on with my lesson or helping other students in class so the student is not given the opportunity to bounce back with another question or remark. I think this type of response will show the student that I’m not interested in sharing personal details of what I do outside of school, regardless of what the question. I would not respond with, “I will not answer questions that contain inappropriate topics.” A response like that would make the student think that I am willing to share certain details, just not ones that pertain to alcohol or other inappropriate discussion topics. I’m not trying to become friends with my students. They need to know that the appropriate details I am willing to share will be shared if and when I decide to share them, not when they ask me questions.
[Personally, I'd take a different approach and answer honestly. I'd say that I enjoy IPAs, but that I prefer to drink beer in the privacy and safety of my own home and that I try to only drink one or two with a meal because I'm trying to keep my weight down and stay healthy. I argue that we need to be honest with our students and that if we can't then maybe we need to change our behavior to be more of a model for our students. I think students benefit from hearing how and why adults make the decisions they do. -RR]
SCENARIOS
Scenario 1: A student refuses to work.
I chose this scenario because I am experiencing a student who is refusing to do his work in one of the classes I am observing for my TOSS internship. My Collaborating teacher is switching him out of the classroom. Here is what I would do differently:
If the students are working alone in class, and a student was refusing to do his/her work I would go up to the student and ask him/her if he/she needed any help with the assignment. If they say yes, I would guide them in doing the work on their own step-by-step. I feel that sometimes students just want reassurance that they are doing work correctly. If the student refuses my help and insists on not completing his/her work, I would send an e-mail home to his/her parents to let them know that their student was refusing to do their work. If the problem persists, I would ask another teacher to watch over my classroom while the student and I make a phone call to his/her parent to discuss the situation.
This scenario could be handled differently if the student was disrupting class. If the student was interrupting and causing a distraction for other students, I would move the student to end of the room that is closest to where I am teaching, I would then offer my help to finish the assignment. If the student refuses to finish his work, I will send an e-mail to his parents to notify them of the student’s behavior in my classroom. If the problem still persists, I would send the student to ISS and call the parents to discuss the situation during my planning period.
The parents as I will discuss the best option for their student. If the parents think that moving their student into another classroom, for whatever reason, would be in their best interest, I would contact the student’s counselor to make a schedule change.
I feel that it would be important for me to figure out why the student is acting out by refusing to do his/her work. If I, as the teacher, or my classroom environment is not best suited for his learning needs, I would feel responsible to get him in a class where his needs are met so he can succeed.
[Good thoughts here. Has anyone asked the student why they weren't doing the work? They may have a very valid reason. -RR]
Scenario 2: In the middle of class, Sparky raises his hand and blurts out, “What kind of beer do you drink?”
If Sparky or any other student blurted this question, or any other question, pertaining to a subject that is off-task, I would respond with, “Sparky, I will not answer questions that have nothing to do with the lesson, assignment, or class. Please get back to working on the lesson.” After I make this statement, I will go on with my lesson or helping other students in class so the student is not given the opportunity to bounce back with another question or remark. I think this type of response will show the student that I’m not interested in sharing personal details of what I do outside of school, regardless of what the question. I would not respond with, “I will not answer questions that contain inappropriate topics.” A response like that would make the student think that I am willing to share certain details, just not ones that pertain to alcohol or other inappropriate discussion topics. I’m not trying to become friends with my students. They need to know that the appropriate details I am willing to share will be shared if and when I decide to share them, not when they ask me questions.
[Personally, I'd take a different approach and answer honestly. I'd say that I enjoy IPAs, but that I prefer to drink beer in the privacy and safety of my own home and that I try to only drink one or two with a meal because I'm trying to keep my weight down and stay healthy. I argue that we need to be honest with our students and that if we can't then maybe we need to change our behavior to be more of a model for our students. I think students benefit from hearing how and why adults make the decisions they do. -RR]