By Anonymous on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 12:23 pm: Edit

I have this horrible student. He comes into class higher than a kite, and only does what he feels like doing, no matter how hard I try to get him to enjoy the activities. I have tried to have him choose the sport or activity, yet he won't play and will leave when he chooses. He also often blurts out swear words. I teach at an ALC, and these students have issues, yet I am at my wits end. Any help???

By Scott Stefl (Auman) on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 01:22 pm: Edit

I would try to put some concequence on him that would make a ladder to something that he really wouldn't want to happen. For example, I would tell him that he can either participate in the activity or stay after class. If he leaves class without staying after, he can have the choice of making up the time during the next class or stay after school on day. Then go to the next step of staying after school or have your parents called. So you have to come up with the consequences for him, but give him a positive choice (and stress it) and also give hime the negative consequence. Let him make the choice and you apply the consequence to his choosen behavior (good or bad). Maybe say participate for five minutes and get a minute of your own time. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Scott Stefl
Ute Creek Secondary Academy
Health and Physical Education Teacher

By Anonymous on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 12:29 pm: Edit

No it would not work! For one, There is no staying after class or school. An ALC is Alternative Education. Most of the parents here would not come to a conference, they would tell me to F*ck off, as do most of my students. All of these students are here because of truancy issues, and they hate traditional schools. A minute of his/her own time would result in that student leaving school or going out for a smoke. I am trying to teach students responsibility, and a minute of their own time isn't responsibility, it is letting them slack off on my time. Thanks for your input.

By Anna Marie Frank (Afrank) on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 03:06 pm: Edit

anonymous,

i think you are dealing with a very frustrating but too typical situation. i can't offer you any help at this point, however I have given trhe scenario to my secondary methods students and will forward their ideas to you. maybe our promising professional can give us some ideas.

ani frank
DePaul University
afrank@depaul.edu

By Anonymous on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 12:12 pm: Edit

C'mon he is getting worse and worse by the day please i need some strong advise

By Mike Knutty on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 08:15 am: Edit

I believe the student needs to be given a survey at the beginning of your class. Have him write about his likes and dislikes about your class activity for the day. He might find that he likes the activity when he writes about it and it will give you and him something to talk about after you have reviewed his survey after class. Maybe through his survey you can get him to express himself in a way that will get both of you to a common ground on this issue. You could also make up a student behavior contract. In this you will want to include a range of things that the student will be rewarded with when he's good and also a range of punishments when he is bad. Hopefully this will open up a new way to communicate. Good luck

By Yahrasiel Davis (Pe4life77) on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 10:28 am: Edit

To the teacher who is having difficulty with the student please e-mail me at pe4life77@hotmail.com. I have some ideas.

Yahrasiel Davis
Health and Physical Education Teacher
Bethune Middle School
5200 Covington Highway
Decatur, GA 30350

By Anonymous on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 07:06 pm: Edit

Sit him down and have a heart to heart with him. Ask him if he likes anything about your class. Ask him is he likes to participate in any type of sport. Inform him of his behavior problems. Work out some type of agreement with him, be it a behavioral contract or a verbal agreement.

Most of the time when I have really problem kids and I just take the time to sit down with them and talk to them, things work out. You have to approach this using the sandwhich method.

Start with some praise (make up something if you have to), then get to the meat of the situation, and then end with more praise.

If after this, he still acts like an pain in your rear, fail him. Tell him that you are not going to give up on him but that he decides his grade--not you. Tell him he can get whatever grade he wants as long as he earns it.

Speak to him about what he wants for his future. Can he honestly go on in the "real world" acting this way?

By Anonymous on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 12:36 pm: Edit

To anonymous,
That is very good advice. It sounds like it actually could work. Thank you I am going to go give it a shot after spring break, I will let you know how it goes.

By Anonymous on Tuesday, April 02, 2002 - 12:07 pm: Edit

I tried it yesterday, Today was ok. However he and another student kept looking at me and laughing while they were playing basketball. I think they have something on there mind and that this student didnt take what i said yesterday seriously. we'll see how this week goes.

By Anonymous on Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 07:44 am: Edit

My house was egged last weekend, strong rumor has it by the student that I am having a hard time with. He said his future is to make my life miserable.

By Anonymous on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 04:57 am: Edit

You can't save them all. I wouldn't waste another minute on him. Fail him. Let him sit there, as long as he doesn't disrupt your class.

By Isobel Kleinman on Saturday, May 18, 2002 - 12:32 am: Edit

Sometimes it helps to call the parents, tell them that you need their help and ask for their suggestions. At the very least, you might come up with a plan that you could use together. I once had a student who I won over by telling him that if he didn't get his act together by Xmas, his parents and I agree, he would not get any Xmas presents. You should have seen his face. Things changed radically and for the better after that. But basically, he was a well adjusted young man who was just being lazy. Your young man sounds like someone who, when he arrives high, should be sent to the nurse. The principal should be informed of his drug abuse during school and you should have someone in the building who you could send him too when he is either verbally or physially abusive. I do agree that talking it out could be helpful with some, though it does not work all the time.

By Anonymous on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 12:15 pm: Edit

You don't understand. There is no parental support. His father is in prison, and his mother smokes pot with him at home, she is also suffering from a mental illness. She recently took her 7 year old son and fled her home, going to a shelter, telling them that she was being chased and wouldn't go back home until "they" were gone for good. the police don't know who "they" are. My student is 18 and can legally stay at home. Social workers are aware of this situation, but I have to take him in my class.

By Isobel Kleinman on Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 11:26 pm: Edit

You are right. I did not understand. I am not sure I completely understand now. What is an ALC class? What is the support personnel in your school doing with this young man? What policy does the school have for students who arrive high?

You should not be left hanging out to dry. There should be services to help you. At the very least, you should not have to contain a young man who is high and verbally abusive. And, since it is unlikely that you can solve a deep seated problem, which he probably has, you are going to have to separate yourself emotionally from this one and remember, when his behavior is unacceptable, he does not belong within a group. Send him to the nurse, to the principal to your chairman, or straight to the SW of school psychologist.

By Anonymous on Tuesday, June 04, 2002 - 12:05 pm: Edit

An ALC is for alternative students. Most of our students get kicked out of their home school for truancy, falling a year or more behind in school, or they are users. We have a separate location, but each individual school busses their students here, or they drive. there are over 100,000 ALC students in the state, and drug testing is way behind. He has been suspended, sent home, etc. The state says we must take him, he has no place to go and we must offer him an education. I was finally able to drop him and he gets 0 credit for PE, he must take it in Independent Study, which means he will have to go to a fitness club and get it signed, or go get his GED. I am just happy he is off of my attendance sheet.