There is a girl in my class that can be very defiant when she doesn't get to do what she wants. Last week, she did not want to stop what she was doing to leave for a Special. In fact, she wanted me to chase her around the classroom, which I did not go for. Instead, I played it cool, and ignored her and had my class line up, and gradually she followed... I spoke to the Specialist and told her to just try and ignore the girl when she's like this. Well the girl backed away from the Specialist and the Specialist got upset and told her to go inside. The girl ran away-and the Specialist ended up chasing her all over the school! I called her parents and Dad spoke to her in the middle of class and she immediately stopped but I can not do this continually-This week, was a very similary story-today she again did not want to go to Special and I ignored her and she ended up following the class, but walking backwards-and going upstairs backwards the whole time with a smile on her face! (This is obviously a danger to herself and others). I called parents, but line was busy. After the Special she was fine. I took her aside and spoke to her. She likes House Keeping center and I told her if she follows directions right away I would let her go there during Center time... What else can I do? She has an IEP in OT and PT in my general ed class. I spoke to social worker and guidance counselor and they say it stems from the home life... and that I did just fine...Later, they informed me that the principal got called to speak to her since she didn't listen to the school aids at recess (second time). The principal wants things to be extremely quiet in halls (robot quiet). PLEASE help-What can I do for this little girl and what are things to keep the whole class extra quiet when walking in the hallway (sep issue i know, but figured i'd throw that in here
As far as getting her to line up, what about giving her a special job to do like being line leader or holding the door? Make it a job that no one else has, but one she will lose if she doesn't do what's expected of her.
As for the kids in the hallway, tell them what you expect and if they don't do it, practice again and again. If they get halfway down the hall and are loud, tell them to walk back and try it again. This has always worked for me. Eventually the kids are tired of doing it and they'll listen. Also, do you walk ahead of the kids? I see teachers doing that often and kids can get out of control easily that way. I always walk somewhere around the middle of the line so I can see them all. Another thing that works is having designated stopping points. Tell them to stop at the corner, and before moving on, make sure they are in line and quiet.
Hope these ideas help a bit. Hope things get better.
I have a girl who is the same way. I've had various meetings with the parents. Now she is beginning to pay attention to me but I realized that what she is wanting is attention so I only give her positive attention. I praise continously and always give her choices. For example if she does not want to put away her writing book I ask her "Do you want me to put it away or can you put it away quickly?" She usually chooses to do it. It has taken a while but she is finally cooperating. Keep giving her positive attention!
Also, we usually practice the hallway procedures and give stopping points. I also have kids give themselves hugs and "put a pumpkin in their mouth". I know that sounds dumb but the kids like it and they fill their mouths with air and hold it there. I tend to change it with the season (example: mashed potatoe, snowball, candy, marshmallow, ect).
I have a little girl with high functioning autism this year who is very similar to what you describe. I have found the most effective thing with her is distraction. She also has difficulties with transitions but it helps if I give her a job to do when it's time to transition. It might be to pick something up, carry something important for me, be the door holder, hold my hand, etc. Anything to change her focus from the activity we were doing and engage her in something new. It sounds like you are doing a good job handling your little one. Often it is best not to give too much attention when they are acting like that, give the directive and wait them out, as you have found they usually follow along. She may need to hold your hand in the hallway or maybe there is a responsible child who you could have her walk with. I sometimes find just asking her to carry something really helps.
BTW you did the right thing by not chasing her. It's not your problem if the specialist doesn't realize that doesn't work and ends up running all over the place, s/he will have to learn some different management strategies for this little girl.
As for being quiet in the hallway. We do a little poem before we go into the hallway, we practice walking as quietly as we can. It's sad your principal has unrealistic expectations. I guess if I had to do that I would probably resort to some bribery (it's amazing what they'll do for a sticker!). Someone posted something awhile back about smellies. They used a brand new scented chapstick and rubbed a little on the kids hand to smell. Maybe that would be a good incentive for walking quietly in the hallway.
P.S. My pet peeve is when social workers/sped teachers/etc. say that a child's behavior stems from their home life. I'm sorry but as a parent to two children with special needs I get tired of being blamed. It maybe that this child has special needs that make it difficult for her to behave appropriately at times. Blaming parents for behavior isn't going to fix the problem. I know it's not you doing it, I just had to comment because you read it on here a lot and hear it a lot at school. Parents are often doing the best they can, some kids are tough to parent and guess what it's usually the ones that are tough to teach! Often times the behavior is a SYMPTOM of their illness. It often isn't recognized as such though and people think the child is just choosing to act that way or isn't being disciplined appropriately at home. Honestly that isn't always the case. The important thing to recognize is that the behavior is trying to tell you something, try to figure out what that is, don't assume the kid is being bad for the sake of being bad. Once you figure out what the behavior is trying to tell you then you can start to work with the child to develop more appropriate coping strategies. It's not an easy process but it is one that will help the child long term. (hopping down off my soap box, my apologies for the mini-lecture).
I appreciate your advice--I'm having a very hard time with a boy in my class who is constantly bothering other kids. His behavior is disrespectful--touching them, making faces, sticking out tongue, spiitting on the bus, disruptive, I could go on and on...The mom claims that he had no problems in preschool (even though other parents told me he almost got kicked out). Now I have seen this child behave for long periods of time, when he is in time out, when he is working on something, but he needs to stop the constant touching. What is your advice here?
I also have a child similar to the one you are describing. I made a special chart for him. After each activity he gets a sticker if he does a good job. If he gets 4 out of 5 stickers he gets to pick a center of his choice at the end of the day, which is usually the computer center. When I first used the chart he needed 3 out of 5 stickers to get the activity. Now he has to get 4 out of 5. Hope this helps you.
I do a behavior folder. I break it down by the hour. I give child smile and sad faces for that time frame. The folder goes to specials. I also write positives for that hour. I talk to the child about it. If child has a really good day I give smile face +++++++. Some children are starved for praise.Send home each day. Parent signs it. It has worked really well for me and gives the parent insight to what is going on. They can talk to child about behavior when they are calm. 3 or more sad faces they lose something at home. If they have a sad face at school they do not get a prize out of the prize jar for the day. If they have a good day at school, I have a postcard that says they have behaved well and they can go to five different rooms in the school and get a signature from another teacher or aide. It is taped to the principals door so child can get praised from her. Then it also goes home. It has been very sucessful me. It builds a repor with child and parent and gives them specifics to work on.
10-27-2009, 05:39 PM
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