First Day back

I started the day in a good mood which lasted all the way through. A grade 8 class who worked hard and a three grade 6 classes that were fairly good.

I do have one class that is giving me problems, they have been problematic from the start and everything I have tried to keep them motivated and on track seems to have stuttered. I have not really come up with a successful strategy for getting around their behavour. Its not that they are bad they are just overly noisy and talkative and getting control at the start of the lesson can be an issue as they show little respect for authority or staff (This is across all classes not just mine).

I have been doing some online research into strategies that could act as a calming influence, thinking perhaps that I need to employ some sort of psychology to control the situation.I am considering shuffling pupils around to split up talkative groups with mixed gender groups, the main problem with that sort of technique is that the pupils are all very close across the year groups and putting a boy or girl into a group of the other gender may not really make any major differences. Guess I find out tomorrow.

The rest of the day apart went well, I did have a minor issue with my water bill !! It had come in while I was away and I tried to pay it on the Sunday but it had already passed the pay by date. In Colombia if you dont pay on time they just cut off your amenities...(Painful) I went to the Administration and complained and they agreed that if I gave them the money they would send someone down personally to the water company tomorrow and pay the bill. A nice touch.

So one day back good periods and a frustrating one tomorrow should be a very good day though the very first class is the one that is giving problems so I will have to see if they are as exciteable first thing as they are just before lunch.

Manyana mi amigos