I gave my class a science assignment on solar hotdog cookers and to them it meant they could jump up and dash across the classroom and talk to their friends.  Where do they get these ideas?  I know they work in groups in the lower grades.  I am only 4th grade.  How do they think that I will EVER allow my class to be out of control? 

It is frustrating that every time I give an assignment that they can work on together, I end up getting loud to quiet them down.  Yes, I have tried counting quietly, I have tried dinging a little bell, it all quiets them eventually but why can't they just do it quietly in the first place?  If they could just keep it to a dull roar, I would be happy.

They listen to loud music, they yell at each other in a room, (not even a big room) they scream outside like banshees.  They talk through SSR, DEAR, Library and movies.  Do these kids ever work quietly?