Never had a class like it.

[Lizziegeorge]

We're now 6 months in and I still haven't warmed to some of the children in my class. They describe themselves as very clever and like to to talk. Only one of those descriptions is true. They are the rudest and most arrogant group of children I've ever taught and I feel so sorry for the 2/3 who are delightful, engaged etc etc. I also swing between feeling sorry for myself at having such a class and feeling I can't do it anymore. I used to be quite good (got a few outstandings!!) but now feel I'm failing. Their last teacher almost had a breakdown and ended up leaving because of them so I know it's not just me but I feel useless. Management are lovely but not hot on behaviour and school is full of very liberal middle class London parents whose children rule the roost. Be very grateful for some advice.

[Bilberry]

Don't give whole class punishments - the few who are trying hard just give up when they are repeatedly caught up with the loss of choosing time/shortened lunch break etc. Also don't keep them late at the end of the day - the real people you are punishing then are the babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and parents outside in the playground.

[BlackeyedSusan]

take back the class. walk around it. make it your space not theirs.

praise/reward positive behaviour.

develop a stare that can melt metal (I am sure one boy in dd's class still has scars from his teacher's laser eyes)

sometimes the broken record technique works.

use peer presure. not necessarily with sanctions but with words. you don't name offenders but they know who you are talking about. we don't like this behaviour...

don't put up with low level misbehaviour.

the specifics of what you so will depend on what is going on, who you have and how old they are.

[BlackeyedSusan]

for younger children I had get up and move times. or the promise of an extra game at the end if they behaved.

[hiccupgirl]

pastsellbydate has good ideas about getting the parents on side. I had to do similar with a class I had that had some very disruptive children who were very indulged at home and totally ruled the roost there. After discussions about how concerned I was that their dear child wasn't going to reach their potential because they were messing around and they had so much to offer etc, said parents were on board and backed me up. It made a big difference.

But Unfortuantly there are classes that it is harder to gel with just due to the combination of individuals, their previous experiences with teachers and lots of other reasons. But you def need to take back control, make the classroom yours again, call them out on their behaviour etc...it doesn't have to be a big deal, just that have noticed things that are going on. And push for support from senior management.

One of the most useful things I ever learnt on teacher training was that if you as the teacher don't take control, one of the children will and that's not fair or safe for the rest of the class.

[007licencetospill]

I think the management has to step up.

[shebird]

What year group are you teaching OP as I imagine his has a bearing on what approach take? I know DDs class have become quite lively in Y5 and the tactics used successfully throughout the school for behaviour no longer work with this age group. These are not over indulged middle class children but they certainly seem to have become very cocky this year. I agree with rrbrigi on rules and consequences for those who misbehave and the school really need to be on board or it's a losing battle.

[QueenofLouisiana]

Yr 5 can be a challenging year group- I'm experiencing the joys of my 5th set of Yr 5s this year. I think it is a mixture of suddenly realising they aren't young children but not having much more freedom and a few hormones kicking in!

However, I love my Yr5s and 6s. I love the banter and the fact that you get rapport back, in a way that you don't with younger children. The loyalty of this age group is always a delight- when you get there!

I think you need several things:
Management need to man up and back you, this age group are experts at divide and conquer. They need to see that adults run the place, not them. This needs to be reiterated by the whole staff to parents who phone up to whinge if Tarquin is kept in at playtime for refusing to shut up expressing his opinions.
Try class dojo (I use it, the kids love it) or a similar visible reward system- not matter how cool they think they are, Golden Time is still a precious reward at this age (just pretend not to notice the scrimmage for Play Dough!)
Make yourself a list, mental or written, about each child's positive points. They all have them- really, they do. Focus on developing these. Perhaps you could try producing a One Page Profile with the class (can't link to it, try Googling Helen Anderson 1 page profile for ideas).

If all else fails, you are more than half way through the year...must be better next year? Good luck!

[QueenofLouisiana]

One Page Profile here. I think it has a lot going for it!