Bad Behavior Essay

When my kids act up I make them write a 3 page essay about why they were kicked out, how they're supposed to behave, and why their behavior is disruptive.

Gustavo is one of my 7th graders who is fairly bright but feels as though the rules dont apply to him. He was sent out of the room along with another girl because they were out of their seats not following the rules. How I caught them was I heard the girl, Deymi, screaming. Gustavo begged me to let him off and not write it and when I asked him why I should make an exception for him he didn't have a really good answer, but being bright he figured he should adjust his attitude and actually wrote the paper so here it is:

Hi, Miss Megan, I'm sorry that I didn't give this to you the date you told me to. I'm very sorry. I know I was out of my seat when you send me out but I didn't mean to get you angry. I was just opening a gum and I think Deymi was going to say to me to change my gum to a candy that she had, but I didn't want the candy so I put the candy in my mouth and suddenly, Deymi started shouting like a little girl:Gustavo, Gustavo!!! And I said What???? And then you said, "both go out and you are going to write me a 3 page essay for tomorrow.

I tried to explain to you what I was doing but you didn't permit me to talk. I was a little angry because I thought this was not fair but now I realize that you were right,I was not in my seat, I needed to be in my seat like everybody else and I wasn't. I was very angry with Deymi because I was telling her that it was her fault that I was doing this unfair punishment. But the I said to myself, "why am I say that if I was out of my seat? I am very sorry Miss Megan. I should not be out of my seat, because I know that you have the same rules of Mr. Dale.

Miss Megan I sweat that I will not do that again. I am going to be in my seat every day, I will try to do that. I will try to follow your rules. This is all that I can write. I don't know what else to write. I already told you that I was sorry. Bye Miss Megan. I will try to don't do that again.

I think I behave bad because Carl makes me laugh when the teacher is not looking. And when the teacher turns Carl stops laughing and I can't stop laughing because he says a lot of funny things that makes everbody laugh. I'm sorry. :(


I thought this was hillarious. Its funnier if you know the kid. Knowing Gustavo this is total bullshit but I have to give him credit. He picked up on the fact I wasn't going to buy the whole he was being unfairly punished thing so he decided to admit to part of it and apologize.

As for the other 7th graders they're improving some. Slowly but surely I'm working on them. Some of the ones who have done really poorly are doing better in part because I've tried to take some of them aside and encourage them.

One kid, Stefano, was a little terror and didn't do so great on this quiz. I pulled him aside and told him I knew he could do better if he just tried a little more. Then I met his mom and lied and said he was a good kid in front of her and I expected him to do well and there's been a complete change in him. His grades are improving and his behavior is so much better. There are a couple others that this seems to be helping too.