[mesmark]

It's hard work to get that many kids focused on something.

What I do is strip the room of anything under 3 feet (in height.) That way there is really little left in the room to be of interest, other than what I have. So hopefully if they wander off there won't be much else to do, look at or play with and they'll eventually gravitate back.

Also, just because they aren't there with you doesn't mean they aren't listening.

I just try to stay focused on the lesson and keep going. If they get so out of hand that it's distracting the others, I tell them they don't have to do what we're doing but if they don't want to do it, they have to stay out of the way. Generally, they don't like be excluded, so that has actually worked to keep them with the group. But I have separated out some kids and had some crying episodes.

Where are you teaching? Are the mothers in the room or other teachers?