High BP or a pencil ?

Scenario One:

Teacher (to student talking to another student at start of class): "Why are you two talking ? YOU SHOULD KNOW OUR PROCEDURE BY NOW! Enter Class QUIETLY, SIT DOWN, FILL OUT YOUR DAILY PLANNER AND COPY OUR OPENER! HOW HARD IS THAT????? "WHY aren't you filling out your daily planner and copying the opener activity like you're supposed to ?"

Student: "i was jus askin' him for a pencil cause i ain't got one."

Teacher: "WHY NOT? Don't you know by now, here toward the end of grade seven, that you ALWAYS NEED A PENCIL ?????"

Student: "I lost it"

Teacher: "SO ???? You're in Seventh Grade!, don't you know to have several pencils ready to use for classes????? What's the matter with you???"

Student: (slumped at desk, head down) "I donnknow".

Teacher: "You better be prepared tomorrow!"


Scenario Two:

Teacher (to student talking to another student at start of class): "Whats going on, you two....come on now, you know the procedure and routine, please enter class quietly, sit down, fill out your daily planner and copy the opener activity."

Student: "i was jus askin' him for a pencil cause i ain't got one."

Teacher: OK, so just quietly go get one from the pencil cup. IF there isn't one there, then just ask me. I usually have a hoard of pencils I get free from different places....just ask!"


So, what do you think ? Dealing with junior high kids, does scenario one or two happen most often? In my classes, my pencil cup is a souvenir cup from Hoover Dam, and is smilingly referred to as the "dam cup". For you newer teachers, these kind of things are the little things that can make your teaching easier. YES, a seventh grader should know by that level of time in school to be more prepared. But some of them just aren't. So, as the teacher, is this worth a rise in blood pressure? In my experience, no. Just get the kid a pencil. Hollering at them about it doesn't get them a pencil and doesn't set a good tone for anyone. Even if it is a kid whom you have already given a dozen or more pencils to. I have been there in scenario one.....and it is not worth it.

What other "little things" do you do that make teaching easier for yourself and your students? Please share them with us!

Thanks for reading my blog! Your comments are welcome!