I'm teaching a middle school class every weekday afternoon, and for the most part it's going well. I do have one fifth-grader who is a total shithead and I don't know what to do about him. He's the typical disrespectful ten-year-old prick with a mullet and half-assed parents (apparently this weekend they all watched Idiocracy together, what a great movie for a fifth grader). He won't stay in his seat, he shouts over everyone else whenever he gets the urge to speak, and he has absolutely zero respect for my authority as the teacher. On the first day of class he actually took a mocking tone to bitch about the class and how "boring" and "annoying" I was. I threw him out of the class and he hasn't done that since, but he's still a disrespectful little prick.
Without completely throwing this kid out of my class, what can I do? I know exactly what he needs, and it's for his mother to smack him into next week. But that's not going to happen, and if I do that I'm going to get sued, so what's the next best thing? So far he settles down if I cut him a look and tell him to knock it off, but then he's doing it again within the same hour. Suggestions?


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I actually haven't started stripping yet but I have been teaching for a few years and it's been children of all ages. I've had some great classes and I've had some that have almost given me a nervous breakdown! The book that helped me the most in maintaining my cool and keeping the kids in line was "Setting Limits in the Classroom." The book basically gives you ideas for time outs, not giving repeated warnings, laying down the rules and having consequences, etc.

I believe you Dottie and you have my support 



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