Gerry Chichester on tue 19 sep 00
Susan - one of the best management techniques I have used in my pottery =
classroom is the 'letter of expectations' which I hand out and read the =
first day of class. Students must then sign it and take it home for =
their parents/guardians to read and sign as well. If the letter does =
not returned signed, students do NOT touch clay, tools, nothing until it =
is signed. The letter spells out exactly what I expect from students =
performance as well as behavioral wise, as well as how projects are =
graded, how critiques are handled and how written assignments - =
notebooks, tests, art history, etc. - are all graded. I also carry =
around a small, hand-held tape recorder to record ALL beginning =
instructions, test and critique dates. Teenagers have an amazing =
capacity for whining about not having heard a date for the test, or =
critique or whatever. This insures that I don't have to go to battle =
with "my word against theirs". Unfortunately, I have just inherited a =
class of .......students that did not benefit from my first week =
"intense behavioral training" and I am having the worst time in 26 years =
of teaching dealing with foulmouthed, belligerent children from 14 - 16 =
years old. The above is not working at this point, but it has never =
failed me in the past. Carly (wondering why kids are not taught manners =
anymore.)
Mike Gordon on wed 20 sep 00
Gerry,
I'd be interested in knowing where you teach, at what level? Sounds like
Jr. h.s.? Could you include the contents of the letter of
expectation,also? Thanks Mike Gordon
ARTSHP@AOL.COM on thu 21 sep 00
Thanks Carly - I'll send a prayer your way! Sounds like a big headache!
Susan in Seattle
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