Lowlevel disruption

There needs to be some proper scientific research done into how kids’ behaviour alters with the weather. It’s windy outside, and as the old teaching tale goes; “Kids go nuts when it’s windy”. They do too!

I’ve just had two groups of year 7s. The first lot were straight after break. I lined them up, they came in and sat quietly and we did lots of work and all was good. Kind of helped since I was being observed in that lesson too. No, the kids were great in that lesson, it was my laptop that decided to act up instead. Then, last thing I had another group of year 7s, and again I lined them up outside, they came in and … suddenly went totally potty.

It took ages to shut them up and get them into a position where they’d do some work. They did the work fine, but controlling their behaviour was like putting out fires. As soon as one is dealt with, another pops up. New seating plan next week I think just to mix them around, I’m getting a feel now for the kids who can’t work well together.

Curiously our department has had a trainee ICT teacher assigned to it. I wonder if they’ll get put into any of my lessons… that’d be interesting. I could give him my uncontrollable year 8s… or is that being evil?

It’s INSET day on Friday, so tomorrow is the end of my teaching week. The kids might be disruptive, sly little people when they want, but at least the job isn’t boring and every day is different It’s also kind of nice when they say “hello” to you in the corridor and most of them want to join in the lessons.

Learning names is hard, but not for the kids who always seem to be getting in trouble.

Tags: Teaching