Just needing a safe space to vent, but if anyone has solutions, I'm all ears!
I am far from an inexperienced teacher - I have lots of classroom management strategies in mu toolkit.
Without giving specifics, at the school I work in, all kids must do an extra curricular each week. Compulsory, though they do get to select from a list. Obviously not all get first choice but they at least get something on their list of options. As staff, we have to run a session, there is no choice.
I run a science based club and have recently started the group for the academic year. 4 weeks in and it's safe to say, it's the worst part of my week. A very challenging mix of students who bounce off each other and to be honest, don't seem to actually want to be there and do anything. There's probably 8 out of 25 who actually want to engage.
It is an absolute nightmare. Even getting them quiet enough to take a register can take a good 10 mins. Instructions are nigh on impossible due to someone constantly talking/shouting out. I cannot turn my back for a second as things get thrown around. Last week, we achieved next to nothing because of their behaviour.
SLT have given some support in previous weeks but I had to remove some kids last week and have very much got the impression that they weren't happy and don't want to be having to collect kids and supervise. I get it, it makes work and is a pain in the backside but honestly, the session was impossible.
As I now feel so bad about sending some out, I feel I am just going to have to keep them in. But, I am going to have to replan as they cannot be trusted currently with experiments. I feel for the few who do want to do stuff but I have to keep safety in mind in a lab.
I always try to start positive/praise the good/not raise my voice etc etc. But literally nothing works.
If you read this far, Thank you for 'listening'.
If you have suggestions-great.
I may have to resort to wine 🍷