Teachers/parents - is this typical 11 year old boy behaviour in class?

irritablehead1 · 2022-03-30T20:41:27+00:00

My DS in Y6 is a chatterbox. He tries hard to be quiet in class but I'm not sure he does a great job. But he says that everyone chats in class, especially the boys. Is this true? Am I overworrying that it's him only? I worry about him at secondary, when he needs to focus

squishyegg · 30/03/2022 21:42

Yes very normal... unless it's excessive and hand in hand with other traits then could be adhd. But just chatting away on its own I doubt there's anything going on here??

RagzRebooted · 30/03/2022 21:43

Yep, my eldest is constantly moaning that he can't concentrate because kids are talking/being disruptive (even in top sets) all the time. My younger son doesn't complain, so I assume he is one of the noisy ones.
I swear, when I was at school we were expected to be quiet!

ThanksItHasPockets · 30/03/2022 21:44

I'm a secondary teacher. Does he stop when he is told? Is he picking up behaviour sanctions from his teacher?

A bit of chat is fairly normal but if he doesn't know how to stop then he's in for a shock in year 7. Most secondaries are much stricter than primary.

FluffyDogMother · 30/03/2022 21:48

What does his teacher say?

Is he chatting when the teacher is teaching the lesson (and therefore not listening) or just chatting when time to get on with work (and teacher allows quiet chat)?
Is he annoying others who want to get on with their work but can't if he's chatting a lot?
Does he know when to talk, and when to listen?
Is he quiet when asked to be?

I don't mind kids chatting in class when they are working, as long as they're getting the work done. Otherwise, it's a no. And it's definite no-no when I'm explaining what the lesson is and teaching them! I do find that many pupils have lost basic manners eg turn taking, not shouting out, not interrupting, even at age 11.

Headteacher415 · 30/03/2022 21:48

He's confident, talkative and sociable. He'll go a long way in life. He needs to recognise, particularly at secondary, that teachers have good reason to tell him to stop ... it's when that compromises the relationship, he feels, picked up, and he sighs/rolls eyes/plays to the others when he's called out that it starts to become a problem. As long as it stays good-natured, I'd say it's a quality.

Original poster

irritablehead1 · 30/03/2022 21:53

Thanks all. He is doing good work, and totally aware that he probably talks a bit too much - he's pulled up on it - but says everyone does it.

The teacher this year is very informal, which I think is a problem. It makes them behave informally. Actually, the teacher is a bit of a dick, but that's another issue entirely...

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Original poster

irritablehead1 · 30/03/2022 21:54

@ThanksItHasPockets

I'm a secondary teacher. Does he stop when he is told? Is he picking up behaviour sanctions from his teacher?

A bit of chat is fairly normal but if he doesn't know how to stop then he's in for a shock in year 7. Most secondaries are much stricter than primary.

he does stop and he does apologise and he ALWAYS comes home and is immediately open and honest about his behaviour that day.

Honestly, I'm looking forward to him having more discipline at secondary.

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Original poster

irritablehead1 · 30/03/2022 21:55

@FluffyDogMother

What does his teacher say?

Is he chatting when the teacher is teaching the lesson (and therefore not listening) or just chatting when time to get on with work (and teacher allows quiet chat)?
Is he annoying others who want to get on with their work but can't if he's chatting a lot?
Does he know when to talk, and when to listen?
Is he quiet when asked to be?

I don't mind kids chatting in class when they are working, as long as they're getting the work done. Otherwise, it's a no. And it's definite no-no when I'm explaining what the lesson is and teaching them! I do find that many pupils have lost basic manners eg turn taking, not shouting out, not interrupting, even at age 11.

I think the teacher thinks he's massively improved, but my son - mr honesty - always tells me when he has spoken at the wrong time. So I know it's still happening.

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Original poster

irritablehead1 · 30/03/2022 21:56

@Headteacher415

He's confident, talkative and sociable. He'll go a long way in life. He needs to recognise, particularly at secondary, that teachers have good reason to tell him to stop ... it's when that compromises the relationship, he feels, picked up, and he sighs/rolls eyes/plays to the others when he's called out that it starts to become a problem. As long as it stays good-natured, I'd say it's a quality.

Ok, thanks. He is all those things, but I really wish he'd know to be quiet in class

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