Difficult boys with challenging attitudes to learning

[gloriousday34]

Taught for 10 plus years now. However, there is one particular class i do feel a sense of dread about. There’s 4 boys in there who regularly play up. Mess around and are generally rude. One shouted “stop being a a fcking btch” when asked to stop talking across the class. He was given a sanction but was in circulation after that and asked to return to normal. Then there was another boy from the group who kept shouting over me. He too had to complete a sanction. This then resulted in his dad arriving at the gate asking to see the “teacher who had a go at his son” this then led to the parent following up the convo at the gate with an email adding extra information about his sons experience that I don’t recall to be true.

The son said im “not fcking listening this is taking the pss” when asked to complete a restorative.

It has only been a few weeks and thjs level of disruption is exhausting. It seems they just don’t care at any level that these children are claiming things that never actually took place and I feel strange about that it’s just sort of “ok back to normal now please”. Can anyone advise on how to handle rowdy boys

My grammar is appalling in this post. I would like to apologise. I’m not wearing my glasses!!

To be honest if your school's behaviour management system is facilitating this then it's time to look for a new job.
For context in my school the first kid would have been removed then either in iso for a full.day, or more likely excluded rest of day then in iso on return. It would be classed as abuse to staff and we don't have that (abuse to peers is treated the same).

There is no way you should be meeting or discussing with a parent if they turn up on spec at the gate. They make an appointment for a meeting and this happens with pastoral (at least) present.

Rowdy boys are the ones who chat, give each other a shove in the corridor, occasionally make silly comments. Absolutely no issue with dealing with that as a classroom teacher because the key thing is they follow instructions and settle when reminded/low level sanction of needed. What you're describing is beyond that.

Has your SLT fallen for the Paul Dix rubbish, by any chance? I'm sorry it's rubbish and I hope things improve but other than standing your ground there's not a lot you can do as an individual. Follow the system to the absolute letter in the meantime.

I just don’t know how I’m meant to manage the child in my room. I have done this for years but it’s times like this i get so confused about what I’m doing wrong. The child had to sit in the slt office as they’re a known problem so it was seen as similar to iso. I’m just exhausted I complained twice saying jrs a group which makes things worse because it’s me against them so they could even choose to say “oh she said such and such to us”. Am I being stupid to presume that actually the boys should be separated. They are very low achievers moving them up solves nothing, however in this case im hitting a brick wall when ive said this to slt.

Can you talk to your HoD about some supportive set changes? It might help to start a conversation and the HoD should get chance to discuss with other HoDs if they are causing similar issues in other subjects.

But the long story short is that you shouldn't have to manage that kind of behaviour. Start every lesson assuming they are going to behave and learn, be kind and polite yourself. Then when they chose to do things they aren't allowed to do just work through the steps in your system until they either give in and settle, or they get removed. Use plenty of praise (whatever your system is) if they do something well. Every lesson is a fresh start, today might be the day they realise things are nicer if they work with you.

If SLT keep having to actually manage these kids themselves when they get to the point they can't be in lesson they'll soon take more interest in helping to improve matters. That might well mean more support for the students, because they undoubtedly would benefit from it too if things are going wrong for them to this extent.

I know that sounds really simplistic but I've been there where you're made to feel like you're the problem for simply not tolerating that kind of very poor behaviour. It's really tough. But if you try to manage it yourself in your room then it absolves the people paid to manage this stuff from actually managing it and it's no good for you or the kids involved.

Yep and I don’t think she is very keen to move them. I said it’s a group but that still isn’t helping them with understanding the rationale. I feel stupid for even raising it. Like im in the wrong.