behavior issue with one child in my class

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awesome4s asks:

I am wondering if anyone can help me redirect one child. when I do group activities with my students I have one child that lingers around the classroom and will not participate in the activity we are doing. how do I encourage this child to participate? and also this child refuses to sit when we are doing a lesson. the child wonders around the room. what ways should I get child to follow the rules in my class. (Example; when we are saying Pledge the child will walk away and start to play spider man! air webbing the toys and making loud noises or low noises)

In Topics: Discipline and behavior challenges

> 60 days ago

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Expert

Boys Town National Hotline

Sep 2, 2011

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What the Expert Says:

Hello,

Great question. It sounds like their may be more going on with this child than meets the eye. Obviously, the first suspiction may be that the child is suffering from ADD or ADHD and has trouble focusing. An assessment with a child psychologist may be worthwhile. It doesn't sound like he is doing this to rebel or misbehave, he simply cannot focus. Speaking to the parents may also be helpful. If he is eating sugary breakfast cereal before school and then downs a soda pop before walking in the classroom, that could certainly also contribute to bouncing off the walls and being unable to focus. These are great outside resources to explore, but it will also be helpful to come up with some in classroom techniques that you can develop with him. The parents also may be able to share some techinques that they use to help improve his behavior in the classroom.

It is likely that the child is very aware of his own problems, especially if you have been trying to address it with him in class. Depending on the child's age it may be worthwhile to sit him down and ask him what he needs to be able to focus better in class. It can also be helpful to get some of the student leaders in the class room to be advocates for him. They can help him stay involved, make sure he is involved in group projects, and help you monitor what is going on. Ask him about time outs and maybe try them out. Some children really benefit from just getting five minutes to themselves. And don't set it up as punishment, but just as a place where he can collect himself so he can be ready to focus.

Continue to be patient, have open communication with all the resources available to you (parents, administration, school counselor, community agencies) and keep trying different things. If one things doesn't work, try something else. These problems are often complicated and have no quick or easy fixes. Trial and error until you find something that works for you and for him.

Take care,
Counselor, Dominic
Boys Town National Hotline-A hotline for parents and teens
1-800-448-3000
www.yourlifeyourvoice.org

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