u/ElizAnd2Cats

Hi everyone! I'm an ELA middle school teacher. I've been teaching for 25 years, but I'm in my first year at a private school where all our students are neurodivergent. This is also the first time I've worked with general class paras - meaning those who are not assigned to a particular student. These students and paras are VERY close, which is wonderful for the students. Most have been together for years and know each other very well. The problem I'm having is that the students would rather talk to the para in the classroom about a random topic, or have their hair braided by the para, or play around with the para, than focus on learning about, for example, sentence structure. Of course that is more attractive to the students. I've always been seen as a laid back, easy going teacher, but suddenly with these paras I feel like I am interrupting them in their discussions or casual games with students in order to conduct class. I don't want to be an asshole, but I feel like one. I don't want to tell other adults how to behave in my classroom, but I'm not sure how to move forward. How would you like a teacher in my position to address this kind of thing with you? Are there any key words I could use? Thanks for your time!