Every teacher has one. It is the one period that they look forward to the least, in fact may dread, and clock-watch just to endure. Mine is my 4th period, which is interrupted by lunch. They come in, get started on bellwork and then line up for lunch. Most can't/won't line up quietly or walk quietly to the cafeteria.
On the way back, usually several of them group at the cafeteria door instead of getting in line. When asked, they ignore me, talk back, or deliberately do the opposite. We have a bathroom break on the way back - they play and take inordinate amount of time in the bathroom. Once back in the room we have several types (and sometimes more than one of each type) of disrupters:
The Blurter - will say out loud whatever comes into his head. Sometimes will raise a hand to decoy me into calling on him, to get a question completely unrelated to the lesson. When told not to do this, gives either a loud, whiny "WHAT!?!" or starts in on how his parents told him to....etc.
The Disrespector - no matter how many times they are reminded of rules, they break them, and when reminded, usually express some sort of shock and make a comment or noise. Example - Please stop talking. "Ugh" "OMG" "RRRR" with a hand passed across the face and pulling at the mouth as if exerting some supernatural power not to speak, which they have already done.
The Disobedient - When given a consequence, such as a detention, this child announces loudly "I don't care", followed by "I'm not gonna go anyhow", which is answered by laughter from the rest of the class.
The Ignorer - No matter how many reminders, this child will just keep doing the behavior, whether it is talking, getting up for whatever reason, crouching in the seat with feet on the chair, writing a note to somebody, etc.
Now, this class has had the pleasure of visits from the guidance counselor (who has called multiple parents, as have I), the Assistant Principal, the Principal, several other teachers, all to let them know the score, and how to behave. To no avail. Yesterday I wrote on the dry erase board the day and time of a class-wide detention to make up the missed work due to disruption, unless they could behave in yesterday's and today's class. Guess what happened. Great behavior? Nope - constant complaints, 12-year olds telling me I can't do this, requests to go "tell on me" to the principal, etc. One (useless) exemplary teacher told them to write their complaints down "but not in this class" - which caused several to whip out paper and pencil right then and there. By the end of class, I had the Assistant Principal in, who in no uncertain terms told them I had every right to give them detention for anything I wanted, and I didn't have to give them a reason or listen to arguments. That won't stop them from arguing, and some of my students have complained to me that the disruptive ones are keeping them from learning. But unless I get some sort of backup, other than talk, from above, it will just keep happening. Frustrating. Surely
On the weather side of things, Memphis has been blessed with three days of severe weather. We haven't lost power, and no trees or limbs down near us. But it is pretty soggy out there.
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