Fundamental behavior issues in a 2nd year (7th grade) classroom
Hello!
TL;DR - what procedures do you implement or use to help kids actually show up on time and ready for class, and to follow directions the first time they're given.
Context: I teach in Japan, so we start school in April. So we are about a month into the year, and have not learned a song yet. It's not beginning band, so the students can play (mostly). But they lack fundamentals like posture, breathing, etc.
I am having some issues with my current 7th graders and looking for possible solutions. The main issues are fundamental behavior problems, none of them musical, but because of them we can't get anything done. Part of it is the sheer number of students doing these things. The class is 43 kids. Is say about 10-15 of them fall into this category.
Some examples of things that have happened.
Class starts, I say "hold up your pencil" and 15 or so students hold up nothing. We then wait for them to go get their stuff. Then I ask "ok hold up your music book" and the same thing repeats itself. This wasted almost half the class. What they need for class never changes AND it's always written on the board. Yet every single class students don't have what they need.
At the start of class there is a timer on the board and students are expected to be set up and ready by the time it ends. There's always students talking and playing up until the timer goes off at which point they come to their seats, again we all have to wait for these students.
I've had multiple instances of students shouting out a question while I'm teaching and then saying "thank you" and just going to do what they asked before I even answer. Every time this happens I make them sit back down and call them out for being disrespectful.
Just general small things, when I ask students to stand up, a group doesn't, when I ask students to sing, they don't, when I ask them to play, they don't, when I ask them to breathe etc.
The expectations are clear, I know this because there's also an equally large group (larger even) of students who are in their seat completely ready before the bell even rings. I give them 5 minutes from when the bell rings to be ready with all of their things.
Every year I always struggle at the start of the year, getting everyone to do things. The kids typically think they can get away with doing nothing. But in years past by this point in the year students finally get it and stop trying to do nothing. I understand it takes time for them to understand my expectations, but it's never taken this long. Usually within a few weeks of constant reminders they understand that they need to be silent when we make music, and need to be ready, and follow directions the first time.
Do you have any advice. In the past I have not had this much of a problem. This group (I've heard from other teachers) needs extra help and individual support it seems so any strategies you have used please share! I want to give them the education they deserve.