Maybe what you need is to look at changing the routine of your class.
Start with how they enter the room. Create a short answer warm up question for each student and have them take a copy as they enter and immediately start working on it. I'd suggest putting a rubric on the sheet detailing exactly how you'll grade it and then refuse to answer questions on how to do it. (Kids often say they don't know how to do something to get you to talk, so they can start talking in return). The goal of this is to start the class with no one talking- not even you.
Next, change the seating around. Any change with throw the students off balance, and will hopefully give you a little more leverage.
Think about breaking your lesson into smaller contrasting bits. Have them answer the question. Lead a small discussion on the possible answers. Stop the discussion completely. Give a short lecture on whatever your lesson is and hopefully tie it into the question. Short a 5-10 minute video with the lights dimmed, or do a reading. Then have about 5 minutes of group work.
This will take more work from you, but will make your day much better.Im a student teacher with a class that's hard to control. What in class work can I give besides a worksheet?
This is what I often do with large groups of noisy teenagers (I usually teach adults so getting teenage classes is my personal idea of hell...). After we have done a text with a theme - so in your case, the novel that you are looking at - and discussed this, brought out the themes etc etc, we do a creative writing exercise in groups. To change the group dynamics - without annoying the students by obviously doctoring who is in each group etc - I get them all to put their names on a piece of paper. I put the names into a hat and draw out the names for the different groups (I do it a bit theatrically like I'm calling out Oscar nominations - the students are normally amused). Then they have to write a short story in groups. You can give them the 1st and last line if you choose. Towards the end of class, each group will read their story aloud and everyone takes a turn to read. Spend some time impressing upon them the difference between reading a story - ie sounding interesting - and delivering a monologue. If they get into it, next time get them to write a sketch and then they can do some drama (good if you are studying plays, evidently). Incidentally, the reading aloud part is a built-in insurance policy: you will get some kids (usually the lads) who will find it amusing to have potentially obsence parts in their stories. If they know they have to read the story out in front of the class, this will censor them a bit (also the girls in the group will usually talk them out of it!)
You are probably standing too far back and the students furthest from you have a tendency to ignore you and chat amongst themselves. Move around the class. When you notice a group of students talking and ignoring you, don't admonish but rather, walk in their direction and direct a question at someone within that group. Wait for an answer. If you don't get one, don't embarrass anyone, answer it yourself and move on. As you teach, ask for feedback. Cover the material several times over by giving the info and then asking questions to solicit feedback. Eventually, you well develop your style and get better at it. Control will fall in place.
Put the talking to work -- have class discussions. Let the students share what book they read, identify the theme, see if the different novels had common themes. Or, if the entire class is reading the same novel, discuss the theme and relate it to their lives or society today.
You can have exercises where they write to music. My English teacher did that with us. She made it a daily journal entry and gave extra marks for it. I tried that in my curriculum class and they seem to like the idea. I would recommend music by Akira Yamakoa. He makes some of the nicest to some of the weirdest music in video games.
writing stories on taboo subjects is something I always liked listening and sharing with others.
politics, racism, religion, tattoos, history, poverty etc.
let students share how they interpret different situations and let them share it.
Noise is not a problem- it's the content of the noise that's the problem. Worksheets are not going to keep them engaged or particularly controlled.
let them choose groups and let them write how the book should go( a shorter version (summarized) ) and give them some time to do it and let them present them.
put them in groups chosen by you.
I'm going to assume ELA means English Language Arts. If not, I apologize. English is my area, so hopefully some of my suggestions can help.
First, are you sure you're giving them enough direction? Sometimes students are loud because they aren't given enough to do/aren't clear what they should be doing. Also, are the students working on their worksheets in groups? It may be better to have them work individually first, then have them compare answers or work together on finishing it (something along the lines of Think, Pair, Share).
Alternatively, they could work independently the entire time, but speaking from experience they will get restless (and fidgety) if they do this too often.
Perhaps most importantly, make sure you are not only doing worksheets! It is entirely possible that they are getting bored, and boredom usually leads to rowdiness. Worksheets are often overused, and students get tired of them very quickly.
Study guides (which are *not* the same things as worksheets) and LAPs (Learning Activity Packets) are also options, though be careful not to overuse them or students will (surprise!) get restless. If you do decide to go with an LAP, take a break every third or fourth day and do a class-wide activity to keep them from getting restless and off-task.
Finally, have you experimented with Literature Circles at all in this class? They do tend to be chaotic and loud, so depending on their personalities this may not work. However, it is also possible your students simply don't feel stimulated enough or need more direction, and students do tend to like lit circles.
Basically, variety is essential. Too much of anything can lead students to lose interest and get off-task, so just make an effort to mix it up as much as possible.
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