[DisneyTeacher]

I teach K and I am at my wits end. What are some real world ways that you control (out of control behavior) without calling the principal or parents every 5 minutes????

I have three children who tend to feed off of each other and sometimes take turns acting up. I am exhausted!!! HELP

I've been using my co teachers, (sending kids to thier class) Hoping I'm not abusing it

The parents seem to be lost on what they need to do (spankings every night don't work)

My TA is in the room, tries to help, but sometimes aggervates the problem

We do small and large group activities, with same transitions in between, (this really doesn't seem to trigger it a lot)

One child is diagnosed ADD, one is very immature and probably ADHD and the other may be ADD (I promise I'm not trying to label, just guessing from behavior and some (2 yrs) experience)

I just really don't know what to do, we change lights (red, yellow, green) for behavior, sit by themselves at lunch, lose recess, sent back to seat, use a "cool down" corner, but I really don't know what else to do.

[Laura]

Kindergarten children test limits all of the time. K teachers tend to be either a push over or too strict. I have my own three or four that push the limits all of the time. Three have been together for three years and the last is ADHD 10x over. Even my AP said that the fourth child needs to be medicated. We are working on our voice level right now. Impulsivity will come. I also know that punishment only gets them upset but does not help to solve the problem (they do not remember it). I have tried rewarding but they rarely get rewarded. It is a catch 22. Just hand in there!

[Azure]

I am wondering if you have tried sending a book back and forth from/to school/home on a daily basis documenting their day.

I would give them time to sit in the "thinking" chair also for their behavior when needed. What happens in the other classrooms? Do the kids do what they are suppose to? If they do, what are the other teachers doing in their rooms?

I am assuming you keep the kids away from each other the best that you can to eliminate them feeding off of each other.

Have you tried a sticker system where if the child makes it to 10:00 they get a sticker on their card. 11:00 another sticker and on?

How are the kids if you let them color while you talk? Where are they sitting in the room? Are they separated and turned away from the other students so they can focus? No, this isn't mean either. I actually have students who ask to move to a desk that is away from other students so they concentrate.

I also don't think I would take away recess. If they all have ADD/ADHA problems that's the LAST thing you want. The kids need to RUN.

Is there a specific time when they will start acting out or just all day? Do they ever lose out doing something fun the other kids are doing because of their behavior?

These are just some questions I thought of that could possibly help me or other teachers come up with suggestions for you.

[suem]

you didn't give me specific behaviors. I have had ADD children and they had very different behaviors. I had a child that could not stop talking, he even talked to himself.
I would keep the children apart as much as possible. Even assign seats at lunch if you have to. Assign play partners to keep the children away during recesses.
Good luck

[mstammi]

Taking away recess will aggravate the situation. They need that time to release their pent up feelings. I have found that letting the class know what type of behavior is accepted and why ,then what is not accepted and why and what the consequences will be works great. Yes, you repeat all the time but they get it. Time out is not good. Make a thinking chair, or calm down area or get a fish tank and fill it. Or a wave machine. These all help. The calm chair allows them to get away and actually think. I say " Sit here and when I come back in 3 minutes, we will talk. I want to know why you did what you and and why I will not allow you to act like this again." and it works. I do tell the parents but not to tattle but to let them know what the child may be going thru or if something is going on and we need to work together. Most ill behavior I don't tell the parents. They know their kids. I just deal with it at school and I have a success rate of 99%. The one percent was diagnosed by therapist as opposistional behavior and had to leave the school for a smaller atmosphere that can focus on helping the student. I am not trained for that and I have 21 kids. Sad and happy faces work alot too. Make a funny picture with their names under each picture, when they dont listen I turn the popsicle stick to the sad face, when they listen I flip the stick to happy face. This works great! They respond alot when they see me walk to the faces and quiet down. When you allow the children to feel some type of power in their decisions , they cooperate much more.

[NCP]

but I teach 2nd and I occasionally have "Community Service" for out of control behavior. This could include cleaning the floor, sweeping the playground, washing desks with baby wipes, straightening the library, sorting blocks, etc.

The reason I do this is it gives the child time to reflect on what they did, but it also engages them and hopefully provides an energy release. Most kids get the point after the first time. I only have a few repeat offenders.