If it's any help to this person whose name I don't know because I can't find
the original thread, I teach mostly 8th grade and I'm in my third year. The
boys can be obnoxious and the girls bit*&y. I was also thoroughly shocked at the
level of disrespect and ill manners now exhibited in the classroom.
People on this the list including Bunki and Judy told me to just hang in
there and remember that it will improve if you do do many of the things people
are suggesting. I believe 8th is the toughest of the middle levels.
My level of control is so much stronger this year. I will also second (or
third?) the consequence of calling on the spot. Just last week when I went
over class rules I frankly laid out the fact that after a first warning, I will
stop the class, and use my wall phone to call home. It quiets the class as soon
as I say it. And hopefully, word has gotten around that I do it.
Anyway hang in there. One more thing. Dangling the "bad grade thing" is
not enough. Many times the troublemakers could care less about a grade,
especially in a subject "that doesn't matter like art"