[Amberlee]

Usually I teach intermediate students (grade 4-7) but through various circumstances I ended up teaching kindergarten last Friday. These students are so much younger than I'm used to.

There was one boy in the kindergarten class who I could not understand. He was not ESL and no notes were left about him other than the fact that class didn't have ESL students. He would answer me but it would sound like mumbling or nonsense words. He seemed to understand when I asked him to do things (read a book, sit on the floor, lunchtime, etc) but was obviously at a lower level of comprehension in general based on his assignments.

He left his work to go play with a train set in the corner. I went over to remind him he was supposed to be staying by the table with the other kindergartners. He didn't answer me. I knelt down to his level to repeat it. He ignored me. I tried again. He said something I didn't understand and kept playing with the trains. Finally I managed to re-direct his attention to the next assignment and he went to do it.

I was on supervision at lunchtime and he kept taking off his shoes and climbing UP the slide and getting hit on the head. He'd be upset at people for hitting him but wouldn't stop climbing up even after I told him to stop. Other students were annoyed by him. Short of pulling him down (which I avoided and didn't do due to the no-touch policies we hear so much about) nothing I said worked. Finally after trying to talk to him for awhile, not understanding what he was saying I managed to convince him to go to the school and then asked the other supervisor for advice. The principal also happened to be nearby. They told him to remember not to take his shoes off outside and play carefully, and then sent him back outside. Where I can only presume he just continued doing the same thing (luckily my supervision duty was over).

Anyway if I had to return to this classroom (or another kindergarten classroom) with a similar student what could I do next time? Nothing seemed to work. It's hard to tell a student to go into timeout when they just refuse to go and you can't talk to them about it. Asking for backup from the other teachers didn't work either.

[Prairiegirl]

Pick your battles. If you're there for 1 day, and the kid is not hurting himself or others (playground excepted!!), don't wear yourself out trying to get him to comply with everything. Confidentiality laws prohibit teachers from telling us anything about students with exceptionalities, so it's tough to handle such kids. Also, kids in kindergarten are often not identified yet as having a specific disorder. Can make for a long day, for sure.

[qudiva]

I agree with Prairie girl - remember that kids - especially the little ones - can really be thrown off with a sub. If a child is not on task and not disrupting the classroom - I try to bring them back into the fold quietly. Usually I don't use my "Mean Momma" voice at this age. If coaxing doesn't work - then I let them proceed - as long as it doesn't interrupt my lesson. I just keep an eye on the child and leave a note for the teacher.

That said - if the student does disrupt my class - either by behavior or passively by other students being distracted by him - then I usually call the assistant principal for some ideas. Sometimes all it takes is an aide to go for a little walk with the student or maybe some quiet time.

As for the behavior on the playground - we have a strict no hitting policy here (kids hitting kids of course). So if a child hit him - they would be set on a time out - If your student (or any student) was doing something wrong at recess and you couldn't get him to stop - then write them up. Record everything (what happen - who you talked to). Make sure if there is a supervisor of the recess go to them immediately also. A written record of what happens in situations like that is your best personal defense.