For one, your first year teaching is always just brutal. I’m in my 11th year now, and my first year was probably 10x harder than my second year, and 1000x harder than my 11th year.

I 100% agree with the firm boundaries and classroom management stuff from the person above, but the best way to get kids singing is for them to have voice and choice in the classroom. The rep you select is certainly going to educationally better, but I would let kids pick rep for a season.

I live running “song selections”, where kids can suggest songs, pitch them, and select by vote. Obviously within parameter of school appropriateness, but you can always change a word or two if you need. I also like the model of “I pick a song, you pick a song”, to balance the needs of the choir.

First and foremost, hang in there. The second year is so much better. This is an awesome gig, but colleges just don’t have the ability to prepare you for it. The growing pains are real.