I had a horrible experience teaching the kids class yesterday. I'm not crazy about teaching kids because the class is a mix of kids as young as 5 and as old as 12. It's hard to keep them focused because each age group requires a different level of technique and attention. Plus, since Im filling in for my coach, they see it as a substitute teacher so they tend to be a bit rowdy. Not all of them, but some make it difficult.
There are some kids on there who make it worth it because they really try, though.
Anyway, yesterday I was showing a takedown and one of the rowdy kids said, "That would never work in competition." I said, "Man, I've been doing this longer than you've been alive. It's ok to ask questions, but if you question me like that then you aren't going to be training for the rest of the class."
What type of tone do you like to set when you teach a kids class? I like to keep it light because I want them to enjoy jiujitsu, but at the same time, I know the parents, who are watching, want to see their kids learn discipline and make the most of the time they are paying for.
Ugghh...I hate kids, stupid little know it all fuckers. I think you have to be stern with kids. I agree it is good to keep it light but it is hard to do that when they act up or start to question whether you know what you are talking about. It is better to have a class be more strict and more structured and once they realize that you know what you're talking about you can lighten up on them. Better to lose a few pain in the asses quickly.
I used to teach a kids TKD class. You want to keep it fun and light. But you also want to keep bad behavior in check. All it takes is one or two kids.
But I found that kids usually behave themselves when their parents are watching. They know they can't get away with anything.
Andre,
It's funny that you are posting this, on the OG I just made a post about respect, consequences and the fact that this generation coming up has little to none.
Being a high school teacher and having worked with inner city kids, gifted kids and everything in between (including people with autism), I might be able to help. First, I wouldn't necessarily keep it light, because it sounds like the kids that you are dealing with need more structure than that. Also, and more importantly, you shouldn't be viewed as a 'substitute teacher'. You should be given the same respect as your instructor, because the rules aren't different for different instructors, they are the rules of the school, no?
My best advice is to ask your instructor for a few minutes to revisit the rules of the school. Explain to the kids exactly what is expected of them, and check for understanding. Make sure there is a very clear explanation of expectations.
If you expect a kid not to shout out something stupid to you in the middle of you explaining things, you have to make it a point to explain to them that you want them to raise their hands, check for understanding, and when they do talk without raising their hands, either model the appropriate behavior by raising your own hand or ask them what the rule is about shouting out.
Another thing that I have found works well is to ask the students to wait until after class to discuss a question if you feel heated about the answer. The general 'new school' way of thinking is to praise in public, chastize in private. Wait until you get them alone and explain to them why what they said/did was disrespectful.
But foremost, if you feel you have little to no control of the class, you have to lay down a solid structure. What you expect when they first walk in, what you expect when you are talking, when they are drilling, rolling, etc.
Unfortunately, with what many kids are getting in school and at home nowadays, you just can't expect kids to 'know' what is expected of them as far as a minimum amount of appropriate behavior.
Excellent post, New2MMA. Thanks!!
Thanks for the advice, guys!
No problem, I edited it a bit for content since you read it. Hope all is well.
Mark
New2MMA - Andre,
It's funny that you are posting this, on the OG I just made a post about respect, consequences and the fact that this generation coming up has little to none.
i hope you didn't have to pause while making that post to shake your cane at some kids that were walking on your lawn!
FACT: every generation complains that the next generation is spoiled, disrespectful, lazy, etc.
Anyway, yesterday I was showing a takedown and one of the rowdy kids said, "That would never work in competition."
LOL! Is THAT what he said...?
I was in the other room and just heard your "response" and kinda wondered what that was about.
Yeah, I couldnt believe it. It's a takedown I LEARNED from watching Paiva do it in competition (Esfiha later taught it to us when he visited). lol
The worst part was that I was in already in a horrible mood yesterday.
New2MMA,
Excellent point. You make a very good point. Many kids these days do not come from a very structure environment, whether at home or in school.
I think martial arts in general and Bjj in particular can give kids a sense of structure. And in some cases that sense of structure is more important than the lessons being taught.
m.g - New2MMA,
Excellent point. You make a very good point. Many kids these days do not come from a very structure environment, whether at home or in school.
I think martial arts in general and Bjj in particular can give kids a sense of structure. And in some cases that sense of structure is more important than the lessons being taught.
I disagree that "BJJ in particular" is good for kids. Generally BJJ LACKS the structure & discipline of a good Judo or other TMA school.
shen is correct. I think judo is much better suited for it.
^ But obviously the TEACHER himself is far more important than which art.
Ouch.
There is a great book out there called "Back Talk". It's a quick read and is great advice for dealing with kids. I totally recommend picking it up.
Andre, your response wasn't bad. Here are some ideas for the future:
When dealing with kids, don't give punishments that depend on the future. Ex: If you do that again, you will sit out. Instead, calmly identify the behavior, label it, and assess a consequence. Ex: "Sir, what you said was inappropriate. Have a seat over on the side."
With little kids or minor behaviors, I use a 3 strikes system (I don't call it that with them, that's just in my head).
Ex: Kids need to be listening and one interrupts.
First time - "Sir, you need to raise your hand instead of interrupting."
Second time - I stop teaching and wave the student over to me. Depending on how big he is, I might take a knee to be closer to his height. I turn the two of us so we are talking towards the wall, away from the other students. I speak quietly, but above a whisper. "My friend, that's the second time you've interrupted the class. I'm glad you're excited, but I need you to demonstrate better self-control. We only have ten minutes left in class. Are you going to be able to make it that long?"
This does several things: (A) it's a friendly reminder, but I've put ownership for it and its consequences on him. (B) I've given him a reason to want to stay in the class and not be sat out. (C) I use a tone at the end that suggests I believe he can control himself to the end of class. If I believe it, it helps him believe it. (D) Our talk was in front of the other students, but they can't hear me, so I've made the correction private. (E) The other students have no idea what has been said, but they are going to mind their own behavior in case it was something scary. :)
If it happens a third time, I just say "Sir, you need to have a seat over there." The student understands, and you can do that quickly and quietly without making a big deal of it in front of the other students.
As for actual punishments, I sit kids out all the time. It doesn't necessarily mean they'll be there for long - just enough that they wish they were participating. The only times they sit out for longer are times when either the behavior was really intentional, or the student is clearly not in the right frame of mind to be participating positively.
Once I've sat a kid out, I always touch base with them before "releasing" them back into the class or at the end. I go over, take a knee, and say something like "My friend, why did I have to have you sit out?" I'm looking for them to acknowledge the behavior. When they do, I ask if they are ready to rejoin the class (I almost always reintroduce them before the end, even if it's only for whatever that school uses as a class farewell). If they are ready to rejoin, I give them a high five and send them back.
Often I will touch base with them after class. The goal here is to reinforce my optimism that next time they will do even better, and to let them hear that. "Johnny, I know you had to sit out twice today, but I'm glad you were able to control yourself and join us for that last activity. I hope you can show me that self-control again next time!"
Last tips for anyone working with kids:
Don't ever ever take any misbehavior personally, even if it's aimed your way.
Any time you have to administer any kind of punishment, do so and then "let it go" and forget about it. Otherwise, you will spend your entire life harboring a grudge against a 6 year old who didn't know better than to not twirl around while waiting in line. :)
Man, I could write on this all day, but that should be a good start.
~Chris
It's in French, but the message is still the same.....
Whether the "P.C." crowd disagree with it or not...
My tactic of asking a misbehaving child if he wants to "step outside and settle this shit?" WORKED. Period.
Those kids were never quieter than when I taught.
They would even silently sit though an acoustic set of my material without moving.
"I hope you didn't have to pause while making that post to shake your cane at some kids that were walking on your lawn!
FACT: every generation complains that the next generation is spoiled, disrespectful, lazy, etc."
Ironically, it was a post that you made on the OG that was the impetus for me to make the thread. I was in agreement with something that you said and it was consistent with what I wrote.
Also, regarding this generation coming up, do you know that there are now people who specialize in going to companies and training management how to deal with generation Y'ers because they are so unmotivated and difficult?
Sorry to give the wrong impression, but I'm not an impatient, crusty fogey. I do see a problem with the direction that our culture is heading in that consequences are not taken as seriously as before because in many cases either there are none or they are not realistic to what consequences should be.
I've always promised myself that if I ever have to teach kids, Im running it like Boot Camp.