- Blackgypsyrose has got problems with her Year 10 class (www.tes.co.ukyear10behaviour); some of them just won’t stop talking. The offending pupils had been set detentions, but some of them didn’t turn up. There’s advice from other teachers on this thread on the next steps to take. Kath2003 suggests referring the matter to the head of department or to your mentor.

- Another NQT has been told not to be too nice (www.tes.co.uktoonice) to the pupils and is looking for guidance on how to be strict without being mean. There’s some sound advice here including: don’t try to mimic what others do if you’re not comfortable with that approach and set up clear guidelines “that the pupil must adhere to while still teaching with a smile”.

- Our behaviour forum is a useful place to check out for further tips. You might find inspiration from the thread titled “What are your best one-liners to respond to pupils’ comments?” Here are a few choice replies you can give when pupils say: “This is boring”: “Not as boring as detention”; “I’m sure it is but think how good you’ll feel when you’ve finished doing it”; “I know. Imagine having to teach it all day after day”. You’ll find hundreds more one-liners to add to your armoury in this discussion. (www.tes.co.ukoneliners).

- You’ll also find advice on dealing with the perennial problem of chair swinging (www.tes.co.ukchairswinging). How about making the offenders kneel, stand up, sit on the floor or write an essay on how to sit in a chair. A couple of teachers had even resorted to sawing legs off furniture and getting students to sit on a two-legged chair.

Get advice from experienced teachers and support from your peers at www.tes.co.uknqtforum.