Classroom Difficulties

Lately I have had some problems in my class.

I have an interesting blend of students.  They are very bright and creative, but they don't get along well together at all.  We have been practicing character education throughout the year, but as a class we have had many relapses into poor behavior and respect for others just as I think we're getting better.  It's quite frustrating seeming like you 're going back to square one even though it is April.

I suppose children tend to get a little squirrely at this time of year, but we only have two months left and I feel as though I should be getting through that end-of-the-year push kind of work.  Instead we are back to talking about how to treat each other properly...again.

The problem is that much of the issues occur outside of class and then they bring them to school.  They are all in touch by e-mail and other digital means, but much of it is negative in nature.  They have admitted to this, but they do little to help themselves.  Some of the parents monitor their kids on the internet and on phones, but it is not consistent, or it doesn't happen at all.

Perhaps an invitation to the parents to have them come in for internet monitor training might help.  Any other suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Wise Skills

We are currently using the WiseSkills Character Education Program at my school and we have had a good deal of success with it.  There are several key themes such as friendship and caring, and under these umbrella terms there are more specific character traits.  Each trait has a quote page, activities, and cross-curricular ideas for students so you can integrate these important ideas into many different lessons.  I often cover the WiseSkill of the week in-depth during our Monday meetings, but they are a reoccurring theme throughout the week.  I would encourage you to look into this program as it is comprehensive, easy to use, and has some great ideas and messages.

You can also find a link to the WiseSkills website on the right side of this page for more information.

Creating a Happy, Healthy Classroom

One of the sure-fire ways at the beginning of the year to set character education in motion is a welcoming classroom setup, focusing on responsibility and ownership and allowing designated areas of the room for specific uses.  Here are two tips:

1.  I always start a comprehensive jobs list at the beginning of the year and the duties rotate on a weekly basis.  The students are responsible for their own jobs for the week and they are rewarded for completing the jobs effectively on a daily basis.  I always introduce them with the premise that we, as a class, are a team, and we must all help to keep our classroom running smoothly and effectively.  This helps us to build community.  Some of the jobs are as follows:

-  Class DJ
-  Botanist
-  Librarian
-  Homework Checker
-  Attendance Checker
...Amongst many others!

2.  I have a designated place for conflict resolution in my classroom.  It is in a quiet corner, and it is comfortable and away from the others.  We use a conflict resolution template in order to write down our feelings before we discuss them, and the talking is done in a structured, safe format.  I have found that this teaches the kids to think before acting and they learn how to effectively solve problems and understand other points of view.

Do you have any tips?  Please write them in the comments!