Aargh Y11 driving me mad

[PumpkinPie2016]

Not necessarily looking for answers just need a rant tonight (although if anyone has the answers I'm all ears ).

I inherited a mid ability Y11 class this year (targets 4/5). So, not the strongest academically but also not the weakest. A lot have the potential to do well but are lazy. They were taught by another experienced teacher last year who was in the same boat I'm currently in so it's certainly not just me.

They are so bloody chatty and it's absolutely draining! I refuse to speak over them so wait/issue warnings etc. but it honestly makes no difference. I have contacted parents - might make a small difference for a lesson or so, but then back to the same tricks. Can't remove repeat offenders at the moment due to the current restrictions. Keeping back at break/lunch where possible also seems to make little difference. I praise the good as well but again, makes little difference overall.

Honestly, it's totally draining They also seem to be allergic to having to think for themselves. I swear if I asked them to copy off the board for an hour they would do so in silence. Anything that requires thought though -talking starts up/I don't get it -so you start to ask questions and prompt to scaffold- 'I don't know' comes the answer.

I'm not inexperienced by any means and I have had classes like this before and eventually got there with them so I know it just takes time but with everything else at present they are bloody draining me. I have a very low ability Y10 who are far, far less work!

Right, rant over Back to the drawing board to think of more strategies which don't involve me having to stand at the front being an absolute dragon 5 hours a week. Oh, and who the heck timetables Y11 last period on a Friday

I think wine may be in order tonight

Some buggar has to have them, in our school It’s always science who get y11 p5 and 6 Friday 😢

@Kashtan indeed! To be fair, the last few years we have always had Y7 P5 on a Friday so I suppose it's our turn!

Our timetabler has ppa on Friday afternoon. Again.

@MrsHamlet hmmm how convenient!

This is interesting - I'm having similar issues with a couple of my classes (although others are the opposite extreme and never speak!). I'm an experienced teacher and thought I was quite good at getting a class trained to not talk etc., but I'm finding it a lot more difficult this year.

I have wondered if it's COVID issues eg.

1. pupils not being in school for 6 months (and some basically being feral during that time)
2. Not allowed to do practicals (I'm science) so they have to sit in rows facing me and just do theory work. I know they do this in other subjects, but maybe it's too much of the same every lesson every day.
3. No PE, so no lessons to run off excess energy.
4. Not allowed to send them out to a 6th form class, which was the lynchpin of our behaviour policy really.

astuz interesting point -I am also Science and no practicals/can't send to 6th form which means basically we are stuck with them. I think alot of them have been left to their own devices as well over lockdown.

I just wish they could see the urgency

I'm going to have to completely re-think my Friday lessons with them. The rest of the week, although they are challenging, it's a lot more manageable but they are feral on a Friday afternoon.

With similar classes in previous years, I have made revision PowerPoints with notes/quick questions/quizzes/exam questions with answers to check their work and they basically work through at their own pace using laptops and writing their answers in their books. Might try with this class and see how that goes as I use the Fri lesson as revision. At least then, I don't have to battle to talk and can help those who need/want help.