Tough Love

I am extremely hard on my first graders. I do it because I care. Today, when they acted up, I wouldn't let several watch a movie. Instead they had to write "I will listen to my teacher and follow all directions" 10 times. I then made them apologize to me for their behavior. Naturally they acted all apologetic, but later in the afternoon, it was as if it meant nothing. I try so many different things to get my students to behave. It all boils down to how their parents raise them. I can't compete with that.