The rules are made for the sake of education, not education for the sake of the rules. Which is to say, whatever modification(s) work best in your situation to best facilitate the education of the students is the goal while keeping your own energy output reasonable and constructive.

I have found group work to be the last step in the actualization ladder; something to use when students are already working well individually. So I used to give several injunctions about the rules of group work before breaking students into groups, and demonstrate how I could tell just by the tone of voice and the body language of the group if they were indeed discussing the assignment, then actually demonstrate or imitate students discussing the assignment vs. gossiping or whatever, and you can–there is a whole different tone of voice, facial expression and body language used when discussing whether Aristotle’s ethics are still present in western culture vs. who should have won American Idol.

The injunctions I give basically center around the idea that if the mood of the class is off-task or not focused enough we stop–in plain words, if group work by my judgment is hurting the educational effort more than helping, we go back to individual work until we are ready to try again.

You of course do not want to be a gofer running around being a private instructor x 25 students. Again there is a judgment call. I’ve told students to spend a little more time trying to solve it themselves before asking me, or to the student who perennially asks questions that there is a 10,000 question limit per semester and they have surpassed it–but you know your students best. Honesty (vs. political-correctness) goes a long way in education and with students. So I’ve been known to say ‘I’m answering too many questions and working too hard. You’re on your own for ten minutes. If you can’t figure it out by yourself, try harder, or call someone tonight”.

“But you’re supposed to be the teacher–it’s your job to answer questions!”
“Yup” (end of discussion, read the communication

I never confuse being a caring teacher with being a slave.

Lol–I’ve also been known to say, ‘I know your elementary school teacher Ms. Appleseed told you there is no such thing as a bad question–and she might have been right until now–but that was a bad question. Please think before asking’.

All that said, I am no pedagogy expert, only good at keeping classes in order so that teachers’ individual pedagogy expertise can shine!

The school I taught at for the last 3.5 years was 100% Somali Muslim immigrants. Absolutely nobody, (and I do mean nobody!!!) had great classroom management with this group. I may be returning to this school again as a combination PE teacher-classroom teacher.

If detention is not a possibility (and I can see a Principal using the words “absolutely not in my school, buddy,” then my hands are really tied. Missing recess or detaining them for 15 minutes for lunch seem like punishments for the teacher, and not a realistic consequence at our school.

I think all this is great, my doubts are with the consequence.

I hear you! I have a grade 3/4 class – 8 and 9 year olds. I have the same children that were in grade 3 last year. My room was a cyclone, chairs and tables upturned, rubbish on floor, nothing put back. It got to the point where i took away their trays in their desks. I started the year afresh and I have implemented the rules for 3 weeks now. I am no expert but i have had children do the same thing. My response is what would you prefer? this puts the ball in the students court. They really dont want to miss out on lunch, they are just saying that to see what reaction they get and to see if you are going to follow through? I also give my kids a choice, as in my school i can only make them miss out on lunch at the “red seat” near the principals office for major behaviour things like violence, i sit the students outside the classroom, (I have had ten there at one time for talking when i am talking, calling out, laying on the carpet etc). I tell them they can do 10 minutes now or 20 mins after school. I go and have my lunch in the staffroom, and come back in 10 minutes, they are all still sitting there. But if they dont or if the other children tell me they ran away and come back, they get 20 minutes after school.

I know you may not be able to keep them after school and in which case, they come for two days at lunch times.

Good luck.

Also, you might review the rules daily and have students practice these behaviors with you until it becomes more habit with them.