I have just returned from teaching my last period for the day and something I have been fearing for the past four years has almost happened. My mind always seems to project what might happen if I carry on with a certain course of action. When I’m on a scooter in a dangerous situation, I feel and taste broken shattered teeth and blood in my mouth.
There’s a certain game with many variation which I like to play with my students in which there are two numbered teams. I then ask a question and call out a number, whereupon the students have to get up and run to the board ansd write down the answer. I always feared that a child might slip and hit their head or face on the chalk tray at the bottom of the writing board and cut themselves (never decaptate themselves, though) on it.
Today it happened, but fortunately the student only had a slight bruise on her cheek. Tomorrow she might it might be blue. I don’t know what the rammifications will be. We’ll have to wait and see.
Accidents can so easily take place in an environment where English is associated with fun and games.
A few months agio, a student was blinded in one eye, because of some activity in a local teacher’s class. The teacher couldn’t forgive himself.
What are your thoughts on safety in the classsroom and on the playground?
Redesign the activity to eliminate the running. For example, have the students raise their hand or write the answer on paper and raise it for the teacher to see. Or let groups of four students stand at the board, and see who can write the answer first.
True, but what if your buxiban owner want’s you to ‘be more fun’? Did you talk with your boss about the accident? IF so, does you have your boss’s support and understanding?
It happened in a public school. The homeroom teacher seemed to think nothing of the whole incident. I asked the student if she was OK and she said she was.
There’s no way I can only teach for the entire period. The kids are so used to being entertained that if I teach for longer than 5 minutes, the “special students” start acting up.
I would definitely make sure your supervisor is aware of the incident. It probably won’t be an issue, but you never know, there are some very troublesome parents out there. If your boss has the details beforehand, he’ll be much better equiped to placate the angry parents without too much fuss.
I would also try to eliminate running from the activity, as “No running in class!” is usually a class rule.
My boss wants me to play the damn games. In competition type games like that, I have the students hold a silly pose or something like that while they are at the board. They don’t cheat or push when they know they have to stand on one leg, and pat their heads and rub their tummies at the same time. Silly, but works. Also, I use the little whiteboards and have them sit at their tables for some activities where they can write or spell or something.
I don’t allow running or roughhousing in the classroom either, even though my bullshit little school seems to think that’s what it takes to make the students happy. I tell them to go downstairs where the manager is if they want to play rough during breaktime. Otherwise, I supply board games, playing cards, and worksheets for the breaktimes. I think they like it better this way, honestly. I can’t watch them well enough for my liking when I have to write the damn useless communication books.
Can you tell I really like my new job?
I feel for the OP. I’ve seen kids from other classes get split lips, black eyes, bruises, bumps and the other stuff in schools that don’t seem to see why that could be a problem. In Canada or the US, there would be an inquiry, reports made, medical stuff, teachers fired, litigation…
But hey, we drive them around with no seatbelts or helmets…
Thanks Redmenace. Woe is me! It seems to be this will only be a minor problem compared to a new one I’ve picked up. Read my next thread. It never rains but it pours.
I’ve seen kids in my former school have broken bones, twisted ankles, busted chins (took stitches), plenty of bruises and scratches, and other injuries in school because of inconsistent rules (or rather, a lack thereof on some teachers’ parts along with lax supervision while the TA and the teacher gossiped during playtime and ignored their 20+ preschoolers running around the room).
I am a huge stickler for safety and cleanliness. I am not shy about handing tissues to nose pickers, holding the door open for them and telling to not come back until they’ve washed their hands with soap and water. To date, I’ve only caught one cold (and bronchitis, but not sure where that came from since I was the only one who had it) in three years. And that cold lasted for four days of symptoms.
Definitely cut the running in the classroom. And report injuries to your staff as soon as possible (like when you send the kid out for first aid at the secretary’s desk). Not only to cover your ass, but in case there is something that goes wrong, the parents will have a clue and can seek medical attention if needed.
That includes other things that are not injuries such as nosebleeds, especially if they happen with little to no injury, or take a long time to stop.
i remember playing these kind of competion games in grade school, especially math. However, two people would go up to the board first, and then the teacher would tell us the question. this way there is no running involved, only thinking and writing really fast.
When I worked in France, a 2 year old from the kindy down the street slipped on a leaf in the garden and cracked his skull and died. It was horrific; I still remember the mother’s face on the tv. But accidents will always happen and you can’t protect against everything. After this, we had a crazy regime of scrubbing the garden of all moss, picking up leaves, hitting the trees with brooms so any loose leaves could be collected, relocating snails and slugs, etc.
On the other hand, it’s just crazy to have a bunch of young kids with loads of pent up energy run around in a small room full of tables and chairs. Your boss is a fool. I don’t teach little kids so much these days but if you need help thinking of activities, PM me. I have been doing various classes with kids for 12 years. (sorry if that is patronising and you can do it yourself, I just want to help cos I know this stuff can be frustrating)
Also, get your school to set up a ‘log book’ for incidents like this. There should also be a system for contacting parents if a child has a head injury, however slight. (as ImaniOU said)
I am a firm believer in EDUTAINMENT. Games can be a powerful tool but should never detract from the aim of the lesson. If they don’t push you further towards your goal then you are just promoting fluff. I dunno, but playing “uno” doesn’t seem to be justifiable for teaching colors and numbers (names and places withheld to protect parties concerned). (Would the guilty please not identify themselves… I only wanted an example and would never expose you).
My “games” were never games. They were teaching that was fun and the children believed them to be games. They weren’t. I hated games in class. Edutainment… that’s another story.
[quote=“Bassman”]I am a firm believer in EDUTAINMENT. Games can be a powerful tool but should never detract from the aim of the lesson. If they don’t push you further towards your goal then you are just promoting fluff. I dunno, but playing “uno” doesn’t seem to be justifiable for teaching colors and numbers (names and places withheld to protect parties concerned). (Would the guilty please not identify themselves… I only wanted an example and would never expose you).
My “games” were never games. They were teaching that was fun and the children believed them to be games. They weren’t. I hated games in class. Edutainment… that’s another story.[/quote]
You thieving slob! That was MY word. huffhuffhuff :fume: :fume:
And UNO DOES work for colors and numbers! :raspberry:
[quote]
I agree, but are you saying games are never to be played?[/quote]
I rarely play games. I just ask a LOT of questions about the material, and the books we use are replete with doable activities.
But, jump up and smash the whiteboard does not “show that kids can differentiate between correct and incorrect answers.” It shows that they can run and hit top speed in four steps and crash into the whiteboard, usually knocking Suzy down.
Jeopardy works; tictactoe Q&A works. Lots of games work, but not the ones FOB teachers usually use in class.
Not a blanket statement though. I’m sure some FOBs teach quite well. Many I have seen, do not.
[quote=“jdsmith”][quote=“Bassman”]I am a firm believer in EDUTAINMENT. Games can be a powerful tool but should never detract from the aim of the lesson. If they don’t push you further towards your goal then you are just promoting fluff. I dunno, but playing “uno” doesn’t seem to be justifiable for teaching colors and numbers (names and places withheld to protect parties concerned). (Would the guilty please not identify themselves… I only wanted an example and would never expose you).
My “games” were never games. They were teaching that was fun and the children believed them to be games. They weren’t. I hated games in class. Edutainment… that’s another story.[/quote]
You thieving slob! That was MY word. huffhuffhuff :fume: :fume:
And UNO DOES work for colors and numbers! :raspberry:
[/quote]
I was going to give you credit, but I’ve used that word so much that IT’S MINE NOW
I just took over a class where the previous teacher who worked there for a month simply let them play dodgeball in the classroom. The students actually hate me and 2 have quit, because I actually want to teach them stuff. They have a writing book that has never been used, despite having quite a few interesting activities in it.
I’m with JD on jeopardy. I use that fake money you can buy at the donxi store and three teams, three bells. I haven’t told them yet that they can’t buy anything with the money, but they seem to be having fun.
Anything, anything but running and yelling and pushing in the class.
This isn’t as good because only two students are thinking. If you ask the question before the kids know who has to answer, they will all be trying to think of the answer. Then you call the number, and the two or three kids with that number run to the board and write the answer. They like it, I like it, I’ve never had a problem with it.