Growing Together: Open Forum

Hello all! 

I am reaching out for some advice or general reflections about my students and some extreme behaviors in the garden. 

We have had a school garden for 2 years and many of my students have experienced it from planting to wedding to making art in the garden. (I am the art teacher and we do a lot of nature journaling) They know the expectations, they're always talked about before we head outside and I still am struggling with extreme behaviors. Screaming and running seem to be the worst. I had students yesterday pulling out dead tomato plants and putting them on traps to drag to the compost. I set up five groups to do it and it was mayhem! I had one group screaming and thrashing as yelling as they pulled vines apart. They were so disregulated that they started pulling out the sunflower stalks (which we were leaving up bc the birds are still eating the seeds) and using them like baseball bats! 

When we got inside we regrouped and I explained how hard it was to enjoy the outdoors because of all the screaming and fighting over who was doing what. I talked about communication skills and how their choices matter (like birds not being able to eat now) and I don't feel like anything sunk in. 

Does anyone have any encouragement or advice on screaming and arguing in the garden? 

You are not alone! This has been happening to me for years. Being outside, even in the most organized garden, is such a different kind of classroom. Students may feel very stimulated and confused about how to behave. I think kids have worked so hard to regulate their bodies during their quiet reading, math, listening and discussion groups, not to mention what they may be dealing with at home, that they need a physical and expressive outlet. I do my best to manage and allow for them to swing, scream, pull and thrash in ways that no one gets hurt (even plants and tools).

What are ways and activities that you can let the kids get a little WILD? Is there somewhere that being loud will not disturb other classes too much? If you anticipate the kid's need to be fierce, and set your explicit expectations and boundaries, I think you will feel more in control of the situation.

I use:

*Attention getting sounds and fun transitions back to a calm classroom.

*plant part relay race game

*shredding old stems and material to compost 

*heavy lifting work!

*If they are pulling the wrong things while crazily pulling out weeds, I redirect them to dig elsewhere - somewhere they can make a mess and maybe just use their hands.

*I've made up rhyming "Rules for Tools" and repeat them often. Keep the tools LOW and slow and in control, Low and slow and do not throw, Give Space Just in Case. If they can't do that, I take the tool away and they can try again next time.

I hope this helps. I've been working on it for a long time.

Hello all! 

I am reaching out for some advice or general reflections about my students and some extreme behaviors in the garden. 

We have had a school garden for 2 years and many of my students have experienced it from planting to wedding to making art in the garden. (I am the art teacher and we do a lot of nature journaling) They know the expectations, they're always talked about before we head outside and I still am struggling with extreme behaviors. Screaming and running seem to be the worst. I had students yesterday pulling out dead tomato plants and putting them on traps to drag to the compost. I set up five groups to do it and it was mayhem! I had one group screaming and thrashing as yelling as they pulled vines apart. They were so disregulated that they started pulling out the sunflower stalks (which we were leaving up bc the birds are still eating the seeds) and using them like baseball bats! 

When we got inside we regrouped and I explained how hard it was to enjoy the outdoors because of all the screaming and fighting over who was doing what. I talked about communication skills and how their choices matter (like birds not being able to eat now) and I don't feel like anything sunk in. 

Does anyone have any encouragement or advice on screaming and arguing in the garden? 

Hi Amanda, what a great experience for your kids!

I have had similar experiences like that but in a smaller scale because I teach high school and they tend to behave better (open to discussion 😊). I find that if I give them a task/purpose with a product to deliver helps, either individual or in small group work. 
But again, some students are prone to engaging others in that behavior and it is best to keep tabs on the group's mood every day. I hope that helps and that you keep up the amazing experience for the kids!

Regards,

Cecilia Campbell

You are not alone! This has been happening to me for years. Being outside, even in the most organized garden, is such a different kind of classroom. Students may feel very stimulated and confused about how to behave. I think kids have worked so hard to regulate their bodies during their quiet reading, math, listening and discussion groups, not to mention what they may be dealing with at home, that they need a physical and expressive outlet. I do my best to manage and allow for them to swing, scream, pull and thrash in ways that no one gets hurt (even plants and tools).

What are ways and activities that you can let the kids get a little WILD? Is there somewhere that being loud will not disturb other classes too much? If you anticipate the kid's need to be fierce, and set your explicit expectations and boundaries, I think you will feel more in control of the situation.

I use:

*Attention getting sounds and fun transitions back to a calm classroom.

*plant part relay race game

*shredding old stems and material to compost 

*heavy lifting work!

*If they are pulling the wrong things while crazily pulling out weeds, I redirect them to dig elsewhere - somewhere they can make a mess and maybe just use their hands.

*I've made up rhyming "Rules for Tools" and repeat them often. Keep the tools LOW and slow and in control, Low and slow and do not throw, Give Space Just in Case. If they can't do that, I take the tool away and they can try again next time.

I hope this helps. I've been working on it for a long time.

Hello all! 

I am reaching out for some advice or general reflections about my students and some extreme behaviors in the garden. 

We have had a school garden for 2 years and many of my students have experienced it from planting to wedding to making art in the garden. (I am the art teacher and we do a lot of nature journaling) They know the expectations, they're always talked about before we head outside and I still am struggling with extreme behaviors. Screaming and running seem to be the worst. I had students yesterday pulling out dead tomato plants and putting them on traps to drag to the compost. I set up five groups to do it and it was mayhem! I had one group screaming and thrashing as yelling as they pulled vines apart. They were so disregulated that they started pulling out the sunflower stalks (which we were leaving up bc the birds are still eating the seeds) and using them like baseball bats! 

When we got inside we regrouped and I explained how hard it was to enjoy the outdoors because of all the screaming and fighting over who was doing what. I talked about communication skills and how their choices matter (like birds not being able to eat now) and I don't feel like anything sunk in. 

Does anyone have any encouragement or advice on screaming and arguing in the garden? 

Hi Amanda, what a great experience for your kids!

I have had similar experiences like that but in a smaller scale because I teach high school and they tend to behave better (open to discussion 😊). I find that if I give them a task/purpose with a product to deliver helps, either individual or in small group work. 
But again, some students are prone to engaging others in that behavior and it is best to keep tabs on the group's mood every day. I hope that helps and that you keep up the amazing experience for the kids!

Regards,

Cecilia Campbell

You are not alone! This has been happening to me for years. Being outside, even in the most organized garden, is such a different kind of classroom. Students may feel very stimulated and confused about how to behave. I think kids have worked so hard to regulate their bodies during their quiet reading, math, listening and discussion groups, not to mention what they may be dealing with at home, that they need a physical and expressive outlet. I do my best to manage and allow for them to swing, scream, pull and thrash in ways that no one gets hurt (even plants and tools).

What are ways and activities that you can let the kids get a little WILD? Is there somewhere that being loud will not disturb other classes too much? If you anticipate the kid's need to be fierce, and set your explicit expectations and boundaries, I think you will feel more in control of the situation.

I use:

*Attention getting sounds and fun transitions back to a calm classroom.

*plant part relay race game

*shredding old stems and material to compost 

*heavy lifting work!

*If they are pulling the wrong things while crazily pulling out weeds, I redirect them to dig elsewhere - somewhere they can make a mess and maybe just use their hands.

*I've made up rhyming "Rules for Tools" and repeat them often. Keep the tools LOW and slow and in control, Low and slow and do not throw, Give Space Just in Case. If they can't do that, I take the tool away and they can try again next time.

I hope this helps. I've been working on it for a long time.

Hello all! 

I am reaching out for some advice or general reflections about my students and some extreme behaviors in the garden. 

We have had a school garden for 2 years and many of my students have experienced it from planting to wedding to making art in the garden. (I am the art teacher and we do a lot of nature journaling) They know the expectations, they're always talked about before we head outside and I still am struggling with extreme behaviors. Screaming and running seem to be the worst. I had students yesterday pulling out dead tomato plants and putting them on traps to drag to the compost. I set up five groups to do it and it was mayhem! I had one group screaming and thrashing as yelling as they pulled vines apart. They were so disregulated that they started pulling out the sunflower stalks (which we were leaving up bc the birds are still eating the seeds) and using them like baseball bats! 

When we got inside we regrouped and I explained how hard it was to enjoy the outdoors because of all the screaming and fighting over who was doing what. I talked about communication skills and how their choices matter (like birds not being able to eat now) and I don't feel like anything sunk in. 

Does anyone have any encouragement or advice on screaming and arguing in the garden? 

Hello all! 

I am reaching out for some advice or general reflections about my students and some extreme behaviors in the garden. 

We have had a school garden for 2 years and many of my students have experienced it from planting to wedding to making art in the garden. (I am the art teacher and we do a lot of nature journaling) They know the expectations, they're always talked about before we head outside and I still am struggling with extreme behaviors. Screaming and running seem to be the worst. I had students yesterday pulling out dead tomato plants and putting them on traps to drag to the compost. I set up five groups to do it and it was mayhem! I had one group screaming and thrashing as yelling as they pulled vines apart. They were so disregulated that they started pulling out the sunflower stalks (which we were leaving up bc the birds are still eating the seeds) and using them like baseball bats! 

When we got inside we regrouped and I explained how hard it was to enjoy the outdoors because of all the screaming and fighting over who was doing what. I talked about communication skills and how their choices matter (like birds not being able to eat now) and I don't feel like anything sunk in. 

Does anyone have any encouragement or advice on screaming and arguing in the garden? 

I think Steph had some great ideas.  I also use a garden flute to get their attention but I also have a megaphone which is very helpful if things are getting out of hand.  Do you have a seating area in the garden?  I feel like that's really important for kids to regroup.  They are so habituated to sit and gather at desks or on the rug or at tables that having a place for them to go back to like a home base or to sit out when they get too wild is really critical. 

Hello all! 

I am reaching out for some advice or general reflections about my students and some extreme behaviors in the garden. 

We have had a school garden for 2 years and many of my students have experienced it from planting to wedding to making art in the garden. (I am the art teacher and we do a lot of nature journaling) They know the expectations, they're always talked about before we head outside and I still am struggling with extreme behaviors. Screaming and running seem to be the worst. I had students yesterday pulling out dead tomato plants and putting them on traps to drag to the compost. I set up five groups to do it and it was mayhem! I had one group screaming and thrashing as yelling as they pulled vines apart. They were so disregulated that they started pulling out the sunflower stalks (which we were leaving up bc the birds are still eating the seeds) and using them like baseball bats! 

When we got inside we regrouped and I explained how hard it was to enjoy the outdoors because of all the screaming and fighting over who was doing what. I talked about communication skills and how their choices matter (like birds not being able to eat now) and I don't feel like anything sunk in. 

Does anyone have any encouragement or advice on screaming and arguing in the garden? 

These are all such helpful ideas, thank you!

We do not have a tabled gathering space, just a few benches, but I will use that more often as a grounding point. I also use a microphone, I love it, it allows me to speak normally but still have projection. Here is the link to it- def worth being able to communicate without projection which wears down my voice. (voice amplifier) 

This afternoon did go smoother with my 3rd grade group. However, the running was still a major issue. 

I think Steph had some great ideas.  I also use a garden flute to get their attention but I also have a megaphone which is very helpful if things are getting out of hand.  Do you have a seating area in the garden?  I feel like that's really important for kids to regroup.  They are so habituated to sit and gather at desks or on the rug or at tables that having a place for them to go back to like a home base or to sit out when they get too wild is really critical. 

Hello all! 

I am reaching out for some advice or general reflections about my students and some extreme behaviors in the garden. 

We have had a school garden for 2 years and many of my students have experienced it from planting to wedding to making art in the garden. (I am the art teacher and we do a lot of nature journaling) They know the expectations, they're always talked about before we head outside and I still am struggling with extreme behaviors. Screaming and running seem to be the worst. I had students yesterday pulling out dead tomato plants and putting them on traps to drag to the compost. I set up five groups to do it and it was mayhem! I had one group screaming and thrashing as yelling as they pulled vines apart. They were so disregulated that they started pulling out the sunflower stalks (which we were leaving up bc the birds are still eating the seeds) and using them like baseball bats! 

When we got inside we regrouped and I explained how hard it was to enjoy the outdoors because of all the screaming and fighting over who was doing what. I talked about communication skills and how their choices matter (like birds not being able to eat now) and I don't feel like anything sunk in. 

Does anyone have any encouragement or advice on screaming and arguing in the garden? 

Hello all! 

I am reaching out for some advice or general reflections about my students and some extreme behaviors in the garden. 

We have had a school garden for 2 years and many of my students have experienced it from planting to wedding to making art in the garden. (I am the art teacher and we do a lot of nature journaling) They know the expectations, they're always talked about before we head outside and I still am struggling with extreme behaviors. Screaming and running seem to be the worst. I had students yesterday pulling out dead tomato plants and putting them on traps to drag to the compost. I set up five groups to do it and it was mayhem! I had one group screaming and thrashing as yelling as they pulled vines apart. They were so disregulated that they started pulling out the sunflower stalks (which we were leaving up bc the birds are still eating the seeds) and using them like baseball bats! 

When we got inside we regrouped and I explained how hard it was to enjoy the outdoors because of all the screaming and fighting over who was doing what. I talked about communication skills and how their choices matter (like birds not being able to eat now) and I don't feel like anything sunk in. 

Does anyone have any encouragement or advice on screaming and arguing in the garden?