How do I get campers to respect their curfew?

[ferrari_girl_7]

Hi,

i'm helping my old high school out on a retreat tomorrow by supervising a bunch of 12-13 year olds, but i'm wondering how to get these kids to go to sleep. I'm still in university, studying to be a teacher, so i'm not that old or experienced and i'm just hoping that they'll respect me. I have a reputation among friends for being a complete softie, so i'm concerned about what I need to do to get the kids to listen to me, especially since I don't have that much authority over them as a superviser to work with in the first place.
I can put my foot down when I need to, but i'm not sure how to do it in such a way that they will listen.
I've had some experience as a sub teacher, and the class listened for about 5 minutes when I tried to calm them down before ignoring me again.
I know I can't be overly lenient, but I don't want to have yelling matches either. Any suggestions?

 

[dan]

It sounds like you will need to ask them for their cooperation. You need to develop into a no-nonsense personality at times if you are going to teach. Respect for is a good motivator.

It sounds as though you need to take a class in classroom management.

Regards,
Dan

 

[JohnOSevens]

Observe them, look for the ones who seem like group alphas, and influence those people. Show them why the curfew is necessary (if it is at all - remember that curfews are more often about control than any useful purpose). If they are looking at an early morning, tell them that in advance. If you have any control over group activities, maybe segue into progressively lower-energy activities as the night wears on, until finally natural fatigue takes most of them and sheer boredom drives the remainder.

Don't say that you have little authority because you are just a supervisor. Remember that authority comes from within. If you have personality enough to lead them by example, if you are friendly enough and well liked enough (yes Machiavelli was wrong) to get them to follow you willingly, you have all the authority you need. The power to do them harm - get them in trouble with school, with parents, and so on - power invested in you by an outside source that is strictly a punitive form of power with neither the ability to influence nor the capacity to reward, this is an artificial power. It is a false authority. You do not need it, and should not use it.