Keep being positive and don't try to blame yourself!  The mere fact that you are coming here asking for help means you're more dedicated to making sure your kids actually learn unlike a lot of other teachers.  If it helps try to put yourself in their shoes when you were in 7th grade and try to approach the situation from their point of view.  Try talking to other teachers who have the children in other classes.  Maybe they had the same problems at one point.

Stay positive!  You can do it!

KMK let me know what you come up with to control your classroom. middle school and high school math and/or science is what I'm interested in teaching.

KMK, first of all, I know others have said this, but the fact that you care enough to seek help says volumes about you as not only a teacher, but a good one. It can be a very emotionally tough job because you care so much yet feel so ineffective sometimes.

My first year in Houston, I taught middle school special ed. They pretty much ate me alive when I first got there. Towards the middle and end of the year, things were better, but still far far far from perfect. One thing that helped me a lot was to stay in frequent contact with parents. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but positive phone calls really have made a difference for me, every year. Make sure the parents know to tell the kids that their teacher called and why. The kids will most likely be shocked. Call 5 per night. Start with the hardest ones. Also, then parents will be more likely to back you up if you do need their support reinforcing a homework plan or consequence. Also, I think it is good to know your administration well and keep them posted on things you’ve tried. That lets them know that you are serious about your teaching and also makes them more likely to help you out when you really need it. I’m sure you posted and discussed classroom rules – its funny, when I left middle school to go to elementary special ed, my roommate and I used to compare stories (she was still in middle school) and our kids would do the EXACT SAME THINGS, only mine were 5 and had an organic reason for their behavior. That makes me think that even in middle school, your kids are likely to need lots of practice practice practice at what you expect behaviorally in terms of general rules, but also in terms of procedures (like sharpening pencils, turning in homework, putting away supplies, etc.). Another mistake I made my first year was trying to do too much too fast. I had all these cool activity ideas and I was always trying to get them to work in groups, which were really hard to keep on task, no matter what I did. Sometimes you have to scale back and have them do seatwork, even though it kills you a little bit, so that you can manage your classroom and do individual or small group work. This makes it a little easier to individualize what they are doing too. Another mistake I made (and still make) is automatically thinking if something doesn’t work the first few times, I need to switch it all up. In reality, it takes 3-5 weeks of CONSISTENT implementation for some behavior systems to kick in. If kids figure out that their behavior is getting you riled up (even if you don’t show it outwardly – changing your reactions to things too many times will clue them in!) they will persist at inventing all sorts of new ways to not do their work and drive you nuts. When they break a rule, provided they know the consequence, enforce it EVERY TIME. Natural consequences are the best. Involving kids in thinking of good natural consequences can be helpful.

Everyone has bad classes and bad days. Try not to beat yourself up over it. I know its hard not to!! My mother told me once not to be so arrogant to assume I would be the only teacher who would ever care about these kids. And while it pissed me off at first, I realized she was right. You will not reach every kid. You will try your damndest, but you will not. And there will be other teachers, coaches, employers, friends, and family members somewhere along the line for those kids. It does not mean you loved them any less, or that you failed them, or that you are not a good teacher. Keep your chin up. Tings will get better and those kids will make you prouder than you ever thought you could feel.