a peak into the classroom

The students are shouting and running around. The boys are hitting each other and rolling on the floor. The girls are braiding each others hair. Some are sitting quietly, maybe even reading. A few stragglers have snuck outside to the little shop to buy some chewy squid or a sweet bun. Class was supposed to start 15 minutes ago. We (my co-teacher) and I stand in front of the class respectfully asking the students to be quiet, to sit down, and start class. Once 40 out of the 50 kids are finally in their seats, the class leader shouts "Leady, lise" (Ready, rise). They never have been that great at pronouncing their "R's". We say "Good morning" and tell the students to sit down. A few students who have snuck away to the toilet, slowly come in to the classroom bowing and whispering in broken English, "Teacher, may I come in please". We nod and they sit down. Usually not so quietly. The ones who have left for the toilet, generally like to come in and disrupt the whole class. We normally separate our classes. Some classes, I take to the library. Others, I stay in the classroom. The lesson begins. Every few minutes, "Be quiet" comes out of my mouth. If you talk for too long in front of the students, you will slowly lose each and every one. You realize that you probably just sound like a bunch of jibber jabber to these kids. Their English is poor, especially when they do not try. You try to bring the students back to attention and decide to break them off into groups. Give them an activity. Walk around and stop at each group one by one and kill them with compliments. "Very good!" "Great job!" "Ok, you're almost finished! You are doing so well!" "Wow! You're English is so great!". The better students slowly lift the corners of their mouths, because they have just been told they are doing well. The worst students don't seem to care and brush off the "good jobs" as if they know they were forced out of my mouth. Then there are the boys that never even noticed that they were in class and that they actually needed to complete an activity. I find them in the back of the classroom playing odd games, messing with each other's hair, and the worst picking at each other's scabs. (Yes, this has happened on more than one occasion. Gag). I glance down at my ticking watch and realize there are only five minutes left of class and I have not completed my entire lesson plan. I shout to the students, "One minute and then you will present!" The students seem to have heard, but their faces show they did not understand. After a minute, I beg the first group to come up to talk to the class. By now, the five minutes left of class are almost up, and I have to tell the students they will continue to present the following class. They aren't sad about it. I tell the students "Thank you! Great job today!". The leader again shouts "Leady, lise" (Ready, rise). Obviously I need to work on those "R's". I am left with 50 percent of the students bowing and telling me thank you, the rest still haven't realized class is over. I tell them goodbye and watch them walk out of the class, wondering if they are leaving with any new knowledge.