Hello, everyone!

My name's Camila but you can call me Kamira. I live in Brazil and this is my first year teaching. I teach Brazilian Portuguese to kids around 11 years old in a public school. I've been having some really hard times! I love teaching but I never thought that I would have to educate my students. That's naive, yes, but I can't help but feeling frustrated.

So last month I became sick with laryngitis. I had one week away from school, so I started studying WBT. There's still a lot of e-books to read and videos to see. Then I began translating WBT concepts to Brazilian Portuguese. Difficult, but interesting!

Well, now it's been two weeks that I'm using this method. In the beginning, the classes were very responsive. But last week, there are some students that interrupted the activities, broke the rules... I think that I need to study the method more and be clearer and faster. As I'm beginning as a teacher, sometimes I get confused and forget to explain some things/rules. =/
So last Friday I had a problem during "Oral Writing". I wrote the diagram on the blackboard and asked a student to answer my question. But I forgot to tell the class that this exercise is made with only one student, not everyone, so they got angry at me telling that that particular student is my pet and so on. =/
And then, when I asked the class to participate the answered "When I wanted, you didn't want me to". That makes me sad because it's not the truth. It's not the first that time that this happens. Whenever I ask them to have patience it seems like I'm talking to walls.

Did anyone have a similar experience? Please help me!

Well kamira you're not facing anything different than what we all feel periodically throughout our careers. What you need to do is get the kids that are with you on your side more. Using the scoreboard as your friend get them to play for something that they really want. Kids that age probably really want some free talking time. Make them earn it and when they get it, they'll play your way more often.

Also, check out the ebook "Teaching Challenging Teens". It is a long process, but keep coming back to this forum for the help that we all have learned to love and accept.

Power to the Teacher!
Chris

Kamira,

Remember, this is only your first year of teaching! You have a LOT to figure out and it's overwhelming for all of us, at first. Don't be too hard on yourself, and just keep doing your best. The kids are experts at sensing your vulnerabilities and will pounce on them every chance they get.

The good news is that you are starting off with WBT, which WILL make life easier for you. Your kids are old enough to be having nightly homework, I'll bet. Get their attention with a More/Less Homework ScoreBoard and PLAN TO GIVE THEM EXTRA HOMEWORK the first night. THAT will get their attention. (This is discussed in the "Challenging Teens" ebook Chris mentioned, and it has been a HUGE help for me, with my 13-14 year-old ninth graders). You need to let them know you are SERIOUS. And that they are NOT to argue with you, because you are the SCOREKEEPER!

Don't expect everything to work perfectly the first time, just stick with it...

- Jen

Thank you Chris and Jen,

I'm reading Teaching Challenging Teens and Industrial Strength! Both have a lot of interesting ideas.
I'll keep trying my best!