What If the School System Sucks | Teacher Vlog
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- Опубликовано: 17 янв 2020
- A question I get a lot is... "What do I do if my school sucks?" I think the bases of that answer is to think outside of the box and to lean into who you are to find the best ways to help yourself and your students.
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“Being funny is like wiping your butt-there’s a time and and a place for it.” Best. Line. Ever! I have a similar line for when kids don’t want to do whatever in the classroom. I say, “When my kids were babies I didn’t wanna change their diapers, but I did it anyway, and I did a really good job. And I didn’t put it off because, you know, then I’d have a really big mess to deal with.”
I'm taking that line for if I ever get into teaching middle school or high school.
“Normal people don’t look at their crotch and laugh” - you got your phone! Great way to defuse this in the moment. It’s funny but you can quickly move on.
I do this too! Love it.
I am a rule follower. I followed the rules so well that my principal told me that "the rules are there to support me when needed." That was his way of asking me to be creative and not spend too much time with the documentation. Thanks Reynolds.
I just started as a SPED teacher at our districts alternative building. I was a para before and as soon as I walked in to meet my kids, I see one that I had last year as a Para. "OHHHH SNAP MISS TAY IS HERE!!! I CALL DIBS ON MISS TAY!!!" I build relatability with my kids as much as possible. I use pop culture alll the time. When I see phones I say, "dang bruh why you flexin so hard on everybody?!" but super loud. Then they proceed to babble and I say "excuses are like butts, everyone has them and they all stink".
I'm a homeroom teacher for fifth grade and although I lock up student cellphones for the majority the day, I give it back during last period when I'm going over what is for homework or I'm trying to line them up for dismissal. After not having their phones for so long, they become zombies and don't listen. So instead of yelling and saying "Pay attention!" I will say "If I see your phone out right now, I'm going to sell it on Ebay" and then for the students who still don't listen (I know my audience very well) I'll take their phone and say something like "Thanks ______, I'm going to buy myself some Gucci flip flops now"
Now my students remind each other at the end of the day and say things like "Do you want Ms. L to sell your phone on Ebay?!" and they'll put it away themselves!
Thanks for all the great advice Reynolds!
The less stress you add on to your day, the better it can be. There are some moody teachers who complain about everything wrong with students instead of highlighting the student's strengths. The cell phone policy in my school is under teacher discretion. So what I have done is offer the students to place their phones in their pocket, bag, or my charging station. At the end of the lesson, they can have their "fix." Is it perfect, no but it keeps me from being a warden and prevents loss of instructional time. Love this and all videos you've produced.
Honestly this is the best way I've found to handle behavior in the classroom. The strict and rigid school gives negative vibes that are horrible for student growth. This is so much more positive and functions way better!!
I nearly died when those boys started dancing and you hear, “it’s like two teddy bears fighting”. Thank you for all the extra content. It is like you made it just for me since it is all stuff I have been struggling with.
That's EXACTLY what they looked like:) lol
One thing I do with things being used incorrectly - like basketballs used in corridors or phones out in class...is I act like a collector and tell the students I am trying to get as many as I can, gotta keep my quota up...then to show the staff how to have fun with it I walk in and say...i got three phones that lesson...wahoooo! I’d actually love to get a tshirt that says The Collector on it heheh. Makes it fun. Have a great time at school people!
I show students that I care and so I can get away with saying certain things because they know where I’m coming from and that I love them.
We can call this the "left of center technique"😅
My super cool Philly friend!!! What you are teaching is far beyond education. You are teaching the communication skills and humor needed to survive in life and it benefits both students and staff. You are a blessing to me and so many others. I see you growing and making an impact on so many. Continued blessings and congrats on your book!!
This is the "Realist" Real Rap with you that I can remember :-) Planning on handing over bathroom permissions to the Magic 8 Ball :-) . I used to use a Cow Bell to wake up sleepy students (kids would groan and wake the kid up quickly when they saw me reaching for it). Parent complained, rather than making sure her kid got enough sleep, so the bell is stashed in the back of my file cabinet. We do what we can!
I had a rough childhood and considered schools a safe place for me. I love greeting kids in the morning and at the end of the day before they get on buses, in case one of them is struggling like I did as a child. Just love these videos.
Thanks Steve! I appreciate hearing that. Thanks for being the teacher for your students that you needed when you were a kid. ✌🏽
I totally relate to this. I’m always looking for ways to help correct my students that doesn’t make a big deal out of it and we can continue moving forward in class. I also love standing in the hall and talking to kids, giving high-fives, complementing them and continuing to make connections. When a phone goes off in class, I usually just say “oh sounds like someone forgot to turn off their phone. If you’re not sure if you turned yours off why don’t you pull it out take a second and check it and then put it back away.” That lets the one kid off the hook so that everybody doesn’t know who it was. And it also lets other kids double check that they turned theirs off. You don’t have to write anybody up, you don’t have to take time out of class, you just let kids correct the mistake and move on.
What I hear is , a sense of humor goes a long way . Very cool advice. Thanks a bunch
I loved this! Listen...I am a college instructor and I do so many of these. Lol. Education is so versatile. There is no one way for any age, or any level.
You is amazing! Thanks for starting this channel and doing what you do!!
Always refreshing! More like this please.
Awesome video Reynolds. Lots of great ideas to try out!
Love your teaching instincts!
This man is in an alternate timeline.
Reynolds is the man!!! Trust me bro I get it also!! Thanks for the advice. Also, I love your intro.
Hey- Great videos! I have been teaching for 22 years in Napa, California. I like how you have a realistic view of how to deal with situations we deal with in the classroom. Keep going! I get a lot out of your videos. 😀
Reynolds! Your videos are so great! I was wondering when you think your book is going to come out?? Cannot wait to read it!
This is great because I've been wondering how to be relatable to teenagers by just being myself. I'm looking forward to teaching high school English.
This is wonderful and full of ideas to just be fun with kids instead of the “boss”. I purposely have requested yard duty every morning and when the bell rings I start jumping up and down yelling it’s time to learn it’s time to eland woo hoo!
Fun to watch!
amazing video!! love it
I am terrified of working with teens, but seeing your videos makes me almost want to ditch the younger ones. Almost, you have great ideas, thank you!
Amen. Way to rock.
I teach in the poorer area of my school district. What works for me is the fact that I grew up in that neighborhood 49 years ago. I am honest with the kids in letting them know that I was no angel when I went to school and I know they are probably doing the same things my friends and I did when we were in high school. They then know I can relate to their situations and am not just paying lip service to their life hurdles.
In my former life, I was a rule follower who concentrated in control. Now that I've been a mom for 6 years, got therapy and got a new perspective, I realized that it's better to inspire than to control, to create a welcoming atmosphere than a quiet dark place. I'm about to start my teaching profession. I'm so glad I found this channel
Belle, you bring up a great point which is “who do we need to become to be the teachers we dream of becoming?” Sometimes it’s the internal work and not the pedagogy that needs to be focused on to create real change in the classroom.
Wow wish all teachers could be like you
Legendary!
Soon to be student teacher here! I just wanted to state for the record that I'm supplementing my M. Ed classes with your videos. My anxiety needs these down-to-earth/real-life-experience videos for the "what-if-ing" my imposter syndrome does.
I took another look a this and do sympathize with your concern to not be “chickenshit” when dealing with disciplinary issues with your students. I too taught in a nightmare setting where the kids weren’t given enough time to go to the bathroom between classes during an overly rushed and ridiculously brief class change period at the now defunct Cleveland South High School. However, the only reason kids are in school in the first place is because they’re being forced to be there, and then of course they will rebel against the societal control, and undermine the system continually by refusing to conform, or what have you. To me, if you’re going to even have public schools, which is debatable as for instance the literacy rate actually declined after the formation of public schools, then you must force kids to prove that they are even educable in the first place, and if they prove not able to conform, then they need to be shunted off into non-academic training to prevent them from becoming socially useless at some future date. And that alternate schooling would typically amount to, again, forced manual arts training since if they can’t be socialized into academia, they will by default end up as manual workers once they reach their majority at the age of 18. This of course is brutally reductionistic, but it is unfortunately not possible to be “cool” with everyone, especially if the people in question are “uncool”, which after all, is the polite term in the counterculture for assholes. And indeed, many school kids are basically little assholes and need to be dealt with accordingly up to and including being committed to institutions for the behavior disordered, if in fact we are going to continue mandating participation in public eduction by those whose parents aren’t wealthy enough to pack them off to progressive boarding schools for the difficult offspring of the upper classes.
This all hits different knowing he left the classroom.
Genius!!
Curious if you’ve done a video describing your audio gear and process for content creation. Enjoying the channel, thanks!
Lol! I haven’t watched all of this ...YET...but your humor saves my day!! You were just discussing the silly threat of licking a student’s phone, and one of your kids walked right through your video. LOVE your responses and I see how your students must love you.
I watch your channel all the time and have used your ideas and they WORK! Not sure if your comment section is meant to be a chatroom, but our school doesn’t have a phone policy yet. Without getting into what I think about that....I am thee ONLY Remedial Reading teacher at a Jr/Sr HS of 1,000 students. My classes average 18-25. I was having problems such as kids hiding their phones inside their books (pretending to read but watching TikToks) or under their laptops, and slipping out their phones when they are supposed to be completing their weekly Reading Plus online assignments. I went through the whole “no phones...or else” year and found all it turned into was power struggles. This year, is working out better (altho kids will always sneak phones...that’s our new world!)
I have a shoe pocket bag I glued onto the wall. I numbered it 1-20. My mantra (and yes...I repeat it all the time as they roll their eyes) is “Out of Sight - out of mind!”
The class rule is no phones used until your work is all done - which they must prove to me in one way or another! That way, if a student has a phone out, I quietly say “Phone away.” The kid(s) realize I have SEEN it. If one of the same students have it out AGAIN, they know what’s happening next. I walk to their desk and point to the wall rack. I never touch their phone or grab it away. Yet, since they didn’t keep it out of my sight, they have to place it in one of the pockets and cannot have it until they leave. Yes...I realize there are sly ones (I have classes mixed from age 12-18!) who may be good at using their phone and I don’t catch them. However, eventually the other jealous kids who aren’t good at hiding their phones actually snitch on their fellow classmates! Then I know who to stand by (or stare at) when that kid is back in class. They roll their eyes everyday when I welcome them and say “Phones - out of sight - out of mind.” The chronic addicted phone users eventually go to the dean and lose phone privileges for the month! But this works for me as I would NEVER get anything done if I stopped and called out a student with a phone. Last thing...I offer extra credit to anyone who places their phone in one of my shoe pockets as they enter. As imagined, I usually get anywhere from 1-4! Thank you for letting me share and it is amazing you have chosen THIS as your topic. My teacher friends and I JUST discussed this on Friday! Keep rapping - your vids are awesome. Maureen
This is great stuff. I'm wondering how you use humor to address students cussing.
So awesome! Especially putting the spot light on your attention seeking student. I'm sure that makes him feel so special. Thanks for sharing Reynolds! ✌
Hey! I love watching your videos!
Where did you happen to find a microphone that also is a bubble wand?? Love it!
Hi Lindsey, thanks!
I bought them from Dollar Tree and spray painted them. I’ve been looking for more but they haven’t had any for quite a while. Happy hunting.
Cell phones are never put up.. I am a substitute..no one does well here D's and fs..Everyone speaks Spanish. Students tell me I have to learn Spanish..Most of these people go to the bath room several times...This video helps thanks ..
Okay, I am very facial expressional. I teach 3rd grade in low-income district. Sooo....My facial expressions are what the kids love to see. If a student is doing something they are not supposed be doing, kids start laughing or giving me a weird face back and that one student that acting out a way they shouldn't be (Talking, moving around, etc) -- they start look back at me to see what in the heck I am doing. Then we just move on; it takes like 5 seconds or so for the class not only to get a brain break but to get us right back on track again for whatever is going on that day. Also every day we should be doing our Exit Tickets Right? On Fridays, I don't in my class -- I simply say "Have a Fantastic Weekend Dude or Dudette"!! Their faces just light up like no tomorrow because at the end of the day -- some of those kids just don't get that in life outside of school.
I sing the students names as they come in late...
This might not work for you, but as a woman keep my fingernails a bit longer and this comes in handy when I am "waiting on" a student to stop talking, put away their phone, get with the program, etc... I just walk up to their desk and start drumming my fingernails. It's fairly quiet and innocuous to the rest of the class, but that sound is a universal signal that others are waiting on them. Works like a charm.
Hey! Im a new teacher who loves your videos and approach to education. I'm wondering if you ever allow other teachers the ability to come shadow you for part of a school day or anything?
Thank you for not doing over the top cringey thumbnail pictures. If you search "teacher vlog" there are about 3 pages worth of elementary and middle school teachers with their mouths open looking surprised lol...your channel rocks man
I'm sure they would love a hallway megaphone fashion show, especially funny with uniforms
So what you are saying is: Pull out the dad jokes!
Hey Reyonlds! I have a very similar teaching style to you. I’m in a middle school where we have teams, and my team does NOT vibe with it. They like black and white, strict, don’t like that I joke around with them. Is there a video you have that adresses a situation like this or a recommendation? They default write referrals and detentions over the relationship.
Brooke, I feel ya there! I wish you were on my team! It's hard being the only goofy one :')
The problem is we don't tell the truth about the U.S. school system being a children's prison. Public school needs competition. I know that decision's above you, but. . . . still a complaint I have. Be honest people
What if the school has cameras in the classroom? The admin runs in because they are always watching. Of course this leads to write ups
Vicki Stanton gee that could be used to your advantage...remind the students...wave to the cameras and then have a two minute mannikin challenge...then get into the lesson. Or if someone does something you could get a sign that says...i did it...and they could hold it up for the camera...or an apology to the camera via interview like Reynolds shows.
STUDENT just took 15 minutes in the bathroom. ME: Dude, did you turn in your quiz on WWIV? STUDENT: Huh? ME: Oh yeah, we had two more while you were in the bathroom, so I’m going to need you to turn in that quiz. STUDENT: [utter confusion]. Heh heh
I have some outstanding students, and a bunch of unmotivated (but not rude) students. I've tried games, drawing comics, debates, homework, etc., but the knowledge doesn't stick. What can I do to balance these differing skill levels?
indeed it does , but then what else can be done?
Who knows on a large scale? That’s why I go into gorilla teacher mode😉
Like one taken over by the State?
All school systems suck. The only learning that worth a damn is the learning you do yourself.
Where can I get that gold bubble microphone?
They used to sell them at dollar tree and I would customize it but they no longer sell them. Now I buy them in bulk and customize them. Soon they will be on my website but if you shoot me a email at Realrapwithreynolds@gmail.com I can send you a PayPal product link to purchase one. 😁
Security Guard = Climate Control Officer in PSD. I spent 17 years teaching in Philly. in a severely broken system and spiteful administration. Made me a “broken” teacher.
Well from one "broken" teacher to another, I really hope your year gets a lot better!! I was a 1st-year teacher last year and I spent so much time watching these types of videos because I was desperate for any help I could get. I would play them in the background while I struggled to find ways to motivate my students into caring even the slightest bit about the ridiculously boring and mandated curriculum that I couldn't deviate from and that was too advanced for them anyway. I actually really enjoy the small amount of sarcasm that is masterfully woven throughout, because my own sarcasm was the only weapon I had to prevent a complete breakdown. And even now I still enjoy watching them, but it's with a different lens and the belief that there isn't always a way to get through it. I don't know if I was just naive or a complete idiot, but I eventually realized that there are some situations you can find yourself in where no amount of advice or strategies will help you. There are places where no matter what you do or how many different things you try, you eventually realize that the deck is stacked so far against you that there's nothing you can do but wait. You wait for that day when every dream or hope you had about teaching is finally crushed. You wait for the day when you realize that certification is no longer an option for you. You wait for the day when you realize that the next closest school district is over 2 hours away and is so small that they are never hiring. There are schools and systems in this country whose only accomplishments are a string of broken teachers left behind that actually wanted to help kids, but aren't allowed to. I made it until April...and being blacklisted for being ineffective as a first-year teacher with no help, takes on a whole new meaning in a rural area in the South. So just know that you are definitely not alone!