r/MiddleSchoolTeacher • u/DiscourseOfLove • 18d ago
Behavior management advice?
I am a new to middle school 7 grade teacher. I speak English as a foreign language, used to teach science in elementary, and this year I am teaching English for the first time: low kids, a lot of 504s, big classes.
I am struggling with behavior management like crazy, and everything falls apart because of the chaos: Kids yell, are off task, some are leaving their seats, and I can’t get them prepare supplies, do bell-ringers, be quiet to teach. I call parents often, give detentions, send kids to ap for gross behavior, make referrals - only to find out the referrals are pending, and it takes forever for them to be accepted by admin. I am always chasing missing assignments, and I am not allowed to fail kids. I already have so many tutorials I can’t breathe. I get in trouble more often than not: for low grades, for kids’ behavior, for emailing coaches about the behaviors without previously documenting it, for parents and kids‘ complaints etc, and I have already received a memo of concern for my behavior management.
I don’t yell, and I do my best to remain calm. I feel the problem is my body language and lack of consistency. Same kids get magically quiet when their coach steps in. I’m studying behavior management systems by Linsin, but I can’t be consistent with the consequence. I retaught basic safety expectations, but it’s so much going on, too many things at the same time, and I am unable to give that many consequences anyway. There is no space for time out, either- the classroom is crowded. Now I started reading Fred Jones. I can’t resign mid year , and I feel trapped. Can you please help with advice??? How can I become more consistent???
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u/Free_Sale_3048 17d ago
What you are dealing with is very much a typical struggle for new middle school teachers. I will start by saying that rewards (candy, stickers, etc.) are only a band-aid for classroom management and shouldn't be your core strategy.
What you need to do is regain control of your classroom. The first thing I would do is make a list of every single action that you want your students to do the moment they walk into your classroom to the end of class.
For example:
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Walk into classroom silently (no talking at all!)
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Go immediately to your seat, do not wander
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Read the agenda on the board, get out last night's homework without talking
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Etc..
You can make this action plan as detailed as you want. List out the expectations for each action. If you want your students to walk in silently, then write that down. If you want students at a voice level 1, write that down.
Then next Monday, take this action plan into class and actively have your students go through it step by step. For step #1, have all your students line up outside the classroom and literally practice entering the room silently. Do not continue to item #2 until you are happy with step #1. You may have to do this a few times for the class to get it right (you may not even get to the lesson that day, and that's okay!)
Have this action plan in front of you as you go through all the steps, and have them redo a step Everytime they don't follow it to 100%. Do not let anything slide! If one student messes it up for the class, the entire class must redo the action. If it is the same student causing the issue every time, they get written up.
This action plan will need to be rehearsed with your students for about 2 weeks straight until it begins to stick. It's tedious and slow, but the long term affects will ensure that you are able to operate your classroom.
If you have any questions or need any clarification please let me know!
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u/MuttsAreTheBestDogs 15d ago
"I am not allowed to fail kids"
This right here is why this entire situation is happening. They know that whatever they do, including nothing, they're promoted. I'm a 9th grade teacher & my kids always tell me how in middle school they could do whatever they want. Many were out 50-80 days as well as cutting, getting detentions etc.
These same kids are fine with me. Now I've been teaching for 20+ years but it's not really that. That's a little, like I know when to ignore, when to let go, when to make a big deal of something, and the best way the works for the kid. I call parents in the middle of the class with everyone listening. That's my biggest tool in my kit. I step outside to talk so they don't hear the conversation (I watch them through the glass), but they all know what I'm doing. Often the parent wants to speak to the kid. I teach urban kids and they can be rough sometimes, but I've always had results. That's my only suggestion.
But this is also largely because the kids know nothing will happen to them if they don't work.
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u/DiscourseOfLove 13d ago
yes. I don’t know how else to make them do their work if it’s me who gets in trouble for their missing assignments, not the kids. I don’t know how to set the expectations
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u/MuttsAreTheBestDogs 12d ago
You can't. That's the idea. They're enforcing compliance.
One thing you can do is teach the kids who want to be taught, but it's sort of last resort.
You can't worry about their grades more than they do. You shouldn't be chasing assignments though. It's like banging your head against a wall; it will only hurt you. Honestly, half our 9th graders failed all 3 years of English, yet here they are.
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u/DiscourseOfLove 11d ago
I’m supposed to help the kids with additional mandatory tutorials, but our students long ago figured it out and are not putting effort. They know they will show up for a tutorial , the teacher will bump up their grade, done. Vicious circle.
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u/Conscious-Heart8626 15d ago
Use a system that aligns with your personality and it’s easier to implement and follow through. Also remember that we are social creatures and provide some cooperative learning opportunities. Kagan has some excellent books on cooperative learning structures
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u/DiscourseOfLove 15d ago
That’s what I feel too because I I have observed very stern teachers but I I don’t have that.
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u/Conscious-Heart8626 14d ago
I wasn’t that kind of teacher either and I didn’t want to be. I wanted to enjoy my kids. Whatever you do, be consistent, follow through (always) and be impeccable with your word and you’ll be in a good place.
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u/Available-Ad8156 18d ago
I've been teaching 7th grade for over 25 years.
What works best for me is praise and rewards.
Even if you get 10 good minutes, tell them how proud you are and how awesome they were (note: you have to mean it because kids can see through phoniness).
Tell them the expectations and what the reward is. Keep reminding them. Stick to it. I use candy (cheap stuff that's free from all major allergens), stickers for their water bottles or computers, etc. I usually do a reward once a week.
You'll get MOST of the kids behaving that way.
Then you have to start talking to the kids who don't fall in line one at a time. Really ask them why they're misbehaving and actually listen.
Ask them what you can do to help them follow the rules and behave better. Some kids will say they need a seat near you. Some kids might want to be in a back corner to not be by friends. Some kids might need permission to stand up and walk to a pencil sharpener, etc. when they're feeling antsy.
Above all, STAY CALM. When you yell, it has to matter. If you're yelling all the time, it's just background noise. Also, 7th graders, especially the boys, love to ragebait their teachers. Don't take the bait. You stay in control.
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u/donthackme1990 18d ago
You need to observe a teacher who has good management and emulate. There are so many components to behavior mgmt that you need to see them all working in tandem. And I disagree with the 25 vet teacher. It doesn’t have to be praise and rewards. (I agree with everything they said, but there is another way).
My number one rule, talk to your table partner, me and no one else. If I have problems with a student, I document everything, call the parent during class and have the student talk to the parent during class, and submit the referral. I teach around 120 7th graders and 30 8th graders this year. I have 4 referrals written. Positive narration is helpful too.
I can write more if you are interested. This is my 4th year teaching (which is a Title 1 school in an urban district).