How do I make pupils realise I mean business ?

[Howlongtillbedtime]

I have just started as a TA in a secondary school and while I love the classroom , I really don't like playground duties.

Today I have had over 95% of students be completely respectful and beautifully behaved but I have also had a couple just being complete pains. It is a large school so no chance of knowing everyones names so how do I keep them in line if I can't do the usual sanctions you would resort to in class ?

All tips would be appreciated, I have to do 15mins playground or canteen duty every day and I am beginning to dread it.

Focus on the positive ones and cultivate the silent but deadly stare. Most pupils can't cope with silence and will usially back off. Do you have a phone? Take a photo of the child and find out who it is.

I give a death stare and shake my head slightly.

Works a charm.

Thank you , I thought I had a pretty good death stare but it just didn't work on these boys today.

I was going to ask tomorrow about taking a pic tissie wasn't sure on the rules about it.

The whole thing was just so pointless, the amount of time they wasted trying to get their own way was ridiculous.

I am guessing that won't be a surprise to you two .

Do you have a phone? Take a photo of the child and find out who it is.

Don't do this!!

Gosh, don't take pictures of children on your personal phone! That would be a disciplinary offence at every school I've worked at. Safeguarding nightmare.

What are the normal sanctions for bad behaviour at the school? The same rules should apply at lunchtime too.

Yeah - don't take pics. I should have realised this. Sorry.

Oh yes take a photo! If you want to lose your job. I have to be careful even about having photos of my DCs' friends on my phone if they are pupils of the school I work at.
Is there not a homework/consequences detention anytime throughout the week? Then you could threaten with sending them there after a warning.

I did think that about the phone which is why I didn't do it.

The problem with normal sanctions is I don't know this boys name and he ran off when I asked. There wasn't another member of staff around I could ask . I am sure he will be someone who in time I will know but for now it is tricky when they are pissing about and you don't even have a name to work with.

I think I probably just need to practise my death stare and perfect my teacher voice. It is a pain in the are though.

I ask other pupils if I'm not sure of names although that's primary and they're very honest. Not sure about secondary school pupils!
On the positive side, lunchtime duty is a great way to get to know kids that you wouldn't normally talk to and I know loads more names than I would do than if I only worked in my allocated class.

I ask other kids, too, there's always some busybody eager to shop them!

Do you have a class photo list? If your school uses SIMS or similar it will be there.

Ask a teacher or, even better, a HOY to come with you during one of your duties. Point out the culprits to them!

If 95% of kids in your school are nice, then other staff will recognise your misbehaving ones from a good description.

You could also have somebody talk you through the "usual suspects" and you can look up their pictures.

Thank you everyone, I am re!uctant to ask another teacher to stay with me and I really think this one boy in particular will just keep away if someone else is there. It's a big school so I don't see him every day when I am on duty.

I was feeling a bit out of my depth but I have now spoken to him again so we shall see.

The annoying thing is that what he is doing is really not a big deal in the grand scheme of things which makes it weirdly more irritating .