handling a large classroom

[tfl2005]

I am a beginning teacher, in a classroom of 45 students. I am having a very difficult time with classroom managment, and I don't know what to do. THere are a few students who are very hyper, and in a domino effect the whole class seems to blow up in the matter of minutes. I don't know the home language too well so I can't discipline in that. Any suggestions to improve classroom management? I am at my witts end!

[Lorikeet]

I don't know what the age of your students are, but if you search for "discipline" or "disruptive" or words like that in the search engine for these forums, you can read the answers to similar questions. For example, maybe you can find something in one of these threads, depending on the age of your students:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... 64&start=0

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... .php?t=716

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... 38&start=0

[tfl2005]

Thanks. I am looking that them now. However, they mostly deal with students who are not motivated to learn. Mine are motivated and full of energy alright-energy to do ANYTHING, but learn in my class. I teach 13-15 year olds. Part of the reason is I do not speak the home language, though I have good methodlogy for teaching in only English students and parents are not giving me a chance. When the paretns are on the students side it is hard for a teacher to get any headway. I can't get the students to calm down enough for me to start class. What should I do?

[Lorikeet]

I teach adults in the U.S., so unfortunately I don't have much experience on this topic. With that age of students, you might want to try posting in the Secondary School Education forum, since students there are in about the same age range. I'm never sure if everyone reads all the forums or not, and I don't have the ability (or at least don't know how) to move a thread from one forum to another.

[receipt558]

It is impossible for that to work, it simply can not be done like that.

[Carol Keeney]

Hello,
You do not say how old your students are. That is quite a large number of people to teach. Nevertheless, you are in the situation and you need some advice. You need to set up some plan of cooperation and rewards. You need to be consistent, don't warn and yell, that will only raise the level of chaos. You might want to check out my new book, Brand New Teacher. It might be just the one to one guide you need to begin to achieve some success. Good luck to you. Carol Keeney
www.Brand New Teacher.com

[Superhal]

with middle school students, i generally act angry once in a while to keep them in line.

[steelmagnolia]

You are in a bind and need advice. Depending on what age group you are dealing with, find out what THEY are interested in and plan your classes around that. If you can get their attention with whatever it is they like...you may be able to keep their attention long enough to get the job done.
Don't be afraid of the failure days..keep plugging. They will learn to respect you for your efforts. Just don't let them know EVERY DAY that they are getting to you.
Set up your rules for the classroom and stick to them. Be consistent.
They will see that you mean business.
I have a rule that once the door closes, no one will be permitted to enter.
No cell phones. ( You would be amazed!!!! )
Only English spoken in the classroom.
You get the idea. Be fair but firm. If you let them get away with chaos, they will just continue this bad behavior.
Don't be afraid of just asking a student to leave. I have done it and my team teachers have also done it. You cannot teach if one clown in the class has them all going. Just ask the clown to leave.