An unruly tidal wave

Today I learned what it’s like to have an out of control classroom. I’m standing at the front of the room, knowing my class is on the verge of being lost. My 20 seniors, who are supposed to be talking with their assigned partners about rules for respectful classroom discussion, are clearly distracted. In an effort to curtail the noise level, currently rising like an unruly tidal wave, I visit each pair. Without aggressive scolding or yelling, I try to guide each student back to the topic. My seeds yield little fruit, however, so I decide it’s time to call the group to attention. Easier said than done. After battling with the class-wide side conversation for a minute, I decide to wait for silence and glare reprovingly at the perpetrators. This strategy takes at least 2 whole minutes to achieve results, during which time I catch the faces and looks every teacher dreads: my best students are bored, unengaged, and frustrated with my lack of classroom discipline. After dejectedly relaying the last of the classroom discussion rules, I give in and show a video for the last 10 minutes of class. The bell rings, and I’m left with abject disappointment in my students and exhaustive frustration at my ineffectiveness. Tomorrow, there will be order or serious consequences.