Talking

Ms. Leom's class, like classes all over the entire school are meeting at least once a week to develop our bully-free school.

Last week, was a short week with the conference preparations, the Reading Rodeo Pepfest, and the rollerskating reward adding to the limited schedule, we didn't have our class meeting. During our last two class meetings, with the goal to discuss rule number four: "If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home," we never got to our bully-free portion of the meeting.

For the last two weeks, Ms. Leom's students have shared their frustration with the "talking" in class. When you listen, and on Tuesday March, 11, Ms. Leom listened for 21 minutes (then we started repeating ourselves), it isn't the talking in class that is the problem. It is the talking in line, waiting to enter the building for Recess. Which explains why this problem is so vivid in the last two weeks. Previously, in the month of February, the excessive cold temperatures had inside recess.

Many students in Ms. Leom's class are frustrated by the talking in line, waiting to go inside between Recess and Lunch. There are additional details ... talking students do not appreciate the "tone" of students trying to be helpful ... helpful students do not feel appreciated for their "help" ... sometimes the frustration results in jostling or pushing in line ... some students are frustrated and walk extra slowly to the line, making our class the last class to be let in many days ... some students "hide" within other lines so they can get in earlier ... There was a lot to say.

Talking in line wasn't a surprise to Ms. Leom. It is an on-going process DAILY when we change classes for math, when we go to Specials, when we visit the bathroom, when we return from lunch ... Ms. Leom has tried several strategies ... initials ... punches ... if someone is talking, put your finger to your lips kindly and if someone puts their finger to their lips as a signal, know they are respectfully letting you know they are trying to follow the rules ... rewards (M&Ms, pencils) ... she uses DOJO ... she developed a game, "Can Ms. Leom can get you to talk?" ... she has rearranged our lines ... she has had contests between the two lines ... It is tough work to get 25 ten year olds to walk quietly, respectfully, as other classes are learning. So talking in line wasn't a surprise.

Ms. Leom could even argue that "talking" isn't a bad thing. It is how we learn ... fourth graders are nine and ten year olds ... if they are listening in class, what is a little quiet talking in transitions ...

Yet, for this class of fourth graders, they have a strong sense of justice. There was an informal vote. Two students were absent. 20 of the 23 remaining, wanted SEVERE PUNISHMENTS (that was the term). Ms. Leom even had to take a break from the discussion, because "severe punishments" for talking sounds, well, severe. Ms. Leom talked to other other fourth grade teachers. She ate her lunch. She thought about it. It is obviously important to the class, because we have spent nearly an hour discussing "talking in line", and "severe punishments" was voted on ... So she decided to follow through on what the students wanted.

For this week, we'll try their suggestion. No warnings.
Talking once = 1 punch on their Responsibility Cards
Talking twice = 2 punches on their Responsibility Cards
Talking a third time = Stop and Think 10
Talking a fourth time = Discipline Referral.
There was mention of the "police officer" ... and possibly lasting all week ... (Seriously, these fourth graders mean business! So much for Ms. Leom's many efforts of rewarding students on track ...). Each day will be a new day, starting over.

The first afternoon, Tuesday March 11, was most shocking for the most vocal, the students who suggested the strict new consequences were rather surprised when their talking ended with punches on their responsibility cards ... and the students who are usually talking were rather quiet as they watched with surprise that the system that made them nervous (and they didn't vote on) included everyone.

I'm not sure where we are headed ... This is a fantastic class of students, and I am enjoying our school year together! This week, I am taking some time to listen and learn from my students, and I am sure we will be talking more soon ...