I was an elementary teacher and now I will be teaching 8th-10th graders how to read. Any suggestions?

I teach 8th grade and I can tell you, you need to be tough right off the bat. I did not do that my first year teaching and the students spent the rest of the year walking all over me. I had no chance of getting them back.

After that , I learned to use Ron Clark’s teaching methods a lot. He has the essential 55 and I hang them all over the ceiling of my classroom. Kids love to look up and read what the colored papers say. It also helps establish classroom rules and it lets them know what I expect of them.

Also, sarcasism really works. Half of my students either get it and the other half sit and wonder what I just said. It really helps to get points across.

But again, you need to be tough and once you have gained their respect, you can begin to lighten up and have some fun. Remember, the first month is the honeymoon period. All kids are good for the first month of school. It is October when you really see how things are going to be. If you are tough, you will do great!

Good luck! You’ll be great! 🙂

While alot of kids don’t have the necessary reading skills that our generation had, I believe in the good ol’ fashioned way of phonics! Lots of kids now don’t know how to sound out a word and that’s scary!

Shouldn’t 8th-10th graders know how to read?

well, if they cant read by then I’m sure they have the mentality of a 2nd grader

try to be firm , but not to witchy.If you start out firm,maybe you will have a better hold of the class…wouldnt want them to think your a second grade teacher they can walk all over…

Don’t ever turn your back on them!!