Just out of curiosity, why do you think homeschool groups are bad? I’m not questioning your observation, I’m asking for your opinion about why you think they’re bad? In theory, there’s a really close ratio of adults to children, and that ought to make it better, not worse.
My personal theory is that it’s because these kids aren’t around other children as much, and when they get in a group of other kids, they get excitable. The parent ratio ought to be more helpful, but the parents tend to congregate and compare notes, assuming that their kids will be well-behaved.
In my experience, there is also an increased “smart-ass” factor. I have had a few homeschooled children “correct”* me when it comes to historical events, while their parents watch in benign approval, and interrupt me to inform me that they already knew certain facts to show how smart they are.
- As in “That artifact can’t be that old because the earth itself is only 6,000 years old.”
I am the parent of a school-age child. Since the age of four he has been in preschool or school, so he’s used to being with other children. I’ve seen him when he’s been placed in a new group or reunited with a group of friends he doesn’t usually see–lots of excitement and silliness and excess energy, at least at first. So I would amend your theory if it were up to me. From what I have seen, even kids who go to school and have group experience may get excited and a little wild when they’re put in new groups. I suspect that’s what you’re dealing with–not a lack of socialization among the homeschoolers, but the newness of getting to be together.
Large school groups often contain multiple classes, and sometimes even different grades. They are arbitrarily divided when we have to do it, counting off a number of kids and taking them with us regardless of their class or grade.
If your theory were true, I would see the same results from this mix of kids who don’t see each other every day. That has not been my experience. That’s why we don’t bother keeping classes or grades together-- we’ve never seen any notable improvement or decline in their behavior based on whether the kids all know each other.
It is not just my experience, either. The other guides have all commented on this. Of course, it’s not every kid that acts in this fashion, but the majority do. Our greographic area might have something to do with it. I live in the rural Midwest. There aren’t a lot of social events for kids, or places for them to meet and play together. One of the organizers once told me that they schedual these homeschool group tours to give the kids a chance to be around other children.
I suggest finding the most intimidating student at the beginning of the tour and beating the hell out of him. That’ll show the kids that you’ve got the muscle to do the jobs that need to be done. They say on TV that it works in prison, too.
Considering that the average third grader is the same size as I am, this might be difficult.
(Well, I exaggerate a bit-- it’s the fourth and fifth graders which are usually bigger than I am. What are they feeding these kids?)
What staff:pupil ratio do you request? Given the age you’re talking about, I’d expect a maximum of 1:15.
OK, so single out the smallest child, and beat the hell out of him/her. Soon your reputation as ‘the museum psycho’ who isn’t to be messed with will spread far and wide 
That statement alone is enough to tell me it’s not your program. It’s the teacher.
I was an outdoor education naturalist for 15 years; the problems you describe aren’t limited to museums. It was a little easier out on a trail with a group of rowdy kids to change the focus to a more active program, but I still know exactly of which you speak.
I place 100% of the blame on the teacher. I’d be willing to bet those kids are pretty unruly in the classroom as well. I think the crowd-control techniques you describe are all good ones; if they still don’t work, I’d start making specific requests of the teacher – “would you please help [that wandering child over there] rejoin the group so I can focus on the topic at hand” (or something along that line). If you have to shorten the tour & the teacher has to do a little extra supervision outside, serves 'em right.
I didn’t do a lot of work with homeschoolers, but I’d bet heavily on the fact that the core issue is that they don’t have a group dynamic they’re accustomed to, and no acknowledged leader.
I always worked hard to learn as many of the kids’ names as possible. That’s probably not realistic for a museum tour, but you might consider encouraging name tags. The wanderers are less likely to wander if you can call them by name.
Either get some hearding dogs or hire the man with no eyes.
(from Cool Hand Luke)
As a former school bus driver I cannot discourage this strongly enough. The school bus driver is trained to drive the school bus and is not a baby sitter. Plus, it’s unlikely that the bus driver will actually be on the bus while the little darlings are on their field trip.
Make yourself more exciting and interesting. It’s the only way, really.
If you are excited and interested in what you are showing them/talking about, they will get interested too. Promise. You can’t fake it though.
I was belligerant as hell as a kid, and I wouldn’t have given you the time of day if I sensed you were more interested in keeping the group under control than you were in teaching us something. And as for threats of punishment, meh, I just got even more belligerant once I realized most threats adults make toward kids are empty threats. Sure, I was a problem case, but you never know when you’re going to get a little version of me (or multiple ones).
Lissa, it sounds like you’re doing everything right. A few groups will always be stinkers and it’s not your fault.
I hear you, and I know it’s difficult, but you’ve got to fake it til you make it. You don’t have to be mean, just project that you’re calm, confident and clearly in control.
I know working in a prison should be very different than working with children, but might your husband have any useful tips on crowd control?
Chotii, I hated working with homeschool groups, too. I think Twoflower is right on about the group dynamic. Also, most of the kids weren’t used to concepts like “raise your hand,” “don’t interrupt while other kids are talking.” And unfortunately, a lot of their parents were no help at all. What, trample little Moonflower’s creativity by making her wait her turn?
As a parent, who took many school trips with the kiddies, I always found the “Bad Doggie” voice worked well with small and large children. You look them in the eye, and say severely “That is unacceptable behaviour!” Then give some good strokes to the kids who are acting appropriately (while ignoring or mocking the suck-ups :dubious: , all kids hate suck-ups) My groups always obeyed 
Kids just want to know the limits and if they aren’t getting an idea of where the limits are, they will keep pushing.
And if that doesn’t work, grab the hand of one of the evil, devil children and start to squeeze while pleasantly saying “If you don’t stop, someone is going to get hurt.” Make sure you look them in the eye and smile, while squeezing. 
In today’s litigious world, couldn’t that be considered a form of assault?
Hey, I just wanted to jump back in and say I had an* awesome* tour group today. It was a group of ten juvenile delinquents (I think the PC term today is “at-risk youth”) and we had a great time.
The kids were astounded by the things I was telling them about life in the past, and asked floods of questions. The only problem I had was to remind them a couple of times not to touch, but that didn’t bother me, because I could tell it was caused by utter fascination.
It gave me a great feeling to see these kids entranced by history-- probably a subject they all hated in school, and they probably groaned when they heard they were heading to the museum. When they left, they told me they had fun, and the group leaders thanked me profusely.
Now I’m imagining a statue erected to me in some future city park, placed there in gratitude by the world’s greatest historian who claims he got his interest in history from my lecture about chamberpots.