an immature group

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an immature group
By Julianne

Sometimes you get a group like this. The group dynamics seem to kick in extra hard and nothing you do seems to make much difference. Hang in there. If your first three years were pretty successful I think you can chalk
this one up to a bad mix. Meanwhile, rethink your discipline policies. Get with a more experienced colleague (their last year's teacher???) and discuss your situation. Bounce ideas off each other until you come up with a solid plan to make your life more bearable and the kids more accountable. I don't know what your situation is like concerning parental involvement, your rights and

responsibilities or the kinds of discipline you are allowed to use. But you can start by holding a classroom meeting where you discuss your frustration with the way your year is going. Use "I" messages. "I feel frustrated and angry when I have planned a lesson and no one listens." "I feel concerned when I see how much further along we could be if we weren't constantly being interrupted." Guide your students to create a plan they can live with. If they have a hand in forging the plan they will have a vested interest in making it work. And finally, look at the amount of noise and interruption you can tolerate. I found that I tolerated much more of this kind of horseplay after I had kids of my own. (Anyone who can make a phone call to the doctor while a three-year-old screams out the Alphabet Song and a one-year-old crayons on her shoes can put up with a bunch of roudy sixth graders.) Anyway, the bottom line is are they learning? Of course you want them to be quiet and respectful of each other. But if they act like a bunch of monkeys and still learn, you are doing your job. And you can work on their manners a little more each day.