Old Yeller and the Gossip Hounds

[Kerri]

A parent told me what some of the parents and children are saying about me.

"We heard the new librarian yells at the children." (gasp!)

So, that's the big gossip about me. Do the children run home and tell their parents what wonderful things we are doing and accomplishing?
Probably not. They're too busy complaining about the fact that they actually have to do work in my class...and I don't let them get away with any misbehavior. Poor kiddos!

True confessions: When children misbehave, I address them in a stern, serious, straightforward tone (like an army seargent). I don't have time to pussyfoot around with kids whose goal it is to disrupt my class and avoid work.

On the other hand, if a child behaves and tries to do their best work, I smile and praise them, and tell them how proud I am of them. I also give them rewards. I spend a tremendous amount of time preparing fun and exciting lessons for them. The children are pretty sweet and they smile and seem to enjoy my class.

So, I'm very hurt that children are going home and telling their parents that I yell at them. I'm feeling so unappreciated.

 

[Bonnie gr. 2]

It;s not always yelling

As a parent and a teacher, I have noticed that sometimes kids will call it yelling if we tell them that we disapprove of what they are doing. We think of yelling as a tone of voice. They hear it as telling them that aren't right.

 

[tia]

yelling?

i always looked at yelling as a level of volume and thought that the students viewed yelling as tone of voice.

 

[marguerite2]

motivation

"A parent told me what some parents and children..."

That's the key "a parent".
What was this parent's motivation in telling you this?

Are you following a librarian who did not do skills during library time and the children viewed the period as a pseudo-recess?

I agree with the posters above. We think of yelling as volume. Some children (and their parents) think of it as saying 'you are not doing what was asked. please stop what you are doing and finish the assignment/project'.

 

[Kerri]

I'm strict and...

proud of it. Thanks for your input. How do you get parents and children to say wonderful things about you?


I'm a demanding teacher and I expect outstanding behavior at all times. Library time is NOT play time and I've spent all year trying to undo that falsehood. In the beginning of the year, students were running home and complaining to their parents that they were stressed out and overwhelmed because I rush them. Well, library time is NOT down time and I do not give them 35 minutes to check out books. They work for a solid 30 minutes and I do actual lessons. It's been so hard to get them to take library seriously.

 

[Suezie]

To Kerri

You are not strict, you just have "high expectations" for all of the students that come to Library. In the end, this will make them more responsible and self-disciplined as adults. Keep up the good work!!!

 

[Quatro]

Strict and proud too

I agree that many children consider any correction yelling. I am really suspicious of this parent telling you these things. I wonder why, and what do they expect you to do with this limited information. I am so tired of gossips. Keep doing your thing, and apply at my school!

 

[tia]

idea for kerri

here is an idea: perhaps you should draft a letter to send home with the children at the beginning of the year outlining your objectives and how you plan to go about meeting them. this way, parents can support you because they know where you're going and what is important to you and how you are improving the education of their children.

i find that starting the year with a "manifesto" (ha ha) is very helpful because i can then go back and point to it: yes, i did ask for you to read Monday Folders every week; yes, there is homework every night; nope i don't give extra credit on demand; yes, there are consequences for messing around and wasting time.

(make it somewhat "friendly" as well, allowing your parents to get to know you: are you married, what does hubby do, how long have you taught/where'd you go to school, children? ages?....)

 

[Kerri]

Thank You!

Great idea! ...a syllabus for my library course! all in black and white. I'm going to get started on that right now!

 

[Miss Milly]

Next time say to the parent

"My goodness, It's a good thing I don't believe all of the things these children tell me about their parents!

 

[uhhmmm]

It sounds like you have high expectations but remember that library is supposed to be FUN. Lessons are great but a large part of library is the unrushed time to choose books. And I'm sure my first graders would "freak out" (their words) if you talked to them like a drill sergeant. I've raised my voice once this year (when the ED kid was crawling around on the floor yelling...again) and my class is still very well behaved and respectful. You don't have to be mean to get things done. Just a thought.

 

[uhhmmm]

Forgot to add that the one thing I remember about my elementary librarian was that she didn't like kids touching the books (ie- browsing). You basically walked to a shelf, grabbed the first book you saw and hoped you liked it. Maybe she was trying not to have check out last forever as well, but think about the impact!