This may sound bad, but I really need help with this before I go crazy. I'm a secondary teacher and I just got a new bunch of students for this semester. There is this one student who is VERY high needs (not Special Needs, just wants a lot of attention). Everyday about 20 times a day (no exaggeration) he says, "I'm going to pass your class" or "I'm going to do well in your class", in addition to wanting to talk about random teenage things. Everytime he says something about passing my class or doing well, I say, "I know you are" or "If you keep up the good work, I know that you will continue to do well". Here's the issue, I don't really want to keep up the small talk, but I don't want to seem rude or cold. He's actually a really nice kid and that is an exception where I work. He's a hard worker and really wants to succeed (also not common where I work). I don't want to make him feel bad, but it's just irritating the crap out of me. Oh yeah, he also tries to hug. Not what I'm into. I don't think it's appropriate for me in my position (and my age) to hug students with raging horomones. Just don't want to cross that line. What can I do so that I don't feel uncomfortable or irritated without making him feel bad? TIA
Re: Teachers, I need help!! -- NBR
First off, you need to let him know that hugs are unacceptable. That needs to be said, feelings aside.
Secondly, why are there so many instances where he is able to have "small talk" with you? You are his teacher, not his friend. When something like this happens to me I always try to make sure that there is never the opportunity for the student to be out of his/her seat and talking to me.
maybe he's saying it from his seat? i have kids that are constantly saying stuff for attention. they even raise their hands but still say something off-topic.
This is exactly true. He says it in the hallway before class, when he's coming into my class, when he's changing classes, when they're walking to the cafeteria, when they're walking back from the cafeteria. Also, my classes are really small, the largest one is 11 students and I'm constantly up and around the the class, so he has a lot of access to me.
LOL at the off-topic hand raising. Yesterday I was attemting to tell them about democracy and I had a student raise his hand and say, "Why they make us slaves?" Really? Once I had one raise her hand to say, "You got a weave? in the middle of talking about mixed economy.