Behavior problems in the preschool classroom.?

Question

I am a preschool teacher. We have been in school for a week now and I believe this is the worst behavior I have ever seen in four year olds. I have several kids that will not listen to me. When I say get quiet they act like I am not even there. One child will make noise just to make noise and when I tell him to stop he looks at me like I am stupid. When I tell him to go to time out he says "NO". Half of my class acts this way. I just don't know what to do. I have left school crying everyday. What do you do when they just won't do as they are told? In my classroom, we change cards each time they do something bad. I am running out of colors. (It goes green (good), yellow, orange, red) I have even sent two to the principles office and it does no good. I have sent notes home and still no change. I try to give goodies to the ones who are doing what is right throughout the day but it doesn't seem to help. It is so bad that I actually hate going to work. I dread each day. I know it is only a week, but does anyone have any ideas. Please be nice. I just want to help these kids learn to behavior appropriately and be sain at the same time!

Answer 1

It sounds like you are doing the best you can with what you've got.  Each year brings a different class.  It could be that you just have a doozy of a class this year.  

Make sure your principal knows the situation.  You don't want her to think that you are not doing your job when Johnny still can't write his name in December.  Also, she may be able to help you in some way with an aide or some other way.  If she knows about it, she can think of ways to help you and give you support.  At this point, even a sympathetic ear would be helpful.

Hang in there.  They are still very young.  They just got out of the 3's class, which is barely civilized.  If you keep with it, they will learn to understand, but it will take awhile.  If it were me, I would really make sure I had authority in the class.  Give them "the voice", "the look", and keep using the cards.  Put the naughty chair in a place where it is convenient for you to sit there with the kid so he won't leave.  Make sure the whole class sees your discipline, and understands why you are doing it.  You may have to let learning take a backseat until you get this class under control.  

Try to understand what their problem is.  Bad parenting?  Autism?  ADD?  Immaturity?  Over the next 2 weeks, find something to like about each kid.  That will help you connect with them.  

Answer 2

Be consistent. If you're doing time-out technique, then, stick to it. And place them there and tell them why they are there. After 4 minutes, explain (not too thoroughly, they are only 4.) that their behavior wasn't right and why..(such as, "Next time, you have to try better to listen to me.") And maybe ask for an apology? And it has been a week, they're just getting used to a new setting, teacher, etc. It should get better. Good luck. (:

Answer 3

You poor thing. I've been a pre-school teacher for 4 years. Not anymore now.. but I know what to do. I know you must start teaching immediately, however, for the rest of the year to go smoothly it is imperative that you work with your class on obedience for atleast two weeks. Just work on getting them in line, reward them ALL at first for a week even the ones who dont listen, but as you give out the treats, say ' oh! guess what! treats are for good boys and girls..not babies. Babies dont get a treat at all!' . After a week ( they know better) so then when you tell them to do something and the kids obey except for a few of them..dont note anything to the disobedient children. ( they just want attention) Just hand out the treats to the ones who listen and say ' oh, you're so good! you're making ms. so and so happy!! oh! you'll get a treat right now!' praise them to the SKY and back.the kids who dont listen will soon want treats too.. maybe do stickers or one m&m. As for the kid who looks at you stupid. You gotta just look at him the same way, he wont like it. but you do it. He'll eventually stop. This part is important- The kids are TESTING you. They're seeing how far they can go without getting in trouble. Punish them each time they do something wrong. I know its alot and you're probably by yourself..but focus on training them for 2 weeks and the rest of the year should go smoothly. Good luck fellow teacher!!! =)

ps if the whole class is acting up..they're probably bored. split them up in three or 4 groups and put a timer on..then rotate them..they absolutely love it! you might get a kid or two who'll want to stay in the play group instead of moving on.

Answer 4

You can't expect the children to know your rules in one week.  They are there to learn about things and they need time to get to know the rules and to get to know each other. If you have a good reward system with lots of praise and attention for good behaviour they will hopefully learn what is expected.  I know it is really hard but ignoring bad behaviour and praising good does work. Try thinking like a 4yr old who has just started school.  You might be excited, scared etc. Give them time to let off steam and get rid of some energy(maybe outside play) before you ask them to do any quieter, listening to instruction type activities. End each session when they are exhausted and hopefully quieter, with a circle time and "pass the bunny" only the child holding the bunny can speak and everyone else listens. Ask what they liked best each day - basically get to know them as individuals and what makes them tick that way you will know what the best reward is for each child. You know you can do this so don't be so hard on yourself or the kids, just take a day at a time you can't rush relationships.

Answer 5

Have a you tried talking very quietly and give them something exciting to do, just anything like doing a special drawing, or painting etc., It will show you how many are listening to what you are saying. I am sure that you will grab their attention (those who are not listening) will soon learn to listen if they think they are missing out.

Try also giving them a singing action song, so that eventually they will end up with their hands on their eyes ears lips and rest their hands on their knees.

Perhaps when you read a story get the worst trouble maker to help and hold the book for you and give lots of praise when they have done the task. Maybe you could give them a little job to do, maybe their home life is not too good. Children like praise and I am sure you could find plenty deep down.

I do hope some of these suggestions work, I feel for you I really do, here in the UK it is just the same, No Respect.

Best Wishes

UK based

Answer 6

It is still very early in the year. It takes some children time to settle in and understand your expectations. Maybe they've not been in a formal educational or child care setting before?

I've taught preschool and worked in day care and have never used time out and am not a big fan of behaviour modification (except for some children with special needs). None of my children's teachers have ever used them either. It's really rather old-fashioned. I'd throw out the cards and the treats and focus on children behaving for intrinsic reasons. Teaching them to understand that we follow the rules and behave because it makes school more safe and fun. We can do lots more things if we're all following the rules.

Have you stated your rules clearly? Are they posted?

When you want children to be quiet, do you make it fun? Do you have a "signal"? I used to sing a song or say a rhyme. Turning the lights off works well for getting children to be quiet and pay attention. So does having a signal like everyone raising their hand and being quiet when they see you do it. (The little poem goes "When your hand goes up, your mouth goes shut.")

Look carefully at when they are misbehaving. Is it during transitions? Is it during certain activities, more than others? Consider changes you could make in your environment, schedule, or expectations.

Instead of a time out, when a child is being too noisy, go to him, get down to his level, and tell him what you want him to do and why. If it is one of your posted rules, remind him about the rules. You might need to take him aside, to a quieter area of the room, to talk about it. After you've talked, ask him to remember to use an inside voice and tell him he can go back to his activity when he's ready to remember.

Do you ever have class meetings to discuss problems? You might introduce this to them and ask them to help you problem solve. You can tell them that your class has a problem. Some children are being way too noisy. It hurts your ears and makes you sad when they don't be quiet when you ask. Ask THEM what you all can do to solve the problem. They will come up with some great (and maybe, um, interesting . . . LOL) ideas.  

Answer 7

u need to give them more attention and keep them busy all the time and try to play a game with them like if u guys stay quit u get t pick ur own game and try to give all the good student some candy and don't give the bad one and see if they well change if it doesn't work ask the principal to have other teacher to give u a hand

Answer 8

You need to show them discipline! I'm not talking physical punishment, but you need to let them know who's the H.B.I.C.being nice will get you nowhere show them no is NO  

Answer 9

Your behavior mod technique of using green for good, yellow for warning given & red for bad behavior is great.  It worked well for my son, when he was in kindergarten.  Just be consistent with that.  You can also give the class a "treat" if ALL the kids behave well- tell them about it, encourage them to help each other be good, so all are invested in this.  The treat can be extra recess time or an art project- whatever.  You might try saying, "eyes on me & zip".  Explain that when you say this, you also mean no talking & hands folded.  You won't continue until all are quiet & attentive.  Keep trying.  

Some kids may have problems you don't know about yet.  It isn't just you.  I didn't know, until kindergarten, that my son had ADHD & needed med's. He just kept getting in trouble.  Once we started the med's, he was very good in class- teacher said he was like a different kid.  Be patient.  Hang in there.

Answer 10

Wow, basically you have out of control children who have no rules at home and won't listen to their own parents so why should they listen to you.

Now it's your fun job to undo what 4 years of bad parenting did.  And and sending notes home won't help if the parents are not on board.  

How is your principle supporting you through all this?  I can give you advice but it really makes a difference on what type of school it is- public or private.  What the rules are in the school and how much outside support are you been giving.

Sorry you have to deal with this- it's really sad that parents allow their children to control them and rule their households.

Do you have an educational background?  How long have you been teaching?  

Sounds like your babysitting (due to the parents lack of reaction) which makes me wonder if it's private school.

Answer 11

Sometimes we get a group like this...consider it a learning experience!  It will make your stronger...and just imagine how good you'll feel when by the end of the year you look back and wonder where the crazy children went to!  :-)

I would first decide what is most important to me in the classroom and start there.  Number one is safety, of course.

* Start your day out with a class discussion.  Have a talking tube of some sort and be firm that the child who has the tube is the only one talking.  Have a visual schedule to go over during that meeting as well as a visual and simple rules chart.  It's good to get the children involved in the rules.  State them positively and have a reason behind them...make it meaningful for the children.  Examples:

* walking feet

* indoor voices

* kind words etc.

* Introduce an attention signal and practice it a LOT until they have got the idea.  Turning lights out, a hand clap, a bell, etc.

* When a group is extremely rowdy...observe as you figure out who the leader is and then deal with them first.  Most of the others will be followers you'll find.  Walk up to that child, get down to their level, gently place your hand on their shoulder, smile, and say a "cue phrase" such as "uh-oh".  Look in their eyes (even if they are trying their hardest not to look in yours :-)) Then take their hand and walk them to the rules chart and read them over.  Remember your actions are louder than your words.  If this is a child who will not walk with your willingly...have a "traveling" visual rules chart that you can take with the child.  I've also used a visual for children who need to go to the quiet area and calm down.

* Another tip, at group and their are getting louder... I find that if I start to whisper then they have to be quieter to hear me.  I also like to have a box of funny hats/glasses to slip on when they are starting to "lose it"...it adds a little more "fun" and is an attention grabber.

* consider your routine... are you varying sit down and large motor...teacher choice and child choice?  

Good luck!