DOes anyone work with 8th graders or middle schoolers....

Hmmmm...they don't care that they're failing, maybe detention?? Maybe phone calls home??? Maybe.....drugs???

Wish I could be more help!!!

I don't really have any advice for you, but it reminds me of my HS chorus, we had about 25 people, and for the concert, it sounded like maybe five were singing. It was terrible, it was like a concert of this one show off guy, and his four backup singers, and twenty people standing on stage watching.

As for your class, maybe ask them if there are any songs that they'd like to sing? Tell them that you'll take any reasonable suggestion into consideration and that you'll pick one for them to sing in concert? Good luck!

I'm in a private school & we had that problem last year with our 7th & 8th grade. What happened is during the rehearsal the morning of (w/ the principal there) they didn't sing & the principal told them to get off the stage that they were a disgrace & she literally said unless they got their act together by that evening there would be no prom & she meant it.

That night they were by no means great, but a hell of a lot better than they had been.

Also I'm not sure the age level of your school, but we had teamed up the older kids w/ the litlte guys b/c then the focus is off the older kids & the little ones seem to pick up the slack.

I truly don't know what other motivation there may be.. I can't believe you have no support from your principal :(

Rachel.

How funny I was just having this discussion with my 7th graders today that we have been drilling the vocabulary for 2 weeks and they still don't know it. They have a quiz on Friday, so today I gave them a graded do now and I have to say 70% failed. That scared them I bet they will study tonight. They somehow always pull it out in the end. It is normal at this age. Apathy is their normal trait, especially with 8th graders that I why I REFUSE to teach 8th grade!!

Can you possibly video tape them during the rehersal and play it back for them and show them what they are going to sound like? Sometimes they need a reality check!!!

I know you feel like everything is riding on this. I have to tell you our music teachers go through the same thing! I have chaproned their concerts and during warm up they are AWFUL- unfocused, talking and chewing gum, etc. but as soon as their little butts hit the stage they pull it out.



Feel free to FM me if you need to vent or need some middle school support!!

a big reason why I don't think I could ever do middle school...I give you guys so much credit with all those hormones flying around...


my only suggestion would be to find one of the 'ring' leaders...and ask him if everything is alright...show concern and be caring...'I know you are capable of much better than this, is there something wrong?' 'You have such a knack for music...I could see you becoming a professional' (who wouldn't want to hear that?


1. there could be something wrong and this is the way they are acting out...

2. there is nothing really wrong, but this student could get the kids to participate better if he thinks you like him/her

3. nothing changes...then call that kid's parents...if still nothing...you have to go to your supervisor or someone that could get this kid to focus


you can do a few kids too, but don't overwhelm yourself....

I've tried EVERYTHING. The 'I can relate, I wasn't in school that long ago' technique, the 'you're failing technique', the ' I know you are capable of so much more' technique, the 'WOW! That's was GREAT!' technique, you name it, I've tried it. The problem is not just that they are feeling akward and like normal 14 year olds, but that my principal, who feels they don't need to sing if they don't want to, is not the one who makes the rule that it's mandatory. It's the headmaster that makes that decision, and he does not want to change this. I happen to feel that at this age, they should be able to choose whether or not to be in chorus. I would gladly give up extra time to teach it ontop of a general music class(which I am responsible for as well). But like I said, the headmaster wants it this way. The 5th, 6th and 7th graders are doing awesome in chorus, and in the back of my head, I know they will sing their little hearts out and leave the 8th graders in their dust, but still, I just don't want it to reflect poorly on me and the rest of the kids trying so hard. I mean, I even have a 1st-4th grade chorus that sounds awesome compared to these kids. They're just lazy. Apparently they are like this in ALL of their classes, which is no consolation since I'm the only teacher who has to present what they do in class to the parents and the board of trustees. I guess I should start making phone calls home this week to tell parents their child is not participating. We just have a problem with parents not even remember they have children. Our students come from mostly well to do families that have nannies to deal with their kids. We had one mother tell a homeroom teacher,'I didn't sign up for a conference because you see her more than I do. You take over parental responsibility.' BUT these are the same people who will beotch that the holiday concert was awful. ARGH! Thank you girls for sharing your experiences and support. It's just really tough, and I know you all know that

maybe you should set up a reward system?

perhaps creating some sort of performance chart like a graph and you can chart their success as they get better and when they are near 100% they can choose a reward after the concert.