I took my first job, unable to teach writing, reading, etc.  I was a "ditto master", giving kids the next page in the booklet to complete ("Done with ditto 18?  Then do ditto 19.  Done with worksheet 65?  Then start work on worksheet 66.")
 (For you "youngsters" in our profession, a "ditto machine" was an early version of a photocopy machine that was often hand-cranked and turned out pages printed in purple ink.  Sadly, you young-uns will never know the joy of smelling the newly copied pages.)

    Behavior management?  No problem (Ha!).  I had been told about this never-fail technique during which I would discuss the incident with the misbehaving youth and s/he would decide to change the behavioral pattern.  So when my kids misbehaved, I called them to my desk, asked them what they just did that was inappropriate ("nothin'" was the typical answer), asked them what they should be doing instead, and when they eventually identified that correct action (probably to escape the "interview"), I would say "Please do it in the future.".

    After about a week or two of them failing to change (and making me jump through hoops), I drew the line in the sand.  I entered the "discipline dictator" stage
(see the link titled "A primer on behavior management": stage 3).  After leaving hand prints on a teenager's arms after picking him up off the ground and pinning him up against the wall during an incident on a long, long day, I called my supervisor to resign.  This negative encounter with a kid was not the first time this blue collar guy forced his students to sit in a seat or get into line.  I knew that this bullying behavior was no way to treat kids, but I didn't know what else to do. 

    Upon the boss' recommendation that I take a behavior management course, I enrolled in one (Unfortunately it was strictly applied behavior analysis/"behavior mod", but it did help some).  I then engaged in extensive study in all my areas of weakness.  I read every book and article on managing behavior and teaching reading and writing that I could get my hands on.

    Progressively, I got better on all points.  My second (and following) years were rewarding, and I felt that I was really making a positive impact on the lives of my "tough" kids.

    Thank goodness we're only first year teachers for one year!  (Come to think of it though, I do know a few veteran teachers who still seem to be in their first year.)
 

    Anyway, I'm done griping and belly-aching.  This web site is for all the folks who want to become skilled behavior managers.  You'll get there.  Continued study, getting up the nerve to try new ways, and then learning from your experiences is the path to get to where you want to go.

    The journey is often difficult, but the destination makes it all worth while...The view from the teaching summit is magnificent! 
  
 

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