You Don't Get To Say No to the Teacher...

I don't think I'm really a bossy person. In fact, I really tend to allow others to make the decisions and just go with it. However, when it comes to my students if I say "jump" I want them to jump. I don't want them to ask when or why or how high. I just want them to give it their best shot and jump. Ya know?
So, today I am sitting at a table with a small group and (of course, not naming the child) girl child has a silly band in her mouth. (For those of you who don't know, a silly band is the most annoying thing ever invented. It's a bracelet made out of a rubber band in the shape of some sort of animal, etc.) Well, girl child's silly band was broken and so she had it in her mouth. I get so grossed out by that sort of behavior and the kids know that. I cannot stand for them to put things in their mouths that don't belong there. So, I say to girl child, "get that out of your mouth and throw it away please." Girl child says, "no. I want to keep it. I like to play with it." I say, "no, hunny, it is broken. It is trash. Throw it away." Girl child says, "no." I (in a not nice tone) say, "GET THAT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH. PUT IT IN THE TRASH CAN. NOW!" Girl child says nothing and stomps over to the trash can. On the way to the trash can, girl child bucks up at another child who looked at her funny. I tell her to stop acting like that and she tells me that the child looked at her funny. I say, "too bad. That is still no reason to behave that way." So, she stomps back to the chair at the table and sits down. Now, she refuses to do her work. I was so mad by this point I sent her to her desk. I mean, really???
I have truly had one crazy week... take into account that we had no school Monday and today is only Wednesday and you'll see why things like saying "no" to me have sent me over the edge. I am tired of defiant children. I moved their desks around Tuesday morning and hoped that would cut down on the talking. I will soon be moving them again. I so wish they could sit in groups but they simply cannot stop talking.
Another thing is that I work very hard with them to get them to be on task and working hard and behaving. As soon as another adult walks in the room and needs my attention the kids act like they don't have a clue... they're up out of their seat running around, they're being mean to each other, they're interrupting me... I just don't get it. I think I need a sign on my door that says, "Please. Please, just don't come to the door if I am in the middle of teaching." Would that be horrible? lol
Alright, enough complaining. On the bright side, while they have been wild after lunch every day, they have been perfect in the mornings. I am so proud of what they have accomplished in the mornings. They behave well. They do well with using their manners. They work well together. They walk down the hall quietly. They really are perfect. I have just got to work even harder to get the afternoons under control. Wish me luck!

Oh, and one more thing!! Yesterday we started learning about greater than and less than. One of my sweet children (I call her and one other girl in my class my "little ladies" because they are so tiny) said, "I get it!! I didn't get that other stuff we were doing, but I get this!!" She was so excited and had the biggest smile on her face. Oh, I love that child!