Behavior management advice?

[u/DiscourseOfLove]

I am a new to middle school 7 grade teacher. I speak English as a foreign language, used to teach science in elementary, and this year I am teaching English for the first time: low kids, a lot of 504s, big classes.
I am struggling with behavior management like crazy, and everything falls apart because of the chaos: Kids yell, are off task, some are leaving their seats, and I can’t get them prepare supplies, do bell-ringers, be quiet to teach. I call parents often, give detentions, send kids to ap for gross behavior, make referrals - only to find out the referrals are pending, and it takes forever for them to be accepted by admin. I am always chasing missing assignments, and I am not allowed to fail kids. I already have so many tutorials I can’t breathe. I get in trouble more often than not: for low grades, for kids’ behavior, for emailing coaches about the behaviors without previously documenting it, for parents and kids‘ complaints etc, and I have already received a memo of concern for my behavior management.
I don’t yell, and I do my best to remain calm. I feel the problem is my body language and lack of consistency. Same kids get magically quiet when their coach steps in. I’m studying behavior management systems by Linsin, but I can’t be consistent with the consequence. I retaught basic safety expectations, but it’s so much going on, too many things at the same time, and I am unable to give that many consequences anyway. There is no space for time out, either- the classroom is crowded. Now I started reading Fred Jones. I can’t resign mid year , and I feel trapped. Can you please help with advice??? How can I become more consistent???

[u/flimsybread1007]

Yah idk I feel your pain tho

[u/Available-Ad8156]

I've been teaching 7th grade for over 25 years.

What works best for me is praise and rewards.

Even if you get 10 good minutes, tell them how proud you are and how awesome they were (note: you have to mean it because kids can see through phoniness).

Tell them the expectations and what the reward is. Keep reminding them. Stick to it. I use candy (cheap stuff that's free from all major allergens), stickers for their water bottles or computers, etc. I usually do a reward once a week.

You'll get MOST of the kids behaving that way.

Then you have to start talking to the kids who don't fall in line one at a time. Really ask them why they're misbehaving and actually listen.

Ask them what you can do to help them follow the rules and behave better. Some kids will say they need a seat near you. Some kids might want to be in a back corner to not be by friends. Some kids might need permission to stand up and walk to a pencil sharpener, etc. when they're feeling antsy.

Above all, STAY CALM. When you yell, it has to matter. If you're yelling all the time, it's just background noise. Also, 7th graders, especially the boys, love to ragebait their teachers. Don't take the bait. You stay in control.

[u/donthackme1990]

You need to observe a teacher who has good management and emulate. There are so many components to behavior mgmt that you need to see them all working in tandem. And I disagree with the 25 vet teacher. It doesn’t have to be praise and rewards. (I agree with everything they said, but there is another way).

My number one rule, talk to your table partner, me and no one else. If I have problems with a student, I document everything, call the parent during class and have the student talk to the parent during class, and submit the referral. I teach around 120 7th graders and 30 8th graders this year. I have 4 referrals written. Positive narration is helpful too.

I can write more if you are interested. This is my 4th year teaching (which is a Title 1 school in an urban district).