behaviour managment a problem

[petunia1]

I have trouble with behaviour managment. At times I find myself yelling at the students. As some children will not take any notice of me when I talk to them or use other methods to bring the class into line. Today I asked the children to sit on the carpet. Most came and sat down, however there were others who sat on chairs, half sat and knelt on the carpet, stood by the book desk and figited with stuff on the desk. I asked the students concerned to stop what they were doing and sit down on their bottoms on the carpet and put put their eyes up on me. they ignored me and I had to raise my voice to them. Another incident in which I had to raise my voice was when the class continued to talk while I was trying to give them a lesson. I sat quietly and looked at the class some stopped and focused while others kept going, I then clapped and this time the method worked for about 15 minutes and then the children spoke again. I then had to raise my voice. the teacher next door then came in and spoke to the class. and I felt like a failure . The children also lied to me a few times by telling tales on other children which wasnt true and claiming that they dont do certain lessons. such a choir practice which they did have on today and didnt go. I found out from their music teacher which wasnt happy about them not turning up. there was no note left by their teacher as she took sick unexpectantly.
A few times I sat the students on the mat and give them pep talks on issues such as lying and bullying.
I dont know whether my methods were appropriate but I feel deep down that my methods were inappropriate and perhaps may have been crazy.
Can anyone please help me and give me some advice on how to manage difficult students.
petunia1
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[danfur]

Hi Petunia and welcome. It is difficult sometimes to control certain classes, I still find it tough some days and there are lots of tips on here to help. In terms of
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ching the children's attention I either clap a rhythm or I have a tambourine to shake where the children have to stop. I also have a technique which I explain to the younger ones (up to y3) where i put my hand up, with all 5 fingers stretched out, the first child to notice has to say fingers and they have til all the fingers have disappeared to be quiet, really a countdown from 5 to 0 but in silence. If that makes sense.

I think an
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I got from here also was to play a game with the children where you would read them a story (but I suppose you could adapt this to listening in the lesson) where you draw a table on the board with a smiley face on one side and a
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face on the other. You tell the children that your side is the smiley face because you are going to win the game and their side is the
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face cos they are going to lose. The rules are that throughout the story (or lesson) they can score points by answering questions about the story (or lesson). Your score points if they get the questions wrong or talk. I am really strict with this and any mumbling or cheering after getting a question right scores you a point. This one is pretty popular with kids.

Final one is a noise meter (another
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from here) I draw an ear at the top of the board and then 3 faces smiley, straight mouth and
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mouth. If they are at the
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the noise is unacceptable, straight is ok, smiley is great.

I also find rewards like stickers work especially well with some classes. Not with all but some. And I have a prize box ( a shoe box covered in wrapping paper) with pencils, pens, pads, crap from crackers etc in it. With stickers if I'm trying to get children to the carpet and they won't be quiet I give the ones sitting well stickers one by one and that usually draws the other children in.

I think I've gone on a bit (a sign i've not a lot to do this morning) but I hope these
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s help. Some times just singing a song that the children have to join in with or a countdown for all the children to sit down can work. Try lots of things until you find one that works.

And don't be afraid to seek help from a head/deputy head if the children are really bad and check out the school's behaviour policy. They might have a policy where children get warnings then miss minutes off playtime or some other consequence. Especially if they are known badly behaved children which you don't know if you are on sickness cover.

Hope this helps and don't be put off by the bad classes, there is always 10 good ones for every 1 bad one.

[danfur]

Oh and if you suspect that the children are trying to take a lend of you (which they can especially the older ones) try to get one trustworthy child to go and check with another teacher with a note. You'll be able to spot hopefully at least one responsible one who'll be able to help you with that. Don't tell the children you're doing it though - then you have the power of "just knowing".

[NuttySupplier]

Hi petunia1,

Danfur has some great
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s for you there.
I find that there are few children who will not sit and listen if you
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t entertaining the others. Like Danfur said, with younger children (I do it up to Y5 with kids I know)
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t singing a song, half of them will join in straight away, and very few will be able to resist an animated teacher singing in front of them!
I think I stopped having behaviour problems when I reminded myself I was in charge. I won't ask them to do anything, I tell them. I don't let them sit on chairs if they're meant to be on the carpet, but if that's an issue, I will choose who sits on the chairs, not them! I arm myself with as much information about the children/class/routines/names of other teachers as I can before they arrive, and will openly ask the other teachers 'who can I trust to help me out if I need anything?'

Try max. 3 different methods a day, they need to see you enforcing it over a period of time, if one thing doesn't work, don't give up on it as they'll see that you give up and nothing will work. If something isn't wor
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, then make it! Send children to other teachers who aren't following your rule. Make them miss 5 minutes playtime etc. And stay strong!
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[petunia1]

Thank you danfur and nutty supplier Ill give those
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s a try the next time I get work.

Petunia 1

[ruby_tuesday]

Hi Petunia!
Not much to add as Danfur has already given you loads of great ideas. Give those a go and let us know how you get on!

[petunia1]

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To Danfeur and Nutty and Ruby

Thank you for your behaviour managment tips I combined both
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s and coincided these with the usual class managment strategies. they worked a treat and I did not have to raise my voice at all to the children. The children and myself had a really great day. The school was so impressed with the strategies that they asked me back again two days later.

ty
Petunia1

[danfur]

Fantastic news, i'm really glad to have helped you!!

[NuttySupplier]

Excellent!

[ruby_tuesday]

Really pleased to hear your good news!