[Eli O.]

I have a student who is constantly bothering other students--touching them, making faces, sticking out tongue, bothering, etc. It has also gotten to the "disrespectful" point--spitting on the bus, kicking, throwing, etc. He is on a daily behavior plan and his mom has been in for a conference with the principal. Any suggestions for improving his behavior? The other kids don't let him get away with it, but they are constantly tattling on him and I feel like one day I am going to totally lose it and scream in his face b/c of all the complaints!! Any suggestions would be appreciated!

in some classrooms where they have a space kids can go to take a break. It has manipulatives that are quiet such as foam blocks, books, puzzles, etc - whatever is age appropriate. They may go back there and start the timer for whatever time (usually about 4 min) whenever the teacher is NOT talking and take a break. Mostly this is used for IEP kids bu tI have also been in rooms where the teachers give all the students one popcicle stick w/ their name on it and they may each go back one time during th eday (for 2 min) for a break - one at a time of course.

This has seemed to work well. You could give this child a few more sticks and over time decrease how many he has available. Then he can go back and take a break and touch things and be in control and "get it out".

Just an idea!

[Jade]

This suggestion is about dealing with the complaints. I have some pretty active "tattlers" this year, not all without good reason. I created a simple quarter-sheet "incident report" for the kids to fill out when they have a complaint. When they start to tattle, I quickly say "write it up". They have to put their name, the date, time, & location of the incident, then explain what happened. The report is then placed into a special folder I have in my upright file rack on my desk. I look at them every day or so.

It has helped to decrease the number of complaints I get verbally. The kids feel like they are being listened to and I get a written record of which kids a)are doing the most tattling and b)are doing the most annoying.

They know they should continue to verbally report the serious stuff (dangerous, destructive, disturbing).

This probably won't have an effect on the inappropriate behaviors of your student, but it might bring a teeny bit of sanity back to you!

[Angel1977]

I am dealing with the same problem. The counselor suggested that instead of the kids saying "Stop it" or try the "I statement" (she says younger students don't get it). Try the kids using "a bug and a wish". They say "it bugs me when you....I wish you would stop....

[rspteacher26]

Using teaching with Love and Logic benefits me and my class. I am teaching them to be responsible for themselves. I have said that they may do anything AS long as they are not causing a problem to ANYONE else. We then started a list of the things that wouldcause a problem... Anythime the teacher stops teaching ...a problem...why? Teacher has to stop, kids aren't learning ...I have also told them I DON'T CARE to hear about them talking about someone else... I care about each one individually. Each is to be responsible for only themselves. If they start tattling.I will say STOP... is this about you? is this about what we are tallking about now? are you bleeding , hurt? who are you responsible for? are you causing a problem right now? why? And on we go. I will reward them with class dollars for good work and behavior and 1 X a week they can spend. But they also spend to sharpen during lesson, to get a drink of water, to go to the batheroom...In the GE class they pay rent for their desks. they get paid once a month 200.00 and earn dollars for homework, behavior, etc,... but have to remember they will have to pay rent for their desks and not misuse the money or loose it. I don't listen to "I lost mine..." I just remind them about whose responsibility it is...
Buy yourself Teaching with Love and Logic and begin to redesign how you manage your classroom. It takes lots of train the kids but beneificial all the way