What To Do When Students Won't STOP Talking 

Yeah I remember returning to hybrid teaching last year after a year of remote and not only were the kids a bit off the walls, my own classroom management skills had for sure begun to wane. So yeah, you're definitely not the only one! Haha.

Same here! I was so frustrated because I've always had a reputation of being a super peaceful teacher who calms down noisy classrooms and after covid I felt I lost my superpower. This is so validating!

@ please share your super power too .. 😊

@@gibsoneduAs a sub, who sees permanent teachers screaming at kids all day long, I think the term " classroom management " is nothing but a term to blame the sub for something that is the school administration's own fault. I have had that knife stuck in my back twice now. With the exception of a few students, these kids today, know nothing and don't want to learn anything. They have no goals or purpose other than to so socialize with their group and make school one big party. Teachers need to take those chrome books, throw them in the trash and start teaching. The State needs to stop state testing and let teachers teach the subject, not spend 100 percent of their time preparing for a test. The administration needs to take students who won't stop talking, singing, whining, and giggling immediately and easily to a large detention room, their parents called to come get them, and then given an F for the day. This should be an easy process for the teacher until the class becomes quiet. It is not fair to the students who are trying to do their work , but can't in a classroom that looks and sounds like outdoor recess on steroids.

No shame at all. It's a hard profession and there are some REALLY challenging schools to teach at.

I just finished my degree and I can't imagine walking away. But even the kids have told me we're different. They've told me how they yell and it's just part of their culture. They tell each other to shut up and yell across the class. Seating chart does not matter.

​@@elisabethldavispart of their culture?? What culture is that? I'm African American and that is not part of my culture. I'm very curious to know what culture you're referring to where yelling across the room is a norm.

@@danettegreenw3412 not my words, the kids words. I don't know what culture they are referring too. Ask them. I'm just stating what they told me. Maybe they are talking about socio-economics. I don't know. They all think I'm rich just because of my skin color. They ask me to buy them food and pencils and paper all the time. I ask them if they ask their other teachers for those things and they say no. The other teachers dress nicer than I do, have their nails done, their hair done. I'm poor. I'm just the sub right now and don't make enough to support my family. But they insist that I have more money then they do. Their parents are doctors in the area, they dress better than I do. But I'm rich because I'm white. I seriously don't know what culture they are talking about. That's what they say to me.

For sure; specific enough to call folks out w/out actually calling them out by name. Happy teaching honeybee :)

@@gibsonedu I do this one but they won't stop still. Then I end up yelling lately. ugh!!

I'm so glad to hear that Sophia! Let me know how it ends up going and really happy you're finding the tips helpful :)

Yeah, it's nice to have some down time just to connect in class

Great to hear!

That's nice of you to say Toby :)

Have him😂

Thank you elizabethtown! I'm glad the suggestions are helpful :)

How'd it go?!

Glad to hear it Hallie! Welcome to the profession 👍

Thanks Juan! Good luck tomorrow and let me know how it goes :)

Coming in mid-year is difficult under normal circumstances. This year is unlike any other so all those challenges are amplified. Keep going Ryan and let me know if I can be of any help.

Glad you're finding them helpful Martin!

Hope it helps!

Thanks for sharing Terry!

I hope it went well Dominus!

Let me know if you try any of these strategies and how it goes!

For sure Katilyn! Have a great rest of the week :)

Subbing can be a challenge for sure so I'm glad you found something that helps Melissa!

Hey glad you found it helpful Jessica! Godspeed in these last weeks of school!

Right on! Good to hear it Julianne! I'm posting more regularly at ru-vid.com

Glad to hear hear it Sarah!

Subbing is TOUGH!

Subbing is no cakewalk! I subbed for a semester before becoming a full-time teacher.

Glad they're useful twerpuser!

Sure thing Spencer 👍

It’s a handy tool!

If you're still laughing they haven't won yet! Haha.

Love this video from CJ Reynolds on this topic - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pl_qCgn9rkc.html&ab_channel=RealRapWithReynolds

Pl 😊​@@gibsonedu

Yes absolutely....am facing the same situation..I just started a week ago.....well I was quite in the beginning while they talking.....it doesn't fetch any results.....they think that they can just continue talking since I am silent when they talking.....they are least attentive and behave as if I don't exist in the classroom at all...😂 .... Now changed the pattern by raising my voice a bit and trying to calm them down....yes it eventually changing the situation.....not completely but yes to certain extent....it's an impossible task every day... I just spend atleast 5-10 mins on setting up things which has become routine everyday now.... But hopefully it will change down the line....as a stubborn teacher I don't want to give up..... I will stick to the pattern until I get the control over that noisy classroom.

Hey Morgan! Welcome to teaching :) The phones can be challenging. Some teachers have students turn them into a bin at the beginning of class. I allowed students to have them out if they were using it for an assignment, but otherwise asked them to keep them in their backpacks.

Right on. Glad it was helpful Josua! Visited Switzerland a few summers ago. So beautiful.

It’s a challenge for sure and I have to remind myself of many of the lessons here as well.

Happy teaching!

I do hope you have a restful summer Ria.

My pleasure 👍🏼

Ha, of course they did! They have a larger audience :)

@@gibsonedu Thanks Thom for your response. I work in a College so Post 16. How do you deal with mobile phones in classrooms?

@@azizurrahman1091 At our school, they can only have them out if they have permission (middle school). I collect them up if and turn it in at the front desk to be picked up by parents if they have it out. That wouldn't be appropriate for college though. If I was a college professor, I'd probably say something along the lines of 'please keep your mobile devices away during class; feel free to step out if it's an emergency' and if I saw someone with it out, I would just say it out loud again without calling them out specifically.

@@gibsonedu Thanks Thom, i did something similar before. Instead of collecting them i told them to switch their phones off and put them in their bags, cos its so easy to just pick it out of a pocket. Plus the responsibility lies with them if anything happens to their phones (screen breaks or goes missing etc).

Sure thing Marianne! Enjoy your summer 👍🏼

Sure thing Gutlymyrat!

Wow that means a lot coming from a veteran teacher like yourself!

Glad it was helpful!

Your welcome! I guess with all the closings of schools, excessive talking won't be much of an issue for a while!

Ha! Dislikes are the nature of RU-vid. Good luck in your presentation!

Yeah it's cool!

Haha. A bell can work too.

Yeah subbing is definitely a grind but you're right; it's easier when you can set your own expectations with your students on day 1.

Yeah that'll work!

Sure thing Cherry blossoms!

Good luck Jill! Let me know how it goes 👍🏼

I actually didn't first play it until a couple years ago! I spent all my teen years playing Super Smash Bros. Haha. Didn't end up beating Ocarina of Time but I just beat Breath of the Wild a few months ago on my Switch. Excited about the new one coming out in May!

Thanks Sadia :)

It's really hard not to let the frustration get to you; you feel disrespected and when you don't know how to fix the problem, it can be so defeating. I do hope the tips in the video are helpful in beginning to have some tools in the toolkit for addressing some of the problems, but classroom management can be a big, hairy, complex problem that often doesn't have simple, pat solutions.

How did it go Nadia?

It's working actually thank you so much

It's a difficult year John and I know you're not alone in these struggles. I've heard from veteran teachers saying they're struggling with management in ways they haven't in years past. And it's hard because it's often not just a couple techniques that will solve the problem. Ask your admin which teachers are doing the best in regards to classroom management...ask if you can set something so you can observe those teachers and talk with them about how they've created the culture in their classroom that they have. That way you know that these are ways that are effective with the group of kids you're working with.

Contact parents

I kept making these mistakes even after making these videos. Glad you found them helpful 👍🏼

Thanks for the summary! (AI?)

Hope it works out with your students John!

No worries!

Sure thing!

An engaging lesson is one of the best classroom management strategies.

Glad to hear it Tiffany! 😃

Thanks Gean! 🙏🏼

You've got this Sashwat! Keep up the spirit that is always learning!

That's a challenge for sure. I also found that waiting until it is silent to be pretty effective instead of trying to talk over them. Good luck Jenna and let me know if you go with the air horn! Haha.

Yeah it can be frustrating for sure.

Hey Z, sorry for the late response on this. I think self-assessments can really be helpful. The only thing with having them get signed daily by parents is keeping track of all of it; how will you track who brought them back and what is the consequence of not getting it signed? Is it easier to do a weekly one where students fill it out Mon-Thur with the time you give them in class and then get signed to bring back Friday? Could this be electronic instead of paper based? What will you do with the self-assessment? An alternative would be to use a tool like Class Dojo; it's more of you notating if students were respectful, had homework, etc. Class Dojo will automatically send that report to parents at the end of the week. You can have students do a self-assessment and then compare their self-assessment to what was recorded in Class Dojo; ask them what they notice, were they off? If so, how? RU-vid Class Dojo to see how teachers are using it but I think that'll end up being less work for you but will still involve the parent communication. Not every parents will sign up to receive the reports but at the same time, but you can only do so much. Let me know what you end up doing :)

I'm so sorry to hear that :( I know it can be so frustrating when it seems like strategies that used to work with most of your classes in years before are not working anymore. I hope things get better.

That's so great to hear the strategies are working in your class Karinna! Maybe try a seating chart during normal class time and then when it's work time, tell them they may choose where to sit and work. Emphasize the expectation of working with someone you can stay focused with and that you'll separate students if they become a distraction to themselves or others. Tell them they get one warning. Then the FIRST instance you see a student getting off task, calmly tell them that this is their warning and if/when they start acting up, let them know they can return to their seats and work independently for the day. As soon as students see you're serious right off the bat, they'll be more mindful of the expectations.

We do flex seating but we still assign a flex seat. Students can submit preference if they want a standing, laying down flex seat etc.

No private lessons but happy to offer tips & advice when I can 😃

It's a different planet for sure.

Hey Elena. That's tough for sure, particularly when they're playing off each other. I would introduce a seating chart if you don't have one and make sure they aren't next to each other. Don't be apologetic about it, just say it's going to make the learning experience better and thank them for cooperating. If students are off task, I generally avoid calling them out by name as it creates a power struggle, but I'll saying general statements like 'please stay seated in your seats until we're done with this activity.' Students will sometimes then say 'but I need to ________' and I'll just repeat, 'please stay in your seat until we're done with this activity.' All that said, the best thing is to build a connection with these students which can be tough if you've already developed a bit of a tense relationship. Greet these students (and all students) at the door and genuinely ask how they're doing. If you have lunch detention and the students come to your room, talk to them, get to know them, etc. If they know you care, that'll be a step in the right direction for getting them to be a contributing member of your class. Hope that helps. Classroom management is tough and there generally aren't any simple answers since the behaviors and dynamics can be complex.

I had a few students who were performing to the rest of the class and it was getting ridiculous. None of the techniques above worked, because they were looking for laughs from their peers. So I did a simple countdown with a points system, if I got to zero and the class was quiet, the class got a point. If I got to zero and people were still talking, then I got a point. At the end of the day the class could choose a game, got to play or choose a video if they had more points than me. Most days its been working as peer pressure soon brought those kids into line. The added benefit was that I could be quite neutral about it, "Oh dear, you guys didn't get a point". Maybe that might help?

@@albertienchignell8760 did this end up working for the rest of the year?

@@sceneitallwithjeffandjon6984 Yes I would say it worked.Combined with this I also spoke to them privately about their behaviours and how it was stopping the class from learning. I also gave them lots of public praise and acknowledgement when they were doing the right thing, even if it was only for a moment!

@@gibsonedu "Classroom management is tough and there generally aren't any simple answers since the behaviors and dynamics can be complex." Exactly why so many teachers leave the profession. If we are spending this much time with "classroom management" and accepting this as the norm of teaching; were just enabling this these behaviors. Teachers are not getting support from the administration or the parents to have consequences for disrespect. What about those students who come to learn and behave? The system is upside down.

Hey Misty. You have a very challenging situation so just know there isn't going to be a quick fix to this. You've been put in a situation that is difficult to succeed in; in what world can one person keep 40-50 students in a small space quiet. That said, I would for sure have a seating chart. Project it when they come into class. They will complain but just say 'I know, it's the worst, let me know if you need help finding your seat' and don't show any sign that you're going to change your mind. Tell them you'll try it for two weeks. If folks are quiet, you can move back to no seating charts. But if you do move back to no seating charts, let them know that if there's excessive talking, you'll go back to the seating chart. Give them 3 strikes; if I have to put up 3 strikes any one class period, we'll move back to the seating chart. WHILE you have them in the seating chart, try to keep a few seats near you open if possible to move students who continue to talk. Don't try to find something for them to do. Tell them they can work on something or put their head down. I can't promise this will work but it may be worth a try. It's hard to keep a large group of students engaged in work when you're not actually teaching a lesson.

Simple punishments likely won't change the behavior. Needs to be bigger changes in your classroom culture and how the classroom is run. Check out The Classroom Management Book by Harry Wong.

I’ve used the NOISE strategy with high schools effectively. Go into it with confidence, not with worry that they’ll think it’s lame. They can smell that worry.

I'm sorry to hear that Meitsme. Substitute teaching can be very challenging for sure.

Glad to hear it Jovanny!

Hey Kyaira, I'm sorry to hear the first days haven't been going very well. I made another video about how to set that tone and get students to begin to follow procedures even after you feel you've lost control of them. It may help you out - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r2A0ANPXTNY.html

There's definitely something to treating students as if they're older than they are and seeing them live into those expectations.

Yes, I have seen this work in inner-city middle school.@@gibsonedu

That's a challenging situation for sure Charles. Here's a video where I had a similar situation and what I did about it - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r2A0ANPXTNY.html&ab_channel=ThomGibson

Yeah that can be tough if there's no clear system in place of who should be working on what.

Ha, I was definitely the student that I now get frustrated with; a college professor once had to move me and say 'you have to sit over there from now on.' Actually that happened in two classes in college now that I think about it. I guess it's all coming back on me now.

I don't think so...what did you have in mind? Have marbles in there and take one out when it gets too loud...no talking if it gets empty? Could be a fantastic visual cue for students.

How did it go Julie?

I hear that. But I also know that many students aren't motivated by grades. And while it feels good that we were able to punish them by giving them a bad grade, it doesn't really change the behavior. And then if they just keep falling further behind, there's less motivation to even try, which leads to even more behavior issues. And the grades should be a reflection of their understanding of the content and as a teacher I really want them to understand the content, not try to 'catchem' by assessing them before their ready as a punishment.

@@gibsonedu True, I almost forgot that grades don't yet matter to middle schoolers just as long as their parents aren't unhappy. And they're at a critical age when they're learning to sink or swim socially.

I have another video where I talk about this word riddle thing I used to do when I was a substitute that really seemed to engage the kids. You can see it here - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2naP9JRjJuU.html

I didn't usually take them to the office. Just had a conversation with them in the hall (while standing in the doorway to monitor the kids still in the class).

It's a battlefield out there.

Oh, you are beyond awesome, by the way! :)

Hey Dolly :) I use a Google Slide to create a seating chart and I design it to look just like the room so when students look up at it, it's very clear which desks are which (maybe notate on the slide 'front of room' as well). I use a square or rectangle for the tables or seats and then use a text box to write their name where they are sitting. No stickers or numbers. And chanting call-and-responses will work with 7th grade, you just have to own it yourself and not doing half-heartedly, worrying that they may think it's silly.

@@gibsonedu YES! I think OWNING whatever my plans are will be key! Thank you SO much, your videos are incredibly helpful!!

​@@gibsonedu Week 1. The Class - Yes chant is fun and good for everyone. Works well. Thanks!

Ha, so oblivious.

I think your intuition is correct Diane; whether the student is in the hall or a separate part of the classroom, if you can have the other students occupied while you speak with the student privately that will work. But I wouldn't try to have the 30 minute conversation at that time, more of a quick check in and maybe that student can meet with you before school or during lunch for the more extended conversation so they aren't missing class time with another teacher.

For sure. It sounds like you teach in a challenging classroom and I hope things get better.

By itself it won't solve all the noise problems, but it's another tool in the toolkit for teachers to try.