Here is another one of those ridiculous conversations:
Teacher 1: Is there something in the air today? I had the same type of day with my 8th grade students. I just wanted to let you two know that you are not alone.
Teacher 2: It’s funny you wrote this, because I was going to ask for advice with my students as well! I feel as thought I’m at my wits end with them. I’m starting to worry it’s me w/my classroom management, then I have some classes that are wonderful! I’m teaching Spanish 1 to 7th and 8th grade classes. This year one of our 7th grade classes is so bad they’re in assigned lunch (1st it’s ever happened here).
I have tried it all: moving them, changing assignments,talking to them in the hall/outside of class writing words on the board until they get erased, quiet classes, calling parents, and they’re still talking so much it’s impossible to get things done! Then they complain that they don’t understand information.
The worst part is we can’t give students lower than a 50% (per district guidelines). If a student does nothing, they get a 50% [district practices “Fair Isn’t Always Equal” by Rick Wormeli]. We HAVE to let them do re-do’s, and we have to accept late work up to 4 days late. So it’s very very difficult to keep kids motivated.
Please share ANY advice to turn things around! These classes are so loud, and it’s affecting other student’s behavior.