these kids!!

ugh! SO i'm a speech therapist at an elementary school. i know the kids are starting to get antsy for the end of school, so i've been trying to do more fun stuff with them to keep the interested. SOO i found these things at Michaels to make little pig coin holder things- like a little coin purse type thing.
i thought they were cute, so today with a group of 3rd graders i read this story that i have thats sort of a different take on the 3 little pigs, like from the wolf's point of view. we read the story, did sequencing to retell the events of the story and then we started making the pig coin holders.
WELL this one boy was like " i'm NOT making a pig" and literally shoved the stuff back across the table at me! then, he fought me the whole time making them, he glued the eyes onto his hands instead of the pig, and just kept whining the whole time that he didn't want to make it.
i just feel like i can't win!! if i had made them do some kind of worksheet, they would have been complaining that it was boring! i try to make it fun for them, and they still whine!
how many more days left???

Message edited 5/19/2009 11:20:49 PM.

Re: these kids are total brats!!

wow. I know you're frustrated, but calling them "brats" is a wee bit harsh! They're just kids, and they're allowed to have opinions about things. Should the boy have been rude? no. But he's allowed to not want to do something without being called names.
I'm willing to bet if he called you a name, you'd be pretty upset, yet you're doing the same to him!

Re: these kids are total brats!!

Wow.... So you couldn't reach your students, you call them brats?

I have a third grader... Even *I* think he might be a little reluctant to do a directive like that... It seems a little immature for 3rd graders. Of course, I don't condone the student's behavior, but I also understand the mindset of a 3rd grader and try not to judge them too harshly. I would hate to think that someone who was supposed to help my son, would call him a *brat*

Message edited 5/19/2009 10:39:02 PM.

Re: these kids are total brats!!

This is the kind of thread that gives teachers a bad name.

I, too, would have been frustrated if a student responded to an activity like that, but you have GOT to step back and ask yourself WHY the child reacted that way. Something tells me the answer is NOT that he's a brat (that is just such a terribly inappropriate word for a professional to use, nonetheless on a public forum).

Did you ask the student why he didn't want to do the activity? How did you handle the situation? Does this child have a history of such behavior?

I'm really sorry you had a frustrating experience, but please think about how and what you write on these boards and how it might be perceived by the general public.

Re: these kids are total brats!!

Re: these kids are total brats!!

Re: these kids!!

I feel your pain, totally! Sometimes their behavior/attitude is sooooo frustrating, ugh. I don't know why people are jumping down your throat... I'm sure we've all at one time or another called our students (or at least thought to ourselves!!!) something much worse than "brats".... and don't blame yourself for how these kids act either... totally not your fault!

Re: these kids!!

Re: these kids!!

Stop psycho analyzing his behavior and reasoning...kids can be brats. No doubt about it. I think there are times when we have 'other' choice words for them, too! I'm sure we ALL have acted in ways that made our parents AND teachers call us names, too. And by calling us names, I mean 'thinking'. Doesn't make someone a bad teacher and doesn't mean that as a teacher, you love them any less. And for the record, yeah, he absolutely had the right to NOT LIKE the project. But he had no right to convey those feelings the way he did. JMO. I tell my kids frequently that they might not like what we are doing but in life, you won't always like what you are doing. You suck it up and just do it. It's LIFE!

ETA: It would be WHOLE 'nother story, however, if she called him a brat to his face! That would be crossing the line. But venting or thinking it...we're all human.

Message edited 5/20/2009 9:56:31 AM.

Re: these kids!!

Re: these kids!!

I think the OP was simply venting to other teachers. She didn't call the child a brat to his face and she wasn't speaking at a PTA meeting. She is frustrated and I'm sure she was professional when she was teaching and just saved her venting for her colleagues and this board,The end of the year can be difficult! Hang in there!

Re: these kids!!

I understand completely how bratty kids can act when they are defying a teacher. We all think it from one time or another...but never say it to a childs face. the OP was just venting to a bunch of teachers who may sympathize with the given situation.

I hope the other kids enjoyed the project to make up for the behavior of this student.

Hang in there the school year is almost over

btw I love that book, its a great read aloud!

Re: these kids!!

I am a teacher and I have called them Brats to my husband and colleagues and I think it is TOTALLY OK! It doesn't make me less of a teacher, it's a way of venting. You have good days and bad and sometimes I am baffled too by their approach and upbringing. Let's just say I work in a tough area and these children have been quite rude at times. I am also sure behind my son's back his teacher has had a few choice words for him, especially this week...his behavior at school has been way off. These boards are a way to VENT and I think people need to just allow that...allow people to VENT! It's only HUMAN!

Re: these kids!!

Re: these kids!!

I know I am going to get slack for this BUT:
She never gave her real name
She never named the school she works at
She never identifies the student

She just vented her frustrations as a teacher to fellow teachers here on this board. In her mind, since many of us have walked in her shoes, she thought she would have a "shoulder to cry on"

I think you guys are over reacting and should let this go....I FM'd her and already let her know that if she wants to vent ANYTIME she can always contact me....

And to all the teacher Moms out there(I am one too)...you have never thought or said out loud to your spouse, g/f, family....Gosh my child is acting so Bratty today? It's not like she said it to the kid nor do I say it to mine...BUT sometimes I certainly DO think it and will tell anyone who will listen when I am having 'one of those days' with my children.

Re: these kids!!

I'm sorry you had a day like that! If it makes you feel better, I think most kids at this point are totally DONE as are the teachers. We're all just so exhausted. I hope you had a better day yesterday!

Re: these kids!!

- we all have moments like this and when i read it, I read it like I believe it was intended....a vent for a moment....we all have them.....

Re: these kids!!

Teachers are human and are subjected to some of the worst conditions imaginable (at least in my school...I'm sure there are paradises out there compared to where I work.)

We care about the students we teach and when we go the extra mile and take our precious time and money to make something special for them and it is thrown back in our faces, it is painful and can anger us. Sometimes, I look at the students I teach and wonder what our world is coming to. It can get *that* bad.

I know as a parent, you don't want to think that your child's educator would ever think poorly of your child as that is/can be a reflection of you and your parenting, but the truth is, teachers spend a lot of time with their students and have relationships of their own with them.

If you think that the OP anonymously calling one of her students a brat on a teacher's forum is bad, then you are living in a dream world. I have heard teachers call students "retards" "morons" "losers" and other horrific names. These people are usually at the end of their ropes.

I know that the public believes that teachers should be akin to saints and angels, but we are not. We are hardworking human beings who get frustrated and hurt when another human being, regardless of age, basically throws your thoughtful gift back in your face.

This teacher has every right to vent her frustrations on this board. She hasn't hurt anyone by doing so and I see that she has amended her post in response to the criticism.

I hope you all raise your children to treat their teachers with respect as I was taught and will teach my own child.

Re: these kids!!

Well said Snickers

Re: these kids!!

Posted by Snickers

Teachers are human and are subjected to some of the worst conditions imaginable (at least in my school...I'm sure there are paradises out there compared to where I work.)

We care about the students we teach and when we go the extra mile and take our precious time and money to make something special for them and it is thrown back in our faces, it is painful and can anger us. Sometimes, I look at the students I teach and wonder what our world is coming to. It can get *that* bad.

I know as a parent, you don't want to think that your child's educator would ever think poorly of your child as that is/can be a reflection of you and your parenting, but the truth is, teachers spend a lot of time with their students and have relationships of their own with them.

If you think that the OP anonymously calling one of her students a brat on a teacher's forum is bad, then you are living in a dream world. I have heard teachers call students "retards" "morons" "losers" and other horrific names. These people are usually at the end of their ropes.

I know that the public believes that teachers should be akin to saints and angels, but we are not. We are hardworking human beings who get frustrated and hurt when another human being, regardless of age, basically throws your thoughtful gift back in your face.

This teacher has every right to vent her frustrations on this board. She hasn't hurt anyone by doing so and I see that she has amended her post in response to the criticism.

I hope you all raise your children to treat their teachers with respect as I was taught and will teach my own child.

Re: these kids!!

I'm a teacher and would never come on here and call my students brats. It's just NOT professional. I never suggested that the OP shouldn't be frustrated or annoyed or downright mad about the situation, but her original title was really off-putting. I believe there is a big difference between what you might say to a few coworkers versus what you say on a public forum. I'm honestly surprised there's not more teachers on here who agree with me. Ah well...

Re: these kids!!

Re: these kids!!

Re: these kids!!

Posted by Snickers

Teachers are human and are subjected to some of the worst conditions imaginable (at least in my school...I'm sure there are paradises out there compared to where I work.)

We care about the students we teach and when we go the extra mile and take our precious time and money to make something special for them and it is thrown back in our faces, it is painful and can anger us. Sometimes, I look at the students I teach and wonder what our world is coming to. It can get *that* bad.

I know as a parent, you don't want to think that your child's educator would ever think poorly of your child as that is/can be a reflection of you and your parenting, but the truth is, teachers spend a lot of time with their students and have relationships of their own with them.

If you think that the OP anonymously calling one of her students a brat on a teacher's forum is bad, then you are living in a dream world. I have heard teachers call students "retards" "morons" "losers" and other horrific names. These people are usually at the end of their ropes.

I know that the public believes that teachers should be akin to saints and angels, but we are not. We are hardworking human beings who get frustrated and hurt when another human being, regardless of age, basically throws your thoughtful gift back in your face.

This teacher has every right to vent her frustrations on this board. She hasn't hurt anyone by doing so and I see that she has amended her post in response to the criticism.

I hope you all raise your children to treat their teachers with respect as I was taught and will teach my own child.

Message edited 5/24/2009 10:56:26 AM.

Re: these kids!!

To the OP - no one is saying you are a horrible person or you shouldn't work with children. In fact, I think everyone who disagreed with your post agrees that being a teacher can be frustrating at times.
The issue I had with the post (and I think many of the other people agreed with me) was that you posted about your student in a negative manner on a PUBLIC forum...where anyone can read it...and that once on the internet, these things can never be erased completely!
Of course you're allowed to vent about your frustrations....but name calling is unprofessional - whether it's to the child's face, or posted on a public forum!
And the blog you posted a link to if horrific. I don't think it was necessary to post that kind of trash to make yourself look better.