Awful class really getting me down

[itisfarfromperfectnow]

I have them p5 Friday and I start every weekend in such a horrible mood as a result.

They butt in constantly and when one does it starts a whole chain of nonsense with kids calling across the room at one another.

The walking around ... a number of them think absolutely nothing of getting out of their seats and walking around when I’m speaking. When I tell them to take their seat they get enraged and tell me why they were out of the seat (usually putting something in the bin) despite this the classroom always looks like a bomb has hit it when they’ve been in.

They are so bloody rude and aggressive to me, it really gets me down.

Constant noise, even when they aren’t talking someone will be banging on the desk or leaning back in their chair pulling the remaining chair towards them and smacking it into the desk repeatedly.

Someone always urgently needs to go to the toilet (I’m not the teacher toilet troll, I promise) and argue and scream at me. Same with being ill and needing to go to the first aid room.

If I dare show any signs of annoyance or irritation with this they get very offender and discuss loudly how rude I apparently am.

I’m utterly sick to death of it.

That sounds so difficult, is it the only time you teach them?

I would advise trying to form relationships with some key players out side of class. Little comments in the corridor - ask how they are, how their weekend was, you like their new haircut/bag/coat etc. Without the pressure of being told what to do and being in front of their friends they'll start to like you and won't be so shitty in class. When they start falling in line, others will too. Otherwise keep your standards high and be consistent, they can't argue with rules that are always the same.

What year group?

Is this the only time you teach them?

9!

No, I’ve got them four times a week. They are always awful but this p5 lesson is the absolute pits.

Bobbie, the school is very big on relationships. To be honest with this lot it doesn’t really work, they use it to try to manipulate you.

Which subject? Which year group? And is this the only time you teach them? Any flexibility in the schemes of work? If you give us a bit more info, there’s bound to be someone who can help you make a plan of action. In the meantime, or

X posts. Honestly, with that many other chances to see them, that Friday afternoon would be my ‘sit in silence and show me what you’ve learnt’ (test, worksheet or text book) lesson.

What's the school behaviour policy?

Year 9 are tough. 4 times a week so you must be core subject.

I'd be planning a very low teacher led lesson so you can let them crack on with questions while you manage behaviour.

If they are always pretty bad have you been following school policy so far? Do you have centralised detentions you can set? Have you made contact with home for any students?

They need to be clamped down on. Making comments about how you are dealing with the class is not acceptable at all.

They would not sit in silence in a month of Sundays.

Follow the disciplinary system to a t. Set out your expectations, then start with the sanctions, but don't lose your rag too much. Is there any scope to teach a different type of lesson during this period?

School behaviour policy is warning, warning, detention, but to be honest their behaviour is that bloody awful that detentions are meaningless (and if they are all together in the same detention then it’s more kicking off.) I had someone walk out of a detention yesterday - doubt much will happen. I had a racist incident last week and nothing happened with that either

Parents are generally nice but ineffective - there are a couple who will deny their child did anything wrong.

I had a class like this and we always did “fun Friday”
Absolute insistence on work the rest of the time in lessons, and then topic appropriate games/puzzles, anything that could be classified as fun. Outside doing something active if at all possible. Computer room booked at least once a term, using Kahoot! with their phones. Bloody hard work to begin with, I had to be like a manic enthusiast children’s TV presenter, but by the end of the first term they’d do an hour of silence work on Thinking Thursday knowing they had their “fun Friday” to come.

I’ve tried the ICT room but they just trash it, so I can’t do that.

Absolutely no phones allowed. That’s school policy.

To be honest I think fun Friday would whip them into an absolute frenzy. Besides, they are consistently awful, it’s just this one is the worst of the worst.

I helped I had a supportive and scary HoD. So always having a zero policy on rudeness, disrespectful behaviour etc and kicking a couple of the worst out a few times also helped. But the support from higher up is essential.

What activities do you do with them on a P5? It's not the best lesson to get any new information into them.

Something to colour that is linked to what you are doing. We coloured and labeled the periodic table today, takes them ages and it needs doing so I rearranged my lessons so it was P5 today. The more challenging kids are generally happy to do it and the better behaved ones can move on to something else.

I would whip mine up into a bit of a frenzy 😂 We were always the nosiest class in the afternoon. But with most of them on side and enjoying what I planned it did get easier.

Honestly the only behaviour strategy that's only worked for me is getting them onside. Kids respond to teachers they respect (not the ones who are desperate for the kids to like them). If you can find little activities that work, try to embed them in lessons regularly (mini whiteboard quizzes/colouring activities/word searches etc) and make a big deal when you catch them being good!

I do understand what people mean re trying to tailor the lesson, but truthfully, they are just like this. Put a video on and they shout over it or complain they can’t see it because the person in front has a big head (!) scream out they have to go to the toilet, the room is too hot, the playground is too noisy, they can’t see and they have to move / sit on the desk. It really isn’t a planning issue, it’s a behaviour issue.

Sounds like part of the issue is ineffective leadership if the behaviour policy isn't working.

This doesn't limit what you can do though. I'd calmly insist they are silent before the lesson begins, even if this takes ages. Just keep insisting. Then formally start the lesson "today we are doing xyz, this is important because vwy and I expect you to listen". Every time someone speaks just stop and explain "I've stopped because xx is talking". Try and stay away from warnings where you can if school policy isn't effective. You need to get them to a place where they feel they are learning and working. As much contact with parents as you can, particularly praise if possible.

How good is your HOD? Could some ring leaders go on subject report?

On 4 lessons a week, I'd get a routine and invest the time in teaching them how to follow it.
Simple lessons, start with a task they can get on with and achieve.
Teacher led lessons with clear tasks and build to more open ended tasks.
I'd not be doing any IT rooms / group work etc. They need to behave and I don't buy the idea that being a children's entertainer is a prerequisite for that.
Room in rows if possible.
Ring home for a couple of students to say positive things for those who do what they should.
Follow the policy to the letter.
Be consistent. If you follow the policy one day but not another then theres still a chance that behaving badly will go unchallenged.

If you have a good HoD can they learning walk to look at the students. We've done that to support staff and the message is absolutely that it's the STUDENTS under scrutiny and being held to account for their actions.

The thing I would say is alarm bells ring for me if a racist incident hasn't been dealt with yet. What are leadership like?

Yeah ... I really have, thanks, I had them last year too!

I know I sound defeatist but honestly, nothing works.

It won't be the whole class, even if yit feels like it is. Go around live marking and giving lots of praise to the ones getting on. They probably have to be with the disruptive ones all the time

It’s not the whole class but i definitely can’t walk around. There would be carnage.

What's different about this group compared to all your other groups? Presumably you have a mix of kids in all classes. Is there one in this class that sets it all going downhill?

I'm not a teacher and can't help but I read this with horror. My youngest is in year 8 and I'd expect the school to come down on him like a ton of bricks if he was disrespecting a teacher in this way.

Isn't there school backing? From the Head? Clearly I don't know how these things work but if you were to tell me that my son was causing you issues in class, believe me, he wouldn't be causing you any issues once I knew about it

I could have written that OP. My class do all of those things. Constantly. They’re Y5 so I have them 8:30-3:15, Monday-Friday.

I have no advice but can offer an understanding ear.

My other classes are great! No problems at all. I do honestly think it’s them rather than me - they were dreadful last year as well.

I couldn’t stand them all day! Don’t know how you cope. As it is, there is one day a week when I don’t have them and I love that day.