Writing assignment #1

So, I had to take a break from the contracts after bad days on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Today I decided to do the part of my ILP which I said that I was going have a writing assignment about what it means to have good behavior. The idea was that if the whole class' thought process was about what it means to have good behavior, they would behave better while writing it.

It was very effective! Not perfect, and I don't think it is possible to have a time in class when NO one talks at all, but there were significant periods of phonics time where no one was talking, everyone was just working on the assignment. I haven't had a chance to read them yet, because we completed them today, February 11th, but I was happy with the results. I even had a chance to pull out my little camera and take a minute video of the working and mostly quiet class (until they noticed I was videoing them lol).

As far as specific amounts of talking out time, the most that anyone in class talked out in the whole period was 3 times, and that was by two boys who I am focusing on for this assignment (D and B). Everyone else was 2 or less, which is definitely a good day.

What I am left with after this assignment is how do I capitalize on this success and apply it to future lessons. I am glad that we succeeded... but I obviously can't have every phonics lesson be writing about how to behave.

Should I keep the papers and read them over with the behavior students in the morning, or before I give them their contracts for the day, reminding them of their own words on how to be well behaved in class?

I could talk to the class about good behavior each morning, but I know that it would be falling on deaf ears. Actually, that is another problem entirely that many times I have to work hard just to get every student's eyes on me when I am teaching something. It is incredibly disappointing as a teacher to look around and think "Who am I teaching this for?"

I'll have to talk to Linda (my mentor) first, but I am feeling so discouraged overall about behavior (the non-phonics time today was crazy with me having to have their heads down for more than 6 times during the day from them all getting too loud AND not responding to any of my signals for quiet) that I am thinking that I should just get super tough, and just discipline everyone who talks out without warnings or grace. Sigh. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day... but doubtful because it is a party day.