Ah, the joys of middle school...
Before school started, the teachers all had this training about connecting with their students. One of the things they learned was about social contracts. The idea being that if the kiddos listed what they felt was appropriate behavior for the classroom, then they were more likely to buy in and behave appropriately in class.
Or, at least that's the gist I got from the brief overview from the other teachers. I, of course, did not get to attend the training. (Not that I really wanted to. Besides, I got the gig too late to be included.)
School administration told us that we were to go over social contracts and come up with the class "rules' by the end of the second week.
So, in my second day's classes, I introduced the concept, and I had each group come up with five things that they'd agree to in class. For the most part, they listed things like "be kind" and "be responsible". Some repeated rules I went over with them.
And then I looked over eighth period's lists...
Some choice entries:
- Use phones in class
- Have more time for lunch
- Longer snack time
- No dress code
- Start school at 11:00
- Pick our own seats
I mean, I'm totally down for starting school at 11 AM. But I don't think they get that school would then end at 6:30 PM.
Yeah, some of them didn't quite understand the assignment.
It should be an interesting conversation when we go over the full list and narrow it down. Because, yeah, they can wish for those things, but it's not like I have the power to change those things.
(The school has a new cell phone policy this year. No phones. And they're giving us a spot where the phones can be locked away during class, although I haven't gotten the one for my class yet. Should be fun.)
Be careful what you wish for …
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteIt’ll be fun when you bring them back to earth and explain what’s actually in your control versus school policy. Still, starting school at 11 AM doesn’t sound half bad to me
ReplyDeleteI bet the negotiation part will be the most entertaining part of the lesson.
Sadly, they didn't negotiate. I went over their lists. They stared at me. We did whittle the list down. It was fun to draw red lines through some of their ideas, though.
DeleteI agree with no dress codes. I was in high school in the '70s, graduated in 1975 (I try not to think how many years that is now!) and we wore such short skirts, such low cut tops, halter tops, no bras, tube tops... really! I did too! And, there were zero problems. Boys were not distracted (a usual reason for dress codes, which usually impact the girls more than the boys), they made no comments or harassed any girl.
ReplyDeleteI don't generally find the dress code unreasonable. I'm so glad saggy jeans have gone out of style. That was a big no-no in the dress code.
DeleteWe attended Lilly's "open house" last night... rotated to each of her classes and met the teachers. Cell phones must be off and in the kids backpack for the entire school day. Seems to be working well so far.
ReplyDeleteMy 12 year old grandson wants a phone but I think his parents should wait a few years.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, for teens, school should start at 11am? I chuckled over the list, remembering what my sleep patterns as a teen were like. Our state has a "bell to bell" cell phone ban for schools this year. We'll see how that goes.
ReplyDeleteI mean, I wouldn't mind. It'd work much better for me.
DeleteThat was a great list. I usually make all of my appointments at 11. I'm actually awake and moving by then!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind it. In college I found that I couldn't really make classes before 10 AM, so I stopped trying.
DeleteNo phone in school is a great policy.
ReplyDeleteIn Delhi, where I worked as a teacher for many years, schools begin early in morning, like 7 o'clock or so. My school, being residential, got the students out of bed at 5.30 am. It was good for their health. In the cold winter, wake-up was 6 am.
Studies here have found that teens do better if they start their days later. Test scores improve. It has to do with the whack-a-doodle hormones messing with their sleep cycles.
DeleteThose middle school years. It no fun for the parents, teachers, or the youngster
ReplyDeleteThe dress code thing made me smile because, when my nephew was a very little boy (first or second grade) the Cubs had an outfielder named Kosuke Fukudome. One of his classmates got sent to the principal for wearing a FUKUDOME jersey. My nephew was incensed that obviously his teacher was a White Sox fan and he thought teachers weren't supposed to be partisan. No, the baseball-challenged woman thought the shirt obscene. The principal explained it to her and the boy was able to return to class.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have known who he was, either. Although, I doubt I would have sent the kid out of class. If it's a sportsball jersey, I just assume it's a name I don't know.
DeleteWhen I was subbing, I actually preferred teaching middle school. Once I got my helmet to protect my head from all the hormones flying about, it was fun.
ReplyDeleteHave a meaningful Labor Day!
ReplyDeleteYep, starting school that time would change so much. Out would be social time after school, and by the time you got home to dinner, it would be time to study then off to bed. lol....kids don't always think things through. At this point with a 16 and 14 yr old grandson, and boys not maturing as fast as girls, I have to wonder when that common sense kicks in.
ReplyDeleteIt's different for everybody. It's just that the immature boys make the most noise, so they're the ones who get noticed.
DeleteThe 8th grade list cracked me up.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they kinda missed the point.
Delete