I have the most emotional class EVER!!!! I have boys that cry, I have a girl (just one) that throws temper tantrums and is violent (has hit me), I have kids (all of them) that whine about name calling... seriously, I have no idea what to do! I never would have thought that I would have to deal with BOYS CRYING at a 5th grade level! and it's over STUPID stuff! Last week we were playing a spelling game and I have a rule that if you are not paying attention and you can't hear the word then you are out. One boy didn't follow this rule and got out in the Spelling game and he cried! Yesterday, I asked some kiddos to color in base ten blocks to show how to multiply decimals. They really struggle with multiplication so I thought this would help them visualize what was going on here. TWO boys threw a fit over having to do "extra" work!!! I'm talking slamming desks, books, going to the bathroom and crying... one of them even stormed to the principal's office screaming! From what I hear, I'm not the only teacher they've been like this with... in-fact they have a reputation so bad that they may be the reason I have a job in the first place! The old 5th grade teacher moved up to Jr. High and they were part of the motivation for her to try it (she said so herself). I know that there are other things going on here... I only have 1 boy that comes from a "normal" two parent house hold. BUT how am I going to make it through the year without a psychology degree?!?!!?
5th grade boys cry over "stupid stuff" for the same reason 5th grade girls cry: because they're frustrated and can't find another way to express it, or because they're tired or because that's the way they relieve stress. Adults vent on message boards. Ten year olds cry.
One thing I would suggest is to remain consistent. Don't change your rules just because they fuss. Eventually they will realize that you are the person in charge and the behaviors should lessen. You might also try some type of extra activity for the students who show acceptable behavior. For example, our reading series has board games that supplement the text. I will occasionally pull out a game for a couple of students who have completed their work, stayed on task, etc. I don't say anything negative to the other students. If they ask if they can play, I reiterate the classroom behavior rules for them calmly and then move on. Sometimes I have extra recess for the students who have behaved that day, finished their work, and turned in homework. The other students remain inside and work at their seats. Does your guidance counselor offer small group sessions? It does seem like some of your students could benefit from anger management or stress management help. Also, have you approached other team members or administration for ideas? We have a plan at our school for teachers to place unruly students in another teachers room for time out. If I think of other things, I'll add to this post after school. Good luck.
As much as kids this age profess to be "grown-up", they are still little in many ways. They don't know how to express anger and frustration verbally (and appropriately) so they react with their emotions. Boys often do a better job than girls of hiding it publicly, but it's there none-the-less. I suggest talking to the whole class about the impact of the extreme emotions and brainstorming appropriate words and phrases they can use when feeling frustrated. Post these in your room for the kids to refer to. Explain how their emotional responses often serve to get them the opposite of what they are trying for. Don't expect it all to go away; but some of the smaller stuff may become easier to manage.
I agree with MrsC, definitely have a discussion about appropriate ways to express your emotions and post calming/response strategies for them to refer to. Reward and recognize students (verbally at least) when they respond in appropriate ways or demonstrate that they are finding more appropriate ways to react. We had an emotionally disturbed child in our room last year, and my special ed co-teacher had to frequently remind me to just NOT engage in her tantrums. It was extremely difficult to do at first, but looking back it makes perfect sense. I'm dealing with a lot of bullying and dramatics with my group this year, but somehow through a lot of specific expectation-setting and consistent consequences we might actually pull off a play together next week with everyone getting along.
I had two fifth grade boys cry yesterday because girls broke up with them. One of them had be "going out" for only ONE day. I tried to offer solace to one of them and he snapped, "How is that supposed to help." Yikes. The advice you've been given here is really good.
Sound likes a great day at a school I used to sub for - I stopped going there after hearing that four of the 8th grade boys got a gun and went with their mother to threaten a neighbor because her dog had bit one of their siblings (I've no doubt the dog was provoked). I'd given all of those boys detention in the past, too. A typical lunch for any of the grades had at least 5 fist fights. There were 5 subs on the list willing to go there (out of nearly 200), and not one was willing to teach the sixth graders. My first two days as a sub were in that school, and I was thinking "OMG, what is wrong with me that I can even come close to controlling those children." Then I was assigned as an extra to that building several times and patrolled the hall. I soon discovered that I could control some of the classes better than the regular teacher did. I'm afraid I don't have any advice, because no doubt you've already done all that would work to give a substitute better control
Looks like a lost year. For next year does your school have multiple teachers per grade so these kids can be split up, even a little? What is the suspension policy at your school? Do the parents care at all? Next year could be better...or not. Save your money as best you can so if you need to you can get out of there.
Our school psychologist just gave all of the teachers at our school (4th-8th grade) lesson plans for early release days that deal with emotions/feelings, etc. I did one yesterday, and had kids make a T-Chart of comfortable and uncomfortable feelings. We discussed different emotions that some had no clue about. I had to pass out a list of emotions with faces to go with it. I thought for sure my 5th graders would know what they meant, but to my surprise there were quite a few they had no clue about. I do think that's a tough situation you're in, but as others have said, you're the boss. Pull them aside at lunch or recess and talk to them. Find out what is going on, but also explain that those kind of emotions shown in class and storming out are simply not acceptable. Perhaps some can be referred to a school counselor even? (if you have one)
