Hello, theboss-ga!
Swearing in the classroom is one of many common behavior problems
plaguing teachers. You are not alone in wondering how to most
effectively deal with disrespectful speech!
The prevalence of swearing despite your re-directing is a sign of
another problem.....lack of respect for your authority. This does not
mean you are not acting in an authoritarian manner. It merely means
that the children are ignoring you out of a lack of respect or because
the consequences are not meaningful or detrimental enough to
discourage their behavior.
Secondly, they are feeding off one another. Whereas one student might
not normally swear, the behavior is prompted and encouraged within the
group as a whole. Somehow, you need to tackle the group mentality and
nip the behavior in the bud!
The problem.....there is one of you and a chaotic bunch of "them"!
Don't despair. You will get it under control. Lay down some ground
rules, hold the parents accountable for their children's behavior
outside of their home, involve the students in the classroom behavior
guidelines, and network with other teachers to find out their
solutions!
I have provided some suggestions and avenues for you to consider.
Since I don't know what the Head Start Program allows in terms of
discipline, they are general recommendations.
Classroom Ground rules
*********************
From "Swearing," by Jenny Mackay. BMEF Help File
http://www.bmef.org/helpfiles/swearing.htm
Swearing:
Set ground rules for class behavior. Ask any class and swearing will
come up every time as one of the most important classroom issues - to
treat people with respect. Discuss how you convey respect; what is
disrespectful and what isn’t allowed. You can mention bad language.
How you speak conveys respect or disrespect, care or disdain etc.
State the rule: In our classroom we have a rule about respect and I
expect you to use it.
Refuse to get hooked in: Student may counter with, "Oh but we use this
kind of language all the time." My Mum and Dad don’t mind etc.
Teacher’s response: Maybe that is so but when students enter this
class, they change their language. We do not speak like that.
Managing attitude: Take aside and state expected behavior. "I don’t
use that kind of language with you. I don’t expect you to use that
kind of language here in this classroom. Okay? Thank you."
Don’t make a big deal about it at the time. Non-verbal messages can be
quite powerful - raised eye brow. Or "I don’t think I heard that...I
know you don’t use that kind of language..!" A little humor can send
the message while defusing a situation. Follow up.. take aside a
little later as in "Teacher’s response", above.
A little values clarification exercise can be helpful. If the
opportunity allows, suggest to a language teacher that a discussion be
held on e.g. swearing - what message is it sending? How should we
speak? How can we convey respect through language?
(For other disciplinary problems, click on any link on the Behavior
Management in Education Foundation "Help" File.
http://www.bmef.org/hcentre.htm )
===
The Time-Out Chair
******************
From "Using a Time Out Chair in the Classroom," by LYN FRY, MA, Lyn
Frye Associates.
http://www.lynfryassociates.co.uk/selfhelp/chair.htm
Time Out usually means removing the child from wherever he is and
putting him somewhere else ("out-of-action") for a little while every
time he starts the problem behavior.
The child is seated in a corner of the room so that he can observe the
classroom activities, but where his classmates can easily avoid him,
the rationale being that the teacher has made the classroom an
exciting and interesting place and the child can see what good things
he is missing.
Behaviors usually treated with Time Out are aggression, destruction of
toys, disturbing other children’s play or work, swearing, etc.
(Read the entire article for tips on how to use the time out chair)
===
The Teacher/Student-Designed Classroom Behavior Constitution!
*************************************************************
An idea I believe is key to classroom control is taken from the
article,
"Teacher Classroom Control Means Student Self-Control," by Bill Page.
The Teachers Net. Gazette.
http://teachers.net/gazette/NOV02/page.html
"Students need to participate in determining the classroom rules and
in solving classroom problems through democratic action. Self-control
cannot be learned through being controlled."
How about getting all the students involved in writing a classroom
behavior "Constitution"? Have the students decide a fair, disciplinary
action to be instituted if one of their peers violates the speech
"article." Peer pressure (of a good sort) can often institute changes
in classroom behavior more dramatically than the single voice of the
teacher.
====
Helpful Books
*************
A book worth ordering might be:
"Classroom Discipline Problem Solver: Ready-to-Use Techniques &
Materials for Managing All Kinds of Behavior Problems," by George
Watson. June 2002
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-087628134X.html
"This practical resource gives teachers at all levels hundreds of
tested techniques and guidelines for maintaining control and order in
the classroom. These have been developed and refined in the crucible
of the modern classroom by teachers just like yourself and are ready
to help you solve problems and create the disciplined environment that
students and teachers need for effective learning."
*****
Section 1, which deals with 50 school discipline problems, includes
the "The Swearing Stopper"!
*****
(If you are an instructor, you may request an evaluation copy for this
title.)
====
One way to get the parents involved, and on your side, is to send
home a "contract" outlining the guidelines of speech to be used in the
classroom. You might preface the contract by stating something like:
"Swearing has become a very real issue, lately, and I want all
students and parents to become involved in making ours a more
respectful classroom."
You can formulate the contract to highlight the importance of
respectful speech and note the ramifications for using disrespectful
language in class, including swearing. Have both parents and students
read over the contract at home and sign their names. When a student
has been caught swearing, make the parents aware by sending home a
"Contract Violation" slip that must be signed and returned.
On the same token, you can send home a "Contract Honorarian" slip for
those students who have been respectful in their speech.
You might even attach special categories of rewards for students who
always use respectful speech, those who are occasional violators, etc.
You could even have a special class activity or party if everyone goes
one week without swearing.....thereby instituting a bit of peer
pressure within the class to promote good behavior so "everyone" will
win. If one person ruins it for everyone.....you could have the
activity anyway and make them sit out. (Those decisions are up to you,
and the guidelines of the Head Start program.)
Hopefully, this will make a real difference. If not, at least you
have some ongoing, written proof of "speech conduct violations" so
that parents and school authorities cannot accuse you of ignoring the
problem. And I must stress that if the parent's are made aware that
their own child is involved in swearing, and they are not getting
involved in correcting the problem by talking at home, then at least
you have proof that you DID involve the parents. You cannot monitor
and be held responsible for the speech of an entire classroom if the
parents do not take some responsibility.
===
An Online Course
******************
Are you interested in taking an online course to discover some
strategies?
"Solving Pesky Behavior Problems" is an online course offered by
Universal Class. http://home.universalclass.com/i/crn/1678.htm
(The cost is only $12.00)
"Solving Pesky Behavior Problems is designed to help those who work
with children find ways to minimize troublesome behaviors, such as
tattling, whining, bickering, and cursing. Participants will receive
basic information about behavior management techniques and suggestions
for changing children's behaviors."
6. Swearing and Cursing: Eliminate This Troublesome Problem - It's
ugly and very few people approve of children using foul language. What
can we do? Here's what!
===
Some more articles
******************
"Principles of Effective Character Education." The Center for the
Advancement of Ethics and Advancement of Boston University.
http://intranet.cps.k12.il.us/Lessons/CharacterEducation/Principles.pdf
This article is chock full of suggestions that can be applied to
children of various ages within the classroom. Read the Section titled
"100 Ways to Promote Character Education."
The more you can involve the students in the classroom setting, the
more respect they will have for the rules. If they have no
involvement, they will feel helpless, and will often act out with
aggression, swearing, and other troublesome behavior.
====
"Hostile-Aggressive Behavior...preventing and dealing with challenging
behavior." College of Education and Human Development. University of
Minnesota.
http://ici2.umn.edu/preschoolbehavior/tip_sheets/hostagg.htm
This article has some helpful hints you may be able to tailor toward
younger children in the classroom.
========
Teacher Chat Boards
*******************
Teachers.net Chatboard Network
http://teachers.net/mentors/
Teacher Talk Forums
http://www.teaching.com/ttalk/
=====
I hope the suggestions have given you some ideas to work with and
utilize. You might also want to read a recent question I answered
concerning the teacher-student relationship and its effect on
discipline in the classroom.. Although I realize you are dealing with
younger children in Head Start, you may find some helpful hints you
can modify for the younger age group.
Relationship between teachers and students:
http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=202326
If you need further clarification, please don't hesitate to ask and I
will do my best to help! And don't despair! If you were the only
teacher dealing with these problems, the internet would not be so full
of articles and chat boards!!!!
umiat-ga
Google Search Strategy
+swearing in the +classroom
+teacher techniques +swearing among students
+teacher chat boards |
