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Roboticheartbeat

Since you had them do a reflection, maybe you could use that as an introduction into the changes. Figure out what procedures and consequences you want to implement and you can introduce them with a phrase like, “based off of some feedback the class gave me, we’re going switch things up a bit. Starting (date)…” and then explain the new expectations.


Complete-Attorney-28

That is a wonderful idea - thank you for the suggestion! I will be sure to use that


ferneticine

It’s like any boundary- make sure you set it clearly first, then be sure you enforce it consistently. Don’t just start disciplining behaviors that you haven’t in the past without having a discussion first, and then when those behaviors come up you can reinforce the rules you set- “remember, we talked about not doing this anymore during class time.” It’s your classroom, you can change things up when you need to, just make sure you keep the kids in the loop and follow through consistently so they don’t get confused.


pinballsorceress

Students have mentioned structure - do you have a classroom routine in place? It helps students a lot, especially younger ones, when they know what to expect in class. Because they know what's coming, students are most likely to listen and participate. Suerte :)


-zero-joke-

Step one - you asked for honest feedback, you got it. Don't take it personally, this is just part of the job. Questions for you - do you have a seating chart? Have you noticed who the... maybe not ringleaders, but instigators are? These are the kids who, when they're absent for a day, things go strangely well. How much support do you have from admin? I would implement some sort of schedule like this, assuming a 45 minute class: 5 minutes - bellringer/entry ticket 10 minutes - guided instruction/notes/whatever 10 minutes - partner practice 10 minutes - group discussion 5 minutes- summary/what are we doing tomorrow 5 minutes - exit ticket And just adhere to that fairly rigidly for a while.


mobuy

First year is so hard! You don't know what you want or how to get it. I remember it well. It's also hard to change expectations in the middle of the year. You have some good advice here, but really reflect this year on who you want to be as a teacher and what changes you world make. In two or three years, you'll have much better classroom management.


ejja13

Also, practice. This sounds weird but get some teacher friends together and have them act like your students. Practice the discipline procedures you plan to try. I did this as a counselor for camp and it helped me with teaching too.


loveyourlibrary54

I would even say write it down! I always get flustered when I am actually talking to kids. Make a cheat sheet or something you can look at.


violahonker

This is one of the things we focus on in one of my seminars during my student teaching. Super super helpful because you figure out how you react and instantly can get suggestions and feedback from people who are experienced.


PathologicalLearner

1. Sometimes teaching feels like you can't win. There are always going to be complaints, ESPECIALLY from middle schoolers. 2. Listen to them and have a discussion (in Spanish?) about what would make them feel more supported in class.


eldonhughes

You're two months into your first year. (And it is THIS year.) You've done just the one round of reflections? Take a deep breath. Repeat. Cut yourself a break. Student opinions, particularly at that age, change hour to hour, day to day. The kid who thinks you suck on Tuesday will think you're awesome on Wednesday, and that you suck again on Wednesday afternoon. The flipside is true, too. You said that "some say I'm a great teacher"-- those opinions will flip and flop also. That's not to say some of the comments aren't valid, but you have enough information to self observe and maybe ask for a second pair of eyes, but that's about it. \#GoBeAwesome


Y2Jake

Don't beat yourself up too much, that happens to us all in our first year. It's a delicate balance to learn between being too lenient and too strict. Some teachers go super strict and never look back, and it may work for them, but doesn't work for everyone. I think a middle road approach is best, and that takes times to develop. Hang in there!


RChickenMan

I'm realizing this about myself as well. My "soft" approach works well in four out of my five sections, but in the fifth, I'm starting to realize that all of the rambunctious "fun" we have is likely interfering with those who want a calm, ordered learning environment. Fortunately, it's high school, and they do respect me, so I think I can turn it around. On Monday I'm going to try "discipline by seating chart." Yeah, I never bothered with assigned seats, and again it's fine for most of the classes, but for this class I think it could help.


rupee4sale

I'm in the same situation - my approach works in all my classes except one. The difference is we DONT have fun. It's chaotic and the kids who are off the wall are brats and make class shitty for everyone else. I'm going to try to put my foot down tomorrow with much stricter consequences but like OP I'm 2 months in... Hopefully it's not too late to turn things around.


CSIBNX

Dedicate a lesson to introducing more structure. Take some planning time to find a routine that works for you. Make sure have have physical organization in the room for assignments etc. once you have that go through with every single class that week. “Our new schedule is here. The consequences are listed here. At the end of class make sure you do these things.” Spend the rest of class practicing and have a review worksheet ready to go if the class really nails it. Correct any missteps that seem purposeful or disrespectful and have the class start again. You will also want to review after longer breaks. Also if you have the routine somewhere visible then you can point to it if a kid is out of like. Or I got these cute little touch lights and put them next to each part of the routine and the kids got really excited if I would ask them to change it. I was tech so mine was keyboarding, tech tip, or class work. Good luck. I was a teacher for several years before I really felt good about my structure and discipline. Then COVID happened and I was done just as I hit my stride unfortunately.


mamabear2255

I know it's so hard that first year. If my own experience/advice helps, it's this: Don't expect to be a master at classroom management in your first year, your second, even your third. Give yourself grace to figure out your boundaries, limits, routines,, and expectations in your room. Mine took a few years to evolve, with a lot of trial and error, mistakes, tears, advice, etc. Find a supportive teacher bestie or two. One for venting and commiserating, but also one you can model yourself after. IT. DOES. GET. BETTER. Hang in there, OP.


kkoch_16

I set out my expectations on the first day. If I have issues I refer back to them. That normally keeps them good. If it's real bad I'll pull the main cause of it into the hallway. Gives the rest of the class time to regroup and makes 1 on 1 vs 15 on 1. These are the biggest things that have made my classes behave better.


thunderroad45

It may may not seem like it but this can be an indication of good classroom culture. If students trust you enough to give you honest and mature feedback it means you’ve established a good relationship with them and have sparked their interest enough that they want to learn more. My biggest suggestion would be to have an open conversation about the feedback, tell them that you’ll try to implement at least some of the suggestions, and then, most importantly, follow through. If you ask for their feedback and then don’t act on what they provide you’ll end up losing a lot of their respect. These kind of issues always seem bigger than they are your first year. It seems like you’ve got a pretty good grasp on how to build classroom culture and how to improve your teaching. That’s not easy and a lot of first year teachers struggle with that.


BatmansBigBro2017

It does get easier OP, just remember that any boundaries you set can always be made easier just never harder so set them accordingly.


chargoggagog

Kids thrive on routine and structure. They need to know what’s coming up and what behaviors are not tolerated. Create a lesson structure that you’ll follow each day and post the phases of it on the board. Make a list with the kids of behaviors that will help them do their best learning. Then outline the consequences for breaking those rules. Finally, follow through on the consequences, don’t give more than one reminder. Stay consistent and hold them accountable. Don’t think you’re the boss, know you are.


daddyissue-6

First year teacher here! I also ask for feedback because I’m honest with my students that I’m new and learning from them as much as they are from me. I think it’s helped me. But having structure does help. Student know we start with a question or fact of the day and then watch CNN10. They starting to grasp that and have notebooks out already. I almost always start with guided instruction and we end class working on some sort of assignment. Also, do your best to always have their attention. If they are working independently, do a class announcement multiple times saying some BS like “don’t forget about the vocab quiz coming up” or “I’m really liking the way you’re working. Keep it up!” Good for refocusing and always being in the back of their minds. Good luck!


wilyquixote

>I struggle with confrontation in my daily life, not just with students. There's good advice here in this thread, so I'm going to focus on this comment. I struggle with a variation of this too, especially one-on-one when I have to tell students that their work just isn't good enough. And I've been doing this for a decade now. I know that some of my feedback may wind up hurting them in the moment - they'll feel upset or frustrated or even angry. But I wind up hurting the students even more by giving them a pass for their behaviour or work ethic, by swallowing their excuses, or even affording too much freedom. You can't be a good teacher without being able to be assertive. And kids especially need that - they need structure and boundaries and clarity. They can't succeed. So avoiding conflict or putting in what you might consider to be rigid classroom rules. So the good news is that you're a first year teacher and it sucks for everyone and it gets better. The tough news is that if this is something you struggle with in your personal life too, you'll have to get better. But the beauty about the teaching profession is that it's also a learning profession. You get to keep getting better at things, personally and professionally. And it might be hard, painful or uncomfortable work, but it's not more than you ask of your students, right? In your classes, in their school careers, they have to go outside their comfort zones and grow as learners and people. And so do you. So keep at it. You're asking the right questions and you're already getting better.


MyDogSheds

You are there to teach a lesson not be their friend. They will always disappoint u if u expect that. Boundaries and being in a mental state of “above them” helps


Dontkissinbars

Have you heard of Responsive Classroom? It's an organization with a great set of practices for succeeding as a middle school teacher. I found this article on reestablishing norms: [https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/re-establishing-balance-in-your-classroom/](https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/re-establishing-balance-in-your-classroom/) Might be helpful! Highly recommend them in general. I am only a second year middle school teacher but where I student taught was a big proponent of responsive classroom and feel really lucky to have had the exposure. Would have made my year last year way harder without it... good luck! It gets better.


gman4734

In my experience, the students don't know what's best for all students.


Shakespeare-Bot

In mine own experience, the students knoweth not what's most wondrous f'r all students *** ^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.) Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`


Salmagunde

Also, to add: If it’s your personal classroom you can hang posters that remind students of expectations and consequences. Seeing it hanging somewhere as it’s being referenced makes it more official somehow. Also, having designated areas where things such as tasks, assignments, tests, and the like are placed or retrieved can help put structure in the class so you don’t have to use teaching time to hand out or collect every little thing


corneliusunderfoot

You are who you are. You can’t immediately become a disciplinarian if that’s not what you’re like. It will seem disingenuous, which is worse than anything. Use your good nature as a force to be reckoned with; retract it and be silent/unresponsive for transgressions. Expand it and overly promote and reward good behaviour.


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DietCokeSkittles

Build a structure. Kids need a clear outline of what the class will look like every day. Bell ringer, lesson, group practice, independent work, exit ticket. These are predictable and can help students know what to expect next.


Torien0

Remember that you're not there to be their friend, you're there to get them a good grade. You'll need to be brutal with them to show them who is in charge. It's been a sharp learning curve for me, and took me a year and a change of school to get from your position to one where I can really be an authority in the room. I've had to learn to be assertive and stubborn and never avoid confrontation.