Pushed to my Limit

BustThePerp · #1 (**permalink**) 04-03-2009, 07:57 PM

I'm at a loss for words.

I'm at a Catholic school this week (Year 1) and there are about 4 serious problem children in the classroom (all boys). I try to take into consideration their needs (i.e. they get angry easily, they get very physical with others, etc.) and deal with them on an individual basis...but it seems the school's only solution to their EXTREME disruptive behaviour is to remove them from the room for 5-10 minutes.

I ask them to do something and they flat out tell me "no" and tell me I'm not their mom. At one point, I asked one of the boys to come to me and he ran away from me around the room, jumping over chairs and onto the tables.

I don't know what else to do...how do I deal with this?! (Even the regular teachers in the school complain of the same thing)

jennyfleur · #2 (**permalink**) 04-03-2009, 08:55 PM

Hmmm sorry to hear you are struggling. You're not alone - last week I was in a Reception class of 34 - managing all alone when the usual class teacher has a TA. Some of the children in that class had similar severe behaviour issues, and at one point I had 2 children climbing on a table and jumping around!!

What do I do? Well, like you I try. I have my strategies - try and accentuate the positive, ignore unwanted behaviour and keep my
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. I try and make a connection with the child, and follow the behaviour policies in the school, explaining that I will leave feedback for class teacher. I try and keep activities lively and short. If that doesn't work (and with some of these it didn't because apparently they are like that and worse much of the time) then I'll go to a member of staff for support, and eventually I'll just try to deal with it the best way I can, leave feedback, and get the hell out of there thanking my lucky stars they aren't my charming class!

It's tough on you, I know, but just hope the next assignment is better! I'm back to the demon Reception class on Friday, Monday and Tuesday
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I MUST BE MAD!

BustThePerp · #3 (**permalink**) 05-03-2009, 04:56 AM

Thanks for the empathy at least, Jenny. :-/

The irony of this situation is that I NEED the money like no other. DH has been out of work since just after we got married in Nov '08 and I'm the only one earning. I'm under tons of pressure to accept ANY assignment put before me.

I'm in this class for the week so far, and the regular teacher is out due to stress (surprise, surprise). They have a spot opening up in the next Year 1 class after Easter and it's as though I have no choice but to take it if it is offered because long-term means more money.

*sigh*

I don't know how else to be more "firm" with this class. And of course, when these boys play up, eventually others decide they should show their rear-ends as well and I end up with a class full of
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y-cats.

jennyfleur · #4 (**permalink**) 05-03-2009, 04:26 PM

Oh I've been there and I know exactly how you feel. On the plus side, with a long term you can develop a relationship with the kids a bit more, might make behaviour management easier.

I can remember doing a long term in a Y1 class where the teacher was off with stress - 3 weeks of absolute Hell - and I shudder to think of those kids and how badly behaved they were. One little boy in particular would act up and then he would get to spend time in Reception (what he wanted) as that was his 'punishment' as per his IEP. That might have led to a long term, and I would have felt obliged to take it, but thank God, I didn't have to make that choice!

OK. Hang on until tomorrow and then celebrate like
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and really rest Saturday and Sunday. Don't let this one class sap all your energy and confidence - remember to tell yourself the class teacher is off with stress, and it's not just you. If they want you to go back for more, then discuss your concerns with someone - would your agency listen? Or someone at the school? How involved are the parents.

Work small. Try and get as many of the class on side as you can. Reward everything from team work to being a good helper very publicly. At least then the
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y cats will realise they don't need to be naughty to get noticed. Try and use a time when a child gets taken out to give the others a treat - a special story, 10 min bingo game, quiz - to reinforce that good behaviour is rewarded and when you get sent out, you miss out.

And....I know how difficult it is when you take things just for the money. My OH never really used to understand how hard supply can be even when the kids are only little, and what a drain it can be on your spirit, so he would always put loads of pressure on me to take horrible assignments, and, like you, I realised that beggars can't be choosers, but I almost wanted MORE recognition because I did s****y jobs just to make sure we could pay the bills! I wanted to hear that he knew my working life was tough, and I was doing it for him as much as me...

The penny did eventually drop.

I hope things work out for you, and that there's a silver lining if you do get offered the long term.

audrey · #5 (**permalink**) 06-03-2009, 11:04 AM

Hi guys and I think most of us can relate to what you're saying about behaviour these days, it seems to be across the board. I was with a yr 3 class yesterday and although a nice class there are a lot of issues in there. Autism, ADHD and some general pains. At one point I was dealing with a sick child and EAL learner with no english only to turn around and see 2 boys in a fight. The sick child I sent home, sat the EAL learner down to wait for me and the 2 boys I really laid into (as 1 was already on a red card from a few days ago), they were kept behind at playtime for a chat also. I drew the famous noise monitor ear on the board and this excited the children as they'd not seen it before. It is hard on supply I am very firm but fair and sometimes like Jenny said rewarding the others is a good tool to use as long as the disruptive ones see you doing it.

I enjoyed my day yesterday although found it exhausting, the reassuring thing is that the regular cover teacher had felt frazzled the day before, just a high spirited class with lots of issues. Lots of chn think they can play supply teacher's up and if you have a no nonsense approach they will generally accept that but you will always get a few that try it on. Obviously the class teacher is having problems
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ing herself so don't be hard on yourself. You can notice a difference between schools re behaviour and support when you need it. It doesn't help when you need the pennies also ( I am in the same position). The chn these days are becoming more difficlut (everyone is saying it), lots of social problems
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ly. Reward yourself after a hard day as it is so important not to get bogged down with it all.

Good luck

BustThePerp · #6 (**permalink**) 06-03-2009, 05:37 PM

Just a bit of an update...mainly that I'm still alive at the end of the week. I started using a bit of "power teaching" with the class (similar to repetitive clapping patterns only chants they have to echo back, etc) and they picked up on it really well. The issue seemed to be mainly with about 4-5 boys in the class. One of them was out today and it
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e an unbelievable difference. When I told DH once he picked me up from the train station, he asked, "with JUST ONE child out?" I confirmed "yes" and that it is really THAT bad.

It was a better day today throughout, but one boy was just consistently awful. The only downside is that the other teachers seem a bit exhausted from it all and no one wants to deal with him -- so sending him to another room is not an option.

However, at home time as we were calling the children when their parent arrived at the door, one of the dad's came into the classroom cursing and having a go at me because he said his son is being bullied at the school and claimed nothing is being done. I didn't even have the chance to remind him that I am only supply there for the week. He was eventually talked into leaving the classroom to go speak with the deputy head. It just so happens that the boy being accused of being the bully is the same one that we have problems with hourly. To me, empathizing with how this parent must feel (although not the way he should have handled it), something NEEDS to be done about this other boy. He needs to know limits and I can't be expected to instill them into him completely in a week. He's a little "puppet master" and he knows how to work an adult.

Anyway, still not sure if I am back next week. I honestly wouldn't mind for the work and the fact I know the kids' names now mostly...but I may not know now until Monday.

jennyfleur · #7 (**permalink**) 06-03-2009, 05:59 PM

Glad to hear things improved a bit. Stick at it if the work comes your way...I suppose at least you know what you're getting.

I'm rather exhausted after a long day, and I'm afraid I just haven't the energy for a long post!

audrey · #8 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 10:26 AM

You really sound as though you are ready to tackle them again next week if asked back (good for you). The only thing to remember though, is as much as we feel responsible and want to improve particular situations like poor behaviour, we can only do so much as a supply teacher. But good for you for wanting to go back, lots would not.

I've had just 1 day's work so far this month (groan), really strugglung with finances as no wages in Feb
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I have applied for another p/t position although not overly keen as it's not the type of work I want to do but beggars can't be choosers eh. The other one with the autistic child did not happen due to the credit crunch.

You seem to be doing okay Jennyfleur I hope it continues for you
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How are you feeling Nutty??? I hope you are beginning to feel more in the land of the living.

Also Footiegirl is all going well with your pregnancy?

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