Wish kids would stop coming in so early!

[blueirishues]

Registration is at 8:45.

I have children skulking around every morning from 8 onwards.

They have a warm canteen with toast and drinks, they have a warm library with huge cuddly chairs, computers and books, they have their OWN HOMES they could stay in. But no. Every day they stand in a cold, soulless corridor like abandoned pets.

Why? WHY?

[7SunshineSeven7]

Parents have jobs they have to get to?
Buses only run at certain times?
They are overwhelmed by the loud canteen?
They prefer the quiet corridor?
They want some time alone before class?
They're hoping to be let into the class room so they can set up their things and relax?
They are hoping to be let into the class room to talk to the teacher in there?

Lots of reasons.

[IHeartKingThistle]

You work with kids and you really can't think why they might do this? Is it by any chance the vulnerable ones? It always used to be when I was teaching.

I get that it's annoying though.

[blueirishues]

They are hoping to be let into the classroom - that's the problem!

My OP was meant light heartedly, but it is a bit irritating. It's my form group by the way, and the key offenders are from stable and loving homes, walk/cycle to school and are popular and settled so it's a bit of a mystery in all truth and honesty.

I have tried letting them in before but they get quite noisy and shrieky and also are reluctant then to settle to form activities. Also meddle with stuff, not intended maliciously but things like 'miss who's books are these?' then put them back in the wrong place meaning I spend the day hunting down books.

I've tried

Asking them nicely to go away (not as brutally as that!)
Telling them firmly but kindly to disappear
Shrieking like a banshee that if they don't go, NOW, I will put them on detention/ring home/throw them in the fish pond.

Nothing. Works.

I am a terrible form tutor, but I NEED that time in the morning!

[7SunshineSeven7]

Shrieking like a banshee that if they don't go, NOW, I will put them on detention/ring home/throw them in the fish pond.

How old are the children that you're shrieking at?

[blueirishues]

Year 9 :) and the above was definitely said tongue in cheek. I have yet to throw any children in the fishpond!

[Mrsmorton]

I get you OP. I wonder how many people responding are teachers..?

When I used to treat patients, it was irritating when they would turn up 10min before opening time and expect to sit in the waiting room. We were already working in prep for the day and didn't want to be supervising/being asked questions/monitoring the waiting room and loos etc etc. Stuff has to happen behind the scenes!

OTOH, maybe you're cool and they like you

[7SunshineSeven7]

Just let them come inside, if they piss about, chuck them out. Only let the ones who will sit quietly in. Tell them if they don't have a book to read/homework to do then they're not allowed in. I used to go in early and sit inside and do my work/help the teacher set up for the ahead lesson I was clearly a cool kid.

[blueirishues]

7 it's not that, though. If I let them in I also have all their friends, I have the lucozade bottles and the crisp packets. I have to to a point moderate the language and conversation. I have to make sure they aren't snap chatting stupid pictures to their mates, and I'm trying to start the days lessons!

I am of COURSE a cool teacher And I like them. But ... they need to spend their own time alone, without me!

[SittingDrinkingTea]

There was a recent thread on here about a primary which had started doing a wake up and shake up (or something similar) dance in the mornings. I'd make the corridor a wake up shake up dance zone in the mornings, as in you can be there but you have to join in with the jolly group dance. I suspect that would clear the corridor out pretty quickly.

[7SunshineSeven7]

Just make sure its not as inviting as the canteen would be - then the ones who struggle with the crowds and the noise (me as a child) and would like to just sit in the quiet will be the only ones coming.

No eating/drinking. No phones. Only people in your form allowed in. Just tell them that classroom rules apply. The first sign of them messing around then they get out and can't come back.

[blueirishues]

But they might take me up on it!

[ggirl]

tell them to bugger off
can't you make them bugger off..make a new rule
you have the power ..go woman ..use it

It would irritate me no end

[May09Bump]

They have other options - just stick to your guns and keep them out. You need that time for yourself or prep.

[blueirishues]

Exactly 7'so I have to spend my time which strictly speaking I'm not paid for, managing behavioural. No, sorry. It's unfair on both parties.

[manwhotoldeverything]

I totally get what you mean. The only solution is that you leave your room locked and work elsewhere. I know that's not ideal for setting up for the day, but if they get used to you not being there until after 08:30 then the skulking at 8am will probably stop.

Those replying clearly haven't tried doing any meaningful work with a backdrop of loitering teenagers. Or have any concept of just how much you have to get done in how little time. Yes in an ideal world a tutor would just be sat there being all available, supportive and inspirational every morning In reality they are trying to respond to the 35 emails that have arrived since last night, set up stuff for the day's lessons and probably a dozen other things. Don't blame the individual for not wanting kids around as if that means they aren't cut out for teaching

[blueirishues]

They do bulgar off eventually but always plead their case first and then gravitate back up several time s before the bell goes.

I need a lock.

[ggirl]

I"m gonna ask my yr 9 son where he goes when he gets to school

[blueirishues]

Sorry to hear that zzzz, although if a child needed to actually talk my door is open. However, letting thirty shrieky teenagers in when I'm trying to set up for the day is a bit different!

[7SunshineSeven7]

You know which pupils will be quiet and do work and which ones won't. Only allow those ones in. I have anxiety and in high school was on prescription medication for it at that young age. I'm only fighting the case because those times I could spend quietly in the morning instead of in the loud playground or canteen where a life saver for me. I'm not insinuating you're a bad teacher (if that comment was for me), but you know which kids will just sit there - tell the others you'll think about it when their behaviour changes in class and leave it at that, it could be great if you can create a safe space for those particular kids.

[blueirishues]

7 - okay, so I let Anna in.

Anna's best friend Kirsty isn't in my form but wants to sit with her friend. The girls are quiet and doing homework but still chatting. Kirsty finishes her homework and starts ambling round the room. 'Miss, that's my brothers work you know!' 'Is it Kirsty? That's nice ...' Kirsty's friend Sarah who is also in her form peers round the door. 'Kirsty, did we have science homework?' I've now got three. Daniel, Ryan and Andrew see that I've got people in and come crashing in. 'No, boys, you're too loud.' Daniel flings his arms out, outraged by this clear travesty of his human rights. 'But miss! Well be quiet! Won't we?' Vigorous nods. No, NO you won't be. But I'm trying to mark the last five books and I haven't time to have an argument. I go to the photocopying room and back. In that time Daniel, Ryan and Andrew have been joined by Jordan R, Jordan D and Jordan M. None of whom are in my form. There's crisp packets and milkshake bottles on the floor. No one did it. I'm still trying to mark my books. Alex and Pete arrive and everyone's in the form room, waney, so are they. A conversation starts. It's innocuous but FUCKING LOUD. Jordan R calls Jordan M a cunt. I silently agree but a big WOOOOO goes round. I have to deal with this. Katie and Chloe arrive. Katie takes a picture of Kirsty. Kirsty starts crying.

And this is before half eight.

Sigh.

[Heirhelp]

I understand your pain. I went from year 11s who knew not talk to me about pointless crap before form starts to year 7s who came in over an hour earlier and would talk to me about their cats or whatever and then suddenly as lessons start ask me a question that they needed help with. The year 7s had more issues so I needed to be there but when you work hideous longs hours you don't want to add another hours work on the day. When I had bad morning sickness, I did on occasions work in my room in the dark.

[alltouchedout]

When I was in high school that would quite often have meant they were avoiding bullies. Even hanging around in the corridor without being allowed into the classroom would have been better than having to be in the canteen or any other area the kids were expected to be in.

[blueirishues]

I'd be sympathetic to that, but there really are a number of places for them, including a base for vulnerable students that I used to work in, before being plucked out to be a form tutor!

[7SunshineSeven7]

So just let Anna in alone, if she can't be on her own then she can't come in. Simple.

If she needed the quiet and the space so bad as I did, she would be fine being on her own.