Taking over class, advice needed please

[lostinteaching47]

Hi, this class is a reception one, it's one of 3 and it's all open plan.I have worked in all 3 classes.I really like this class, lets just say there are some really colourful characters and some great personalities but one of my concerns is about behaviour.All 3 classes have a 'thinking chair' which a child is meant to sit on and think about their behaviour for 4 or 5 mins depending on their age.I don't think it works as some children seem to spend an awfully long time on it! The behaviour system does not seem consistent between the 3 classes and I feel at a bit of a loss about how to start introducing things.I am going to be in there for at least a month, possibly 6 weeks so the teacher is coming back.
I covered in there the other day and by lunchtime my head was banging.They are a noisy bunch, exurberant, there is one child who I think has a hearing problem as she shouts, that's her voice and it sounds funny.I have said this to the class teacher.There are 2 children who are elective mutes(is that what you call it?) Interestingly 1 of them will speak to me , albeit in a whisper voice but I always praise her up which she seems to like and she is coming to me more and more now which is good.I have really bright boys who just 'choose' construction all the time and when they go outside they just seem to want to rough each other up! I have children just running out of the class area, taking themselves off to the toilets without asking and mucking about in the corridors.This isn't on, I know it isn't on and the actual learning environment is a bit of a mess which I think affects the children and their behaviour.
I really like the class teacher and I don't want to cause any ripples but for my own sanity what can I feasibly do? The lead teacher is really looking forward to me being in there as she thinks I will tidy it all up and there will be clearly demarcated areas and I will whip them into shape! I feel in a quandry as I would hate the teacher to return and think "this isn't my class" but I also feel the class need training up again to look after the resources, tidy up properly, stop and listen to instructions etc.For instance, it takes some of them about 10 mins to come in in the morning, put their stuff away and come and sit on the carpet ready for phonics.I can hear the other teachers are half way through theirs before I've even started! It just feels stressy as I know that we are meant to be doing similar things at the same time at certain times of the day.I tried to get them into "talk partners" the other day as I know they do that in the other classes and I did that at my other school but perhaps not so early on in the year, and a group of boys at the back just went "laa, laa, laa," really loudly and everyone started laughing.The LSA said she had never seen the class teacher try and do that with the children.
I am only there on a temporary contract, I was providing cover and doing intervention work, I am a supply so not on great money.I am worrying though.
At my other school we had a clearly defined behaviour system with stickers that was immediate and worked really well and a time out chair and chance to go and work in another class and even go and see the assistent head if it were bad but luckily this was rare.
Has anyone been in this position? Can anyone offer any pointers? I'm really sorry it has turned out to be so long.

I guess, having just read my epic(sorry) post through again, I could try and introduce something to get them onto the carpet quicker in the morning? They seem quite competitive and like a challenge, I could perhaps introduce a timer so it's a physical thing that they can see? The stragglers arent late children, they are there in the morning in the line, they are just slow.I could send the LSA out to the cloakroom area to jolly them up perhaps with another timer, what do you think? In one of the other classes they have a behaviour chart and if they go up they get a sticker at the end of the day but at my other school I was told to reward them instantly.I can see both points , it's nice to have a fresh sticker to show mum as soon as you go out but it's also nice to have one to wear throughout the day and it can spur others on to try and get one, but they do fall off :>( as well.

Definitely tidy up the classroom. It's unfair that you have to do this when it wasn't your mess to begin with but it'll be so worth it and make a big difference to both you and the children.

I would also definitely introduce a 5 min timer for putting things away and being on the carpet in the mornings. I second the idea of having a marbles in the jar to work towards a class reward - perhaps 20 to be filled roughly every 2 weeks so they get 3 treats such as extra playtime while you're there? For your last afternoon you could have a little tea party with them as their treat perhaps? Anyone who didn't make it to the carpet within the time and with the TA's prompting should receive a sanction. Have you got a copy of the behaviour policy? Could you speak to the other Year R teachers about what they would do?

Talking partners - pair up sensible ones with not so sensible ones. Why not have carpet spaces too so that children who need to be at the front always sit right by you and those who don't learn well together are separated?

Why not introduce a star of the day? That child could sit on a chair at carpet time the next day and be the line leader? They could take home a certificate too. Then they've got an incentive to behave all day and children who do behave well are rewarded and recognised.

In my experience, you'll probably need to use loads of stickers/warnings at first, while the children get used to your expectations but very soon they adjust to your expectations. Praise is still the most effective thing I've found even preferable to stickers!

The teacher coming back doesn't have to maintain the things you do if she doesn't want to. I have lots of experience of taking over infant classes part way through the year; it's not easy!

If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been teaching? also there is a staff room section on MN where you may get more replies from teachers if you repost there perhaps?

Good luck!

Thank you GW297, I'm a returning teacher.This age group /phase is my preferred one.I'd be fine if they weren't expecting me to tidy up the class! This is the bit that doesn't really sit easy with me but the class is a bit of a mess with cluttered surfaces etc.I just feel like I'm in the middle of 'something' between the class teacher and the lead teacher, school politics/individual dynamics? I don't know.
I have worked in schools where they have had a star of the day and the children have really liked it.There is a designated seating plan which they do keep to so that's something.I think if you were to walk into the area, apart from the creative, and writing area, you can't really see where to do things.It's a lot different from the other 2 classes which are really tidy.

Hi Euphemia, thanks for your suggestions.I did the marbles in a jar thing with my last class.

I think I just feel awkward as I have had a chance to get to know the person I am covering for and because of her injury she has found it hard to work but she has kept coming in.I think , possibly things have built up.I don't know how she is normally with her classes , behaviour wise but she has taught this age group for years.The behaviour seems to be worse in this class out of the 3 (child cutting his own hair etc) you know, behaviour you wouldn't really expect.I just don't want to get dragged into things with the other teachers.

Have you got a set of class rules? Few in number and simple .Re- iterate and a clear system of sanctions for breaking them.
If they have a set seating pattern could you have some sort of 'table competition' ie first table to be sitting on the carpet, each put a marble in their jar.Quietest table ditto.