So I'm an after school teacher for kindergarten and there are a few first graders in the class. I have been having a lot of issues with getting them to follow directions. For example at the beginning of class we have study hall which is either they read or do homework and is usually an issue because a lot of them will say they don't have homework and if I tell them yo get out a book they will say they don't want to, or they don't know how to read, and stuff like that. After they read we start centers which is our activities of the day and I have issues with getting them to settle down and listen to my directions. It also adds on with the problem children I have in the class as in the ones who like to disobey a lot and it just adds on and gets the other kids to participate in the chaos. I honestly am at the point where I want to quit because I'm so stressed outwith everything. I need ideas and methods on techniques of what I should do to better the situation. A lot of the time to the kids don't even care when I get them in trouble and speak to their parents because they tell me the parents don't care so why should they.
please help.