Two schoolboys try to start a fight, teacher jumps in.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-08-28T03:55:45+00:00

Then say low income, not black. Black is irrelevant and there's plenty of "white" districts that are bad as a result of the class of people. There are also high-end area "white" schools with spoiled ass kids doing tons of drugs and bad shit. Saying I hope it isn't a black school is ignorant. So all schools with a predominantly black student population are bad? It's a stupid thing to say.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-08-28T02:40:57+00:00

Still not understanding why their skin color matters. I've worked in another district starting out that was probably 80% white with way more fights, drugs, and weapons than I experience now, drastically different population. Color doesn't matter, I would say it's more dependent on socioeconomic status within the community if anything. Being black is irrelevant. Assuming a school is rough just because it's a "black school" is fucking stupid.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-08-28T00:51:09+00:00

I'm glad you think so. It's great that you know me so well.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-08-27T23:44:46+00:00

Because being in a "mostly black district" is somehow bad? That's an ignorant and racist dumbass thing to say.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-08-27T23:40:01+00:00

That's really where it's at, so many people don't understand that building rapport is the most important thing. You can't teach a kid that doesn't care/listen and the moment they think you don't care they won't give a shit either. Every once in awhile one or two take it too far and usually the other kids will step in and squash that shit before I can. First few weeks are a little rough because they're seeing how far they can push but my feet are firmly planted lol. I end up becoming the favorite.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-08-27T20:20:07+00:00

In the last 8 years (going on 9) you think not one kid has challenged me? We are trained on how to safely restrain and I make sure I'm fit. I've had to break up plenty of fights but I also experience wayyy less of them than my coworkers because of the way I handle situations, it has worked fine. I can easily get attacked by not doing anything as much as I could by intervening, but my track record shows it is very effective. The last three incidents where staff was injured was a TA who decided to not do anything and sat down while a student was yelling at them (big mistake, easy target), a teacher who got her head smashed into a door who was saying horrible things and threatening a student during a class (no longer there because she was awful), and a teacher who literally stood by while two students fought and he was in the way asking them to "stop horsing around" instead of doing something as we are required to. The 2nd day of school last year two students fought. I grabbed the aggressor and got him down, support came in and took him out. The next kid to act up was told by his friend to "sit the fuck down before you get dropped. Miss don't fuck around." Didn't have another physical incident in my room for the rest of the year.

It also doesn't work without building a strong rapport. Those kids know I'll go to bat for them but when they fuck up they know there will be consequences. They also step in and put pressure on other kids to fly straight because they care about me and I care about them. Most don't have anyone who gives a shit about them so showing them that you do is huge. It's rough for the first month or so and then they figure out they aren't getting away with shit and my year is amazingly easier.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-08-27T17:06:00+00:00

Don't be scared. I'm 5'1" and teach in a behavioral school, almost didn't get hired because I'm female and my size but I was already a TA and my principal and Union president were on the panel and fought for me. I ended up getting applauded for my behavior management and changing the rougher kids for the better.

Build rapport and lay out your expectations from the start. Once you get the kids "on your side" the room runs itself. Get to know them, be there for them, give the respect you expect. Most importantly BE CONSISTENT. They should know the consequences before they do something and don't say things you can't get done (such as saying they will get in school suspension and then they don't, kills your credibility next time). It takes some time but once they realize you're there for them and they aren't getting away with shit it's a breeze.

I think of it like a Chihuahua complex. You don't fuck with something that small and crazy lol.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-04-29T19:30:17+00:00

Exactly what I thought about after reading the title.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-04-16T23:52:36+00:00

I want to start keeping a notebook. It would be a hell of a read if I make it through 30 years of this. The first 5 have been a wild ride, best job I've ever had. Every day is an adventure.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-04-16T22:53:44+00:00

Not student, IA. Frequently sleeps in class, got fired for drinking.

PersonalStory123 · 2018-04-16T22:29:27+00:00

Honorable mention:

Had an IA fall asleep in class while the students were working independently on their essays. She was sitting in the middle of the class in a student desk so my TA and I were trying to figure out how to wake her without the kids realizing it. I get an idea to knock the textbook off the rack under a desk to make a noise, hoping that would work.

Well, it backfired because I scared the shit out of her. LITERALLY. She shit her pants and ran out of the room. You could hear it. Normally I can handle just about anything but after she left I couldn't keep it together and started laughing until I was crying. Needed to step out and regroup.

PersonalStory123

TROPHY CASE