For years, the children's section of our church was boy heavy. As in the boys outnumbered the girls at least two to one. Some years it was more than that. And I learned that 4th-6th grade boys, much like American high school boys, love to talk. A lot. One classroom management strategy that seemed to work like a charm was making them sit boy-girl. Unlike high schoolers, at that age boys and girls don't interact except to pester each other, and the thought of sitting beside a member of the opposite sex is true punishment. It worked great, so much so that when they started begging for a trial Sunday of sitting beside their friends, we decided to let them try it, with the understanding that they would get one reminder and the second offense was to be moved beside a girl. The first Sunday they were as good as gold. The second Sunday they needed one reminder. The third Sunday was the same. The last Sunday of the month I moved one of the talkers beside a girl who was very quiet. She looked up at me with tears welling up in her eyes and said "But what did I do wrong?" I quickly replied "Nothing" but the more I thought on it later the more I realized how she probably did view it as punishment for good behavior.
The last two years we've had the exact opposite situation - almost all girls (and sometimes only girls). And they are QUIET. So quiet that we've almost quit planning games or activities with the lesson because they don't want to participate. They'll sit terrified or quietly giggle.
But the last four months, that has changed. The boys actually cheered last Sunday because one girl was out and they outnumbered the girls by one. As the new teachers rotated in for their month of teaching today, I gave them a heads up about the change in classroom dynamics. Afterwards one of the teachers mentioned they almost went to the dreaded boy/girl seating arrangement, and all the girls protested. I laughed, not realizing other teachers had used the same technique, but am also sobered realizing the girls view this is as punishment even more than the guys (for they are NOT the ones talking).
So I guess part of my agenda this next month will be to talk with elementary/middle school teachers for this age and ask for classroom management suggestions. I want them to enjoy class, but I also want them to learn. And I am totally baffled why girls have the stereotype of being the most talkative gender.
The last two years we've had the exact opposite situation - almost all girls (and sometimes only girls). And they are QUIET. So quiet that we've almost quit planning games or activities with the lesson because they don't want to participate. They'll sit terrified or quietly giggle.
But the last four months, that has changed. The boys actually cheered last Sunday because one girl was out and they outnumbered the girls by one. As the new teachers rotated in for their month of teaching today, I gave them a heads up about the change in classroom dynamics. Afterwards one of the teachers mentioned they almost went to the dreaded boy/girl seating arrangement, and all the girls protested. I laughed, not realizing other teachers had used the same technique, but am also sobered realizing the girls view this is as punishment even more than the guys (for they are NOT the ones talking).
So I guess part of my agenda this next month will be to talk with elementary/middle school teachers for this age and ask for classroom management suggestions. I want them to enjoy class, but I also want them to learn. And I am totally baffled why girls have the stereotype of being the most talkative gender.
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