r/Teachers • u/donna_tartt_glazer • 1d ago

Teacher Support &/or Advice classroom mgmt help 9 team taught

i’m long term subbing for high school english classes and i hav SUCH chatty classes i don’t know what to do.. jus non stop talking during notes during independent work WHEN IM TALKING i tried the “i’ll wait” and standing waiting and redirecting and it works for all of 15 seconds then they start again im so frustrated
it’s english 9 team taught and the sped teacher is also not very helpful w behavior. her help a classroom management rlly depends on her mood that day anyway i need HELP PLEASE
during notes today the kids literally wouldn’t stop talking it’s my first time doing this (long term subbing/teaching) AHHHHHH
i’m also a young poc woman which doesn’t help the male teachers (who all happen to be white) literally don’t hav these issues

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

3

u/FScottHemingway1 1d ago

I recently had a very chatty cohort for ELA 8 and this is what I did.

Dedicated 3 minutes everyday to a real-world news story connected to our reading. A quick journal entry with the lights off about something they were interested in. This typically reset the energy for a bit.

When that couldn’t work, I sprinkled five minutes or so of the day to just chatting before we actually did a lesson.

1

u/donna_tartt_glazer 1d ago

Thanks! And Interesting. We did a Kahoot today to start and I thought it would help w the energy/chattiness and it did no such thing

1

u/FScottHemingway1 1d ago

Oh yeah if they’re already coming in chatty, kahoot is the last thing they need.

I utilize the iPad baby habits they all have, so a 3 min YouTube video usually resets them so long as it’s short and interesting

2

u/duhqueenmoki 8h ago

You haven't found your teacher voice yet, that's all. New teachers have this problem, myself included. Eventually you get pissed enough to yell, really yell, and stun them into silence and voila: teacher voice.

But since you haven't gotten there yet, I recommend making a classroom social contract and when anyone breaks it, give a consequence. And the consequence should be progressive discipline. For example: strike 1 nothing, strike 2 phone call, strike 3 phone call and detention, strike 4 referral and phone call and detention, etc.

Having structure with CLEAR consequences will work, it just takes time to make them realize you're serious about the consequences. Do NOT go easy on them.

1

u/ahorseap1ece 1d ago

I swear this is just how it is when you're new. I'm in year 3, 2 at my school. Kids still don't respect me much. But it's slowly getting better. I agree with the other commenter give them something calm to do for a few minutes. And make sure to get to know them. Some kids really care if you go to their sports. It's a drag but it's the fastest way to prove you are interested in them.

Also praise the students doing well.

1

u/sonnytlb 8h ago

Just a few ideas: 1. If they're not in a seating chart, put them in one tomorrow. Separate the friends. Feel free to keep any kids who have been cooperative together. But keep your worst offenders far apart and/or close to you. 2. Praise the ones who are doing things right. "Michael, thanks for getting started right away" prompts the talkers to get on board, too.

1

u/feelinginvi__ible 6h ago

Adding this: give the center of the room to the ones who you want to be the heart of the room.