Are Teachers Belittling Students without Realizing It?

Teachers May Be Belittling Students without Realizing It

I am sure you have heard a few of these before "Excuse me but we are not in Kindergarten anymore, we are in 3rd grade now." "Babies cry, but we aren't babies anymore, are we?" "I don't see any first graders in the classroom!  You need to start acting like Fifth graders!"

If you have heard anything similar to these expressions than you can bet belittling is alive and well in the classroom.  And it doesn't stop with teachers belittling students, but it happens with principals and teachers as well. "I just wanted to talk to you about your work attire, I think it's time you started dressing more professional, you aren't in college anymore!"

Teachers (as well as principals) can say negative hurtful things, without even realizing it.  I think it happens this way because they have been belittled before or heard it from other teachers, therefore they pass on the practice without thinking about it.  If a student is constantly being told he or she does not measure up whether for behavior or academically, it can damage the vulnerability of the child.

Belittling is a Problem in the Classroom

I have no doubt in my mind that most teachers want to encourage their students to learn and to grow in the best way possible.  Part of that learning and growing can only happen when the environment in the classroom allows the students to feel safe asking questions, and have a little room to be themselves.

I don't ever want to come across as judging teachers for treating their students a certain way, but I have noticed something happening in most classrooms, and I am guilty of it myself. Therefore I wanted to take the time to discuss it.

Belittling is a problem, that I don't think helps any child.  I know it happens, as I have experienced it in the hall or simply by overhearing conversations with other teachers.  This is not an attack on teachers, or anyone I know, as the teachers I have worked with are some of the most caring and loving people to be in a classroom.

The problem in the classroom today is teachers hands are tied as far as punishments go.  The other problem is teachers have their plate full and may not be consistent with positive reinforcement.  What might lead to these problems is not having enough time in the day to remain sane, and also having a classroom full of students with a variety of behavior problems. My question is, is belittling really helping anyone?  I get that teachers are busy, and have too many students, but what kind of harm is the belittling causing in the classroom?

Public Shaming

I want to take belittling one step further and talk about Public Shaming. I believe this goes on more than we would like to admit.  You know sitting at recess and shaming students in front of other students or other teachers for forgetting home work, or acting up in class.

I don't know how I feel about this, growing up as a sensitive kid this would have been traumatic to me on so many levels.  I realize all children are different, therefore they react differently to these types of situations, and some might handle it just fine.  But even if a student does not react and we think we have communicated what we want, it could be hurting him or her without us even realizing it, while others it might roll off their back.  I really do think we need to be more careful with this.

Teachers I get it, it's hard.  It's easy to belittle children or shame them when they do wrong, especially when we are at our wits end and don't know what to do with a child that keeps creating havoc for us.  I am not attacking you I promise, but I wanted to bring this subject to light, because it's something I feel strongly about and I am not sure that most teachers even realize they are doing it.

Surely there is a way to talk to children without belittling them or shaming them in front of others? Surely there is a better consequence to bad behavior than to tell them they need to grow up? I am just curious and really would like to send this out and ask for your ideas and opinions.

What are your thoughts?

Happy Teaching!

Ronda

Free Multi-Step and Subtraction Word Problem Game

Is anyone out there thinking about spring testing?  I certainly hope not.  But, I am going to take a wild guess that you are.  Sadly we teach to the test, even though we think we don't, even though we say we don't, the test is always in the back of our minds...teasing, creating unnecessary twitching!  UGH!  That test!  How can my kids solve multistep problems if they can't do simple addition and subtraction?! I mean, maybe one day we'll get to 3 digits, but lets just master 1 digit adding! Seems impossible sometimes I know, but your students will get there, and you will help them.  Patience is your friend, no matter how confident a student appears to be, they need all the encouragement they can get to keep going.  Be their teacher, but also be their best cheerleader and don't show your disappoint in the way they learn.  They need time to think, process, and alas, this educations system we have doesn't allow for that!  So teachers have to take matter into their own hands and give their kids a chance to breathe, while continuing to make the information and learning as accessible as possible.  All that to say, I am praying for you teachers!  I am praying that this year you love your students and you have compassion for them, especially while teaching math.  Math isn't easy for everyone.  Here is a game for ya to help make practicing those multi-step problems a little more fun.  If you read this, then send me an email here with the subject Math&IceCream and I will reply with the game for free!

Have an amazing week!

Can't Wait for Fall? Me Either! (Fall TPT Literacy & Math FREEBIES)

It never gets old does it? The changing of the seasons I mean.  I get as excited about Fall, as I get about Summer, as I get about Spring, well yeah you get it.  The other day I went outside to sit in the shade, it was slightly cool outside and there was a breeze. I was ready to pull out my boots and sweater! Then I noticed it was a very cool 90 degrees. Yep, Texas is so hot that sometimes 90 degrees feels cool!  Well enough about weather and seasons. I hope you are managing all the meetings, lesson plans, parent phone calls, behavior problems, and lovely students as we roll into October! I hope you are not stressed and have been able to get the hang of the beginning of the year!  Here are few Fall freebies from TPT!


No matter what age, students always need practice with inferencing! This is great for K-2nd. Thanks Primary Inspiration by Linda Nelson!

Hey!  Don't spend time making extra word cards for your word wall! Use these free from Pocket Full of Centers.  They would be great to use in a center also. So cute. :)

This would also be good in a center.  Great practice and it's free from Peggy Means.  

Check out the Fall Fluency from Primary Polka Dots.

And of course we need at least one math Fall Freebie. This is an Addition game with a pumpkin theme!  Looks like fun from Flapjack Educational Resources.

I hope you enjoy these activities and are able to check out the wonderful stores from these Teachers!  Hope some cooler weather blows your way!

Labor Day Freebies!

Labor Day has come and gone.  I hope everyone got to spend some time with family and relax a little.  3 day weekends are amazing!  For teachers, that day off is life saver, we get to come up for a big gulp of air, then dive back into label making, classroom lists, copying, meetings, more meets, oh wait, and that thing called lesson planning.  Do we actually have time for students? And I don't know about you, even though in theory 4 day weeks sound wonderful, fitting 5 days of work into 4 days always leaves me a little bit more stressed come Friday.  Any other over achievers out there?

Thank goodness for TPT and all the FREEBIES!  Here are a few goodies I found this week.  Make sure you check out their stores, rate their products, and leave a few kind comments of appreciation!


                Check out these Fry Word Flashcards by Cassie Carr!  Great for 1st through 3rd!

Teaching Adjectives? These games are great for 2nd and 3rd! Thanks Common Core Corner!

One week of math morning work ready to go? Yes please! Thanks Teacher Addict!

These word wall letters by Seconds and Thirds are super cute! These are great for new teachers or teachers wanting to switch things up!

Christina's Classroom Creations made these super fun Reading Response mini books! They would be great in centers or for early finishers! Love them! 

Book Reports with Cute Monster Theme

Can you believe it's already September?  I know how hard September is for us teachers.   The first two weeks have flown by, and though we still are motivated and excited about implementing all our new ideas this year, lets face it, instead of implementing our wonderful creative ideas, we will be sitting in meetings listening to others' ideas of what we should be doing in the classroom. On top of that, where does anyone find time to do their own ideas?

Sigh, we had so many high hopes for this year, but as fast as technology changes and adds to our list of things to learn, the amount of emails we get from administrators becomes a long list of subjects in our unread folder. You didn't have time to read those emails today? What in the world were you doing with all your free time?  Does anyone else realize that there are 20+ kids in the classroom, that we don't get an hour for lunch?  My lunch is spent walking down the hall eating a left over sandwich from subway from the day before (let's face it, I didn't have time to eat lunch yesterday).  BUT  how adorable was Amy today?  How cute was her BOY writing sample?  Who cares if we never get all the things done that we set out to do.  That first time it clicks with little Freddy, and he reads a sentence without pausing we do little cartwheels in our head and our face lights up with glee while little Freddy just sits beaming like he won a life time supply of Skittles.

Here's to the beginning of the year and all the trials and all the chocolate we will eat to get through them!  And here's to those cute little faces filling our rooms bringing with them all there hopes and dreams, all their failures, and all their desperate cries for someone, anyone to believe in them.

So for all the teachers that are having trouble finishing this week and dreading the following Monday, go home early today (ok, reality check, go home on time today). You deserve it!  You made it through another week!

And if you are worried about what to do with reading this week and just need a few things for centers, check out my Book Reports.  Right now they are $0.95!  BUT, if you download any of my free items in my store and rate them I will send you any one of my items free.  Just email me after you've reviewed an item and followed me.  I will send you your free download strait to your email.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Sipping Coffee and Finding Math Freebies (TPT)

Is there anything we teachers like more than coffee? Ha! Not much, but if there is one thing we do like possibly as much as our coffee addiction (I am currently sipping a lavender latte, YUM!) it's our TPT addiction!

I've been doing some work for you so you don't have to search.  I've found a few great math freebies that are perfect for 1st or 2nd grade!  I did not make these games and centers, but I wish I had! Be sure to check them out and also check out the stores of the teachers who were kind enough to share these with us!  Have a wonderful weekend as you prepare for this year!

Back to School Activities, Free on TPT

Those first few weeks of school can be exciting for everyone, parents, students, and teachers. There isn't ever enough time to get ready completely.  Finding activities to do, printing labels, making copies, teachers have a long list of to-dos.

Every year I always think I have it together, I have my list, and I start crossing things off and I think, THIS IS IT! This is the year I finish my to-dos before the students arrive that first day! And every year it's the same thing...I never finish the list before the students come, and not only that, I don't get everything prepared, and the year starts with me behind. Behind from day one, and running to catch up until October hits, which brings even more frustration, because it will never all get done, and that's the reality teachers live in.

But this could be the reason most teachers feel like giving up in October, October ALWAYS brings that reality, that the teachers have lost the battle against being completely prepared, and will always lose that battle.

So that being said, here are a few activities I've found on TPT that are great for getting you some activities the first few weeks! AND they are free!  I did not make them, the links will take you to the activities and be sure to check out the stores of the teachers who made them!  Enjoy!