More troubles?

Do we talk too much?

• Topics Discussed with dates spanning discussions:
  

When teaching, we all hope for that special class that’s perfect. Students work hard, there is a limited amount of discussion, and they are respectable students toward all people that walk within the classroom. And, let’s face it, as a teacher that would be a complete blessing.
But that’s hardly the case, and, especially the upper grades, it’s hard to keep children focused and quiet. Over the years, teachers have gone from pure yelling to more advanced methods of reverse physiology and detention. But what about those starting teachers that are finding their way amongst the sea of misbehaved students? The author is a starting out teacher, as me, and has posed the same question to those aged teachers. She is afraid of writing up her students, and inquired if there were any other methods to keep her rowdy classes silent.

• Explain areas of agreement, disagreement, concerns, advise, etc.
  

A lot of teachers had say in what would help in that situation. Naturally they suggest time to find and develop your own teaching methods, but in the mean time they suggested some of the following:
· Move closer to students causing the disturbance while still teaching the lesson.
· Keep them in during lunch time and have them make up work missed.
· Speak to students after the bell to discuss misbehavior.
· Call parents, but only when necessary, to schedule a meeting where the student explains what happens in class.
· Post consequences in the classroom and online if necessary. Make sure that you stick to them no matter what.
· Don’t yell over students. Instead, try to make them realize what they are doing. Stand quietly and resume when they are silent.
· Have a reward for student who behaves at the end of the week as it gives them something to work toward.

• Include any follow up of activities that you tried with your students that you had
  learned about from the list, shared with other teachers, or used for another graduate course.
  

Once again it is my students. All of my 5th -8th graders, especially my 6th homeroom and my 7th grade, seem to have caught diarrhea of the mouth. My problem is relatively simple. I have tried most of the ideas that the teachers have posted: calling parents, referrals, strict classroom management (although I am trying to figure that one out better), and reward at the end of the week. Still they talk and worst of all they have an extreme attitude problem. The parents that I speak to do more damage than help, and the administration is just completely non-existent.
Sadly this is a school-wide problem, and it’s not looking like it is going to be fixed anytime soon. It is almost Thanksgiving and I know two other teachers that are counting down the days like me. I posted my problem on the board and await to hear what some of the teachers have to say about my “discipline problems”.