Ignore it and it will go away

I grew up being taught that ignoring a problem will not make anything go away. However, I have discovered recently (i.e. today) that feigned ignorance really does have a place.

I have various boys in my classes who really just annoy me. On an individual level, I like them just fine and want to help them succeed, but they still can make my blood pressure rise. Why are they annoying? Well honestly, they are annoying because I let them annoy me. "This is middle school," I tell myself. "They're supposed to make farting sounds with their armpits and then snicker." What else should I expect?

And thus came today's experiment. I became deaf to all farting noises, squeaky chair noises, and the dozens of other noises that 12-year old boys like to make especially if they know it bothers you. We're in the middle of a state writing test so after passing out their materials, reading the instructions (again!), and making sure everyone had a pencil, I sat down at the table in the front of the room and ignored my students.

Okay, so that may be a little extreme. I did make sure they had extra paper, sharpened pencils, and dictionaries, but that was it. Those few boys who find great delight in pushing my buttons pushed for a little while longer, but eventually stopped, or at least toned it down a lot.

The best part was that I wasn't worried about having to go to the doctor to have my blood pressure checked.

Later on, oddly enough, the administrator who recently observed me told me that I have excellent classroom management. "Oh really?" I thought. "I can think of a time or two when things didn't go so well." Naturally I didn't mention this to him, but I do feel that I learned a lesson today that will help me live up to that image.

You Hear the Door Slam . . .

Okay, so name that tune (see title).

I feel like I'm in the doldrums of the school year. It's been hard keeping my chin up as it were and keeping a level head. The kids must feel similarly it seems because I've had more issues of the annoying behavior that gets under the skin.

With that back ground, earlier last week I had gone over to the classroom next door to ask the teacher if a student could work quietly in her room. As I returned to class through the doorway that connects our two classrooms, I found my class more out of control than I was willing to accept. As I stormed into the classroom to give them what for, I let my anger get the best of me and I slammed the door on my way in. I don't let myself get angry too often like that. I hate the feeling and really it doesn't do any good. The kids certainly were good the next day, though.

The silver lining is that my neighbor teacher has been laughing about it ever since. She was so surprised that her supposedly level headed, calm, put together neighbor (like anyone who knows me well would believe that!)had it in her to slam the door like that. When the story came out next day at lunch, everyone got a kick out of it and congratulated me on joining the "dark side." I was just glad that I could provide some entertainment. Now if only my students saw it that way!

Think spring everyone!