I have been there!

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Home : 2004 : February : 9

I have been there!
By Liz

I taught 8th grade math last year and had some really horrible students. The girls were as bad as the boys. I would go home in tears almost daily. It got so bad in one class that I wrote down (on a referral) every time
I spoke to a student about behavior. When the card filled up, I turned it in. This helped a little, for a while; but then I was not backed up by administration. The students were never given anything but "verbal warnings." This may work for you if administration is willing to back you up.
I would work on tackling one problem at a time. Try honesty with a ring leader. Ask them

to help you out (this worked with one of mine last year).
I had another student who was extremely moody. One day he would try and be my best friend, the next he'd throw desks in my room. If I noticed he was coming in in a bad mood, I would ask him to walk back out into the hall and to not come back in until he was in a better mood and ready for math. This happened with him once or twice a week and worked out great.
I hope some of this helps. Good luck!