I asked this question in the teachers section. But because this page is specifically for creative movement I will ask again here. I just started teaching dance (creative movement mainly) at an elementary school (pre-k through 5th grade) My pre-school classes are going great!!! My older classes are going well too!

But I am struggling HARD with my kindergarten classes. I have 4 different kinder classes, each has 24 students. It's just me and them. They are sooo out of control. It is complete and utter chaos. They talk and scream, I can't get them quiet cuz they can't hear me over each other. They all want to sit on top of each other. I gave them assigned seats. Once they get there they want to spin in circles at their seat.
What things can be done in a creative movement class (remember I have boys too) to get them focused???

Also, The worst part of the class is getting shoes on and getting them lined up. They always wind up pushing and shoving and yelling and crying. In one class I have a little boy that thinks shoe time is his special invitation to run all around the room, climb on the mirrors, and kick each child. I need HELP!!!!

A class of 24 is way to large, can you get an assistant?
I don't teach classes for that age larger than 12.
Are they required to be there or is it voluntary.
I find forcing kids to dance or move is the worst thing you can do, it may make them hate dance forever.
I have my kids stand on a star spot when they come into class, these are spaced evenly throughout the room so the kids will not touch each other if their arms are raised to the sides.
Start with a very upbeat, high energy song.
I have a jumping and counting song, this helps them get some of their excitement and wiggles out. I then do another fast paced warm up song, then sit and stretch. We then do things across the floor, skips, leaps, turns, etc. Then we have group dances or partner activities. You can work on dance concepts like fast/slow, directions, etc.
If you want more suggestions, feel free to pm me!
I love this age group.
Hope this helps.

Well Im in an elementary school and I teach EVERY classroom in that school so I of course have no control over the size of my classes. I know 24 is waaay to many, but it can't and won't change. So I have to deal with it.
Every child in the school gets dance, so no they are not choosing to be in my class. They have to take dance wether they like it or not.
Since writing this post I found out that the Kindergraten class I was having so much trouble with is actually a class of developmentally challenged students, that aren't exactly ready for school. Being a brand new teacher (Istarted on Halloween) no one told me this. I couldnt understand why my pre-school class was going so much better than this kindergarten, now I know!
So I will just have to totally redesign my class. Any suggestions for teaching a developmentally challenged class of 24 children?!?!?!

I would REALLY advise getting an assistant. Is there a high school student around you can convince to help you? Maybe if they need volunteer hours or work-experience hours or something? Or even just getting another adult in the room who doesn't even dance? I have a class with nine kids in it, none of whom are challenged in any way, and I find sometimes THEY'RE pretty difficult to deal with, let alone 24. Anybody you can find?

get an asst. i was an assistant for a while. i was in high school and volunteered at the local elem. school. the teacher i was helping had no control over her class. i walked in and every kid stopped and stared at me. the girls ran up to me and asked if i was a real ballerina ( i was wearing full costume ) an old costume i was surprised i still fit in it...lol i had a boy come up to me and ask me if i knew the rat king...the was the cutest question i have ever gotten. i taught them several dances, i also told them to practice everyday. a parent came into class one wed. and asked me how i got her son to dance. i just told her i told them stories of famous(their heroes) people who they know, that all started out dancing. and it was a peice of cake after that. i even told them about superman and batmans tights...lol

Here's a movement game idea:

Try to get their attention by crouching on the floor in the center of the room and asking them to "gather round" for a game. Ok, now they're all on the floor around you, curious. Tell them you are going to play a game called "Let's Put On a Show". The way it works is that you will call out something and those children who have that something get to stand up and perform a movement that you request. The rest of the children are to stay seated on the floor and be the appreciative audience. Examples: Anyone wearing a belt (or anyone whose name starts with a certain letter, etc.) stand up and twirl around like a tornado. The performers do this one time around the room. Audience applauds. Now, anyone wearing pink stripes, stand up and march like a soldier, etc. You can adapt this by saying that you will choose a very good and quiet audience member to choose the next movement. Suddenly (hopefully) everyone will be "good" so they will be picked. By keeping the game quick and asking the audience lots of questions about the performance they just saw (did that look like a tornado to you?), you will hopefully keep them contained and interested.

Good luck to you!

find the Popcorn Song, that is so fun. they are all kernels in a pan and the the floor gets hotter and hotter and at the end they pop pop pop

it should be online somewhere... find a fun cd they can wiggle and squiggle too maybe. or try having them get shoes a couple at a time at the end of class. say, the shoes are lined up against one wall, do something across the floor (walk like a bug or a favorite animal or develop a sequence) starting on the wall opposite the hsoes. have each child go separately and pause for appluase when they finish and put on their shoes. after shoes are on they hafta line up to go back to class, hopefully by then the teacher will be there to keep them in line (literally...)

I would really try to get an assistant...that dots idea as posted above really works great as well...I have this problem with my Kindergarten class as well though, I teach at a private school, and I think it has to do with the fact that the kids feel like they are at PE or recess when they get to leave class, this adds to the problem of them acting up. If getting an assistant doesn't work I would try to conact the parents and have them talk to the kids about listening etc, and then maybe try o impliment some sort of discipline system, such as sitting out for a little while if they act up...