hello rover

this week my classes started behaving badly
it seems to be something about me that kids think they can get away with anything. their last teacher i think must have been one of the best teachers ever, because it took them 2 weeks to revert to some bad habits and behaviours. i still don't have whatever it is that real teachers have that helps prevent kids doing stupid stuff.
my 8's began talking more and now when i stop everything to ask for attention to explain something, it takes longer and longer for all the students to leave their little world and focus on the lesson. this time i've started hammering them by making them do so much work that they now hate me and if they have time for talking then they won't get all the work done and so will have to stay back in their own time to finish. it seems to be a good start. i've also taken away their priveledges of sitting wherever they choose and they'll lose some more priveledges very soon if they don't improve. i hate making them do work for the sake of it but right now it seems to be the only way i can manage some of their behaviours. i'm sure there is a better way of doing it that i have not found yet. smaller classes would be a good start- 24 screaming 13yr olds is so many different personalities all vying for position and attention that one teacher can't provide for all. there is a compromise in finding the common denominator that causes some students to fall through the gaps, and others to miss out on great opportunities. it is an unfortunate situation. i have no solution. there has to be a way. suggestions welcome

my new job is great
i was really thrown in the deep end this time
thankfully the guy before me left a brief summary of where the classes were at
and some very useful planning data for the term
i've found the kids in my classes very responsive to my directions and teaching style which is great for everyone concerned
i have not had to raise my voice the whole week
it has been wonderful
i have some exams and assignments to mark though, 8 science, and 10 maths
i'm halfway and the weekend is half gone
such is life

drive on a journey
greeted by beauty
sun, sand, clear water waves
footprints remain behind
thoughts to save, words to remember
time swiftly skips over
short calm in the turbulence

and now i finish my last week here
last day was the usual crap from my 8's
i kept the noisy ones back at lunch, i don't care if it was my last day with them they were not going to get away with it.
the seniors were great all the way through.
i've just got to learn what it is that makes the 8's behave properly and puts the accountability on them.

another week has passed and i ended on a happy note this week. i went for a run in the 4x100 relay on the teacher team - we came last, it didn't matter. i hammered some of the 8's this week telling them that they needed to behave more maturely and not run around switching lights and fans on and off and yelling and screaming at each other. i made them write out lines in class. they were mad, i made them stay back at lunch and let the better behaved students go out first. they got madder. i did not mind. they got the message. unfortunately i only have one week left with them, so i will never know if i got through to them and helped them learn some new behaviours. i can only hope.