Reddit reviews How To Talk So Kids Can Learn

Take with a grain of salt any advice that isn't from someone employed daily in education. The perceptions or memories of our school days are not REMOTELY useful to the other side of the desk.

On some days - like today, actually - I could be you. It is damn frustrating to see the opportunity of an education (is there a greater opportunity in life?) pissed away on -some, not all, but not just 1-2 kids, either - kids who day after day after day are hanging out in their own private worlds.

Battle plan:

1. Get thee to Fred Jones. Buy "Tools for Teaching." Someone else recommended Rafe Esquith, and he is great, but Fred will get you a toehold on the stuff you're facing daily.
   
   
2. Get thee to yourself. Most folks are as happy as they want to be. Read up on anger management, and realize that how you feel about a situation is something more within you than most of us realize. This is important for working with kids, because they WILL do things that piss you off, for many, many reasons, and most of them quite accurate. However it happens, frequently, it's part of the job, and how to handle things when you're depressed and pissed off is part of the job skill set of a teacher. I don't have a sterling recommendation here, but for sure, you've got to learn how to handle being pissed off.
   
   
3. Work on your craft. Like any other field, we enter with different talents - and some teachers are more gifted than others - but everyone can do better. Ignore the advice that "maybe teaching isn't for you." Bullshit. In can be learned. You can work to be an excellent teacher. Talk to your peers. Ask about details (my mantra is "Teaching IS details") Read books. Decide yourself what's working and what isn't. Paula Rutherford has some books on relatively simple low-cost modifications to the basic lesson plans. They're a little bit jumbled, but as good a place as any for general lesson improvement.
   
   
4. "How to Talk So That Kids Will Learn" is definitely advanced reading- don't think of doing this until you've got discipline down - but it's something you'll need eventually.
   
   I'm not remotely suggesting that I've learned something you haven't, or that I'm a great teacher. I just think I've recognized a peer, trying to do the right thing. These are the resources that have helped me deal with 130 6th graders, 5 days a week.
   
   Good luck!
   
   
   
   
   
   

Reminds me of an example I read in college:

>Max came in before recess was over, looking agitated. I said, "Max, you seem upset."

>He said, "What's pro-puree?"

>I said, "Potpourri?"

>He said, "Yeah," and handed me a referral slip from the recess supervisor. "She yelled at me," he said, "because I wasn't being pro-puree."

>I unfolded the referral slip and read it aloud: "I caught this boy spitting on the playground. I am taking away his recess privileges today, because his behavior is not appropriate."

>Max said, "See, she said I wasn't pro-puree. What is that?"

>"What she wanted you to know," I explained, "is that what you did wasn't appropriate. That means that it's not okay to spit on the playground."

>Max looked confused.

>I said, "Max, spitting spreads germs."

>He said, "Oh."

>And that was it. He never did it again.

-from How to Talk So Kids Can Learn

As for advice, I would mention it in class briefly something like, (ah guys, I’m sorry about the computers, we can’t use them today, something happened to the cords. I’m disappointed (either a) because I won’t be able to replace them (or b) but they’re replaceable.

I would keep it at that! No need to go further since there is no proof!

Since you think you know who it is I would recommend the 2 x 10 principle .

If you’re really looking for some change in the classroom I’d recommend The book How to Talk so Kids Can Learn it truly changed my practice.

Lastly, the kid already ruined your kits, don’t let them ruin your night and weekend too!! Try not to take it personally...it’s almost never about you, and even if it is, oh well.

Take care!

I taught Title I my first year, and have moved to a more affluent school. There are a few constants that apply, regardless.

Break things down into MUCH smaller steps than you're used to. Their time management and organization need a LOT of coaching. Plan to have deadlines & collect work at every small stopping point of a major project.

Instructions have to be more explicit than you could have thought possible. Explain/instruct, MODEL, practice together, then have them work independently... but monitor, monitor, monitor. You'll get a good idea pretty quickly of which students are going to need more supervision.

Most of the kids are really sweet and eager and easily disciplined. They're much less cynical than 8th graders. They learn well from songs and games, and will actually take part.

Sixth graders are still on the cusp of being children. They still play with toys at home, and enjoy imaginary games. There's a little bit of the boy-girl thing with some of them, but for most of the kids I've worked with, it hasn't much entered the equation yet and they work GREAT in mixed-gender groups.

Parents really appreciate communication. To garner their involvement and support, send home a weekly newsletter or AT LEAST send an email w/ attached study guides (WITH ANSWER KEY!!) or rubrics attached before tests or when projects are assigned.

For discipline, I try to explain consequences and offer choices (with deadlines), the same as how I parent. I recommend reading some of the work of Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, particularly How to Talk so Kids Can Learn (Amazon.com link).

I don't really notice the B.O. so much. Sixth graders are MUCH less "pervy" than boys late in 7th grade and all through 8th. Maturity, as well, is FAR more of an issue in 7th grade than in 6th. Girls are typically hitting the hormonal wall in 6th grade, but the boys don't get there until the latter half of 7th and 8th... generally speaking.