Year 9 frustration - Pt. 1

They have arrived! The crazy year 9's - it is hard to keep happy after these classes.

I was warned about their wildness - and it took 2 lessons to flair up. Damn it, the first lesson was so nice, I though that maybe, just maybe their crazy ways were an exaggeration. Nope.

The way I start each lesson:

- The wild ones line up outside the door in two lines, then they may come in

- When they come in, they must be quiet for the role. If they are not, they get a warning then are back outside. They are never quiet

- Then they watch a demonstration from me, and log into their computers and follow the example to use the tools. THEN THE COMPUTERS CRASH TYPICAL

- The students from here, go haywire. A few of them play games (they get warnings) and a bunch of others chat away.

I am feeling frustrated and deflated by the end of most of these lessons. I have struck no major grumps yet, but there is some attitude emerging. The noise and distraction in the classroom is not good. I stop the lesson mnay times to bring them back, but they take a long time to respond, and I am not happy with how often I hear my own voice.

One teacher suggested that I stand in front of the class when I am about to explode, to take a breath an tell the class we will try that again, and start over.

I do like this approach.

This week, to avoid the frustration and feeling of defeated uselessness I get after these classes, I will use the breathing method, and will be strict on the students as soon as they get out of line - I will be on them! The major problem I face after these classes is that I feel like a useless teacher who is not worth the position I have been given. It is a hard feeling to overcome, and to move past without leaving feeling like I should find a new profession.

#reflection #ClassroomManagement #Discipline