Wear dark smart clothing, trust me it works. Also make sure you arrive at the classroom before them. Don't try too hard to be their friend as they will try to walk all over you. Don't get too annoyed or yell as bratty kids often find this amusing, also many really bad kids have really bad parents so threatening them with notes home will only encourage them. Try sitting them at the back of the classroom on their own rather than the front, it gives you time to clear your head when walking over to them by counting to ten. It might be worth a try to set up a classroom reward system to encourage good behaviour. Then children won't be encouraged to join with the misbehaving child as they won't get the reward.

Can't reprimand 9/10 yr olds in school????? Ridiculous! Have the Principal call the parents and pick them up from school for misbehaving. Third time it happens....expell them for a week. Maybe the parents will have an influence on them more at home so it doesn't happen at school....remember CONSISTENCY

Discipline system: Put the numbers 1-4 on the board like this: 4 3 2 1 Cross one off everytime the class gets loud. My teacher had us right a two parragraph essay after she crossed off "1". For every additional offense, you add a paragraph to the essay. After a while they'll get it. But you have to make sure that you count the essays for credit, even if its just participation points. When the parents complain that their kids are bringing home an essay every night, explain that the class needs to learn that its not okay to misbehave. And especially if its the parents of those who misbehave most often, use the oppurtunity to talk to them. Let the kids know the next day that you talked to their parents. don't say why, just say you did.

I agree with the essay-writing. I teach and when my students misbehave or don't follow directions, I have them write an essay about why it is important to follow directions, how they did not follow directions, and what they will do to follow directions in the future. And start quizzing them on the information you're teaching while they are misbehaving. Another tip is to never raise your voice. It is actually much more effective to lower the tone of your voice and speak slowly and clearly. They'll stop in their tracks as soon as they hear that voice.

Teaching is a vocation and every teacher brings their uniqueness into their classroom; there is no 'one size fits all'; you have to take responsibility for how you are going to teach your class. You have to want to teach your class. You know you can do it, but you must believe you can do it. If you don't believe it, you will be stressed and that's when the kids will take advantage. Be respectful and you will teach respect; be truthful and you will teach honesty; trust yourself and your kids will trust you.