They're Learning How to Take Turns

I'm beginning to see a pattern. Every time a problem-causing child either improves his or her behavior or is removed from my class, one or more that were previously manageable students start acting up to fill the gap. It's almost as if they're working in shifts.

Young Bobby* has experienced some kind of miraculous transformation. We had been off for a week for Fall Break. When we returned, there was a major difference in his behavior. He does his work. If he needs help, he stays in his seat and raises his hand. He even asks if he can get up to get a tissue. He isn't 100% perfect; he still talks to his friends while I'm talking. The noticeable difference, though, is that he no longer seems to be trying to get himself in trouble.

There are three young ladies in the class that I used to have a handle on. I keep them seated as far from each other as possible to minimize chatting. They used to give me some attitude, but I didn't mind much. I realized that it wasn't personal: they're just teenage girls. However, within the past week, it has gone from attitude to insolence and defiance. One of the girls is constantly talking. Sometimes she is talking to her neighbors about something that has nothing to do with class. When I do have her attention, something I say will remind her of something that happened that she must share with the class. When I interrupt her, she acts as if it was so terribly rude of me. Another one makes personal attacks. She said that I live in la basura. (She was surprised when I knew what that meant.) She said that I buy all of my shoes at the flea market. When a fly flew by me, she announced to the class that it's because I never take showers. All three of them love to argue. They will argue with me about what page of the book I said we were on, whose turn it is to use the bathroom, or how to pronounce a word in a story. When assigned detention for talking, they immediately claim they weren't talking. (Yesterday, one said, "I was just looking at my shoe.") Then they say it's not fair, and I'm the worst teacher ever. Finally, they announce that they're not going to serve detention, and they don't care what happens to them.

I don't know what brought on this sudden increase in negativity. I would like to settle these girls down if I could. But I would almost be afraid to. I would worry that some other student or students would start acting up to take their place.

*Not student's real name.