How do I get through to this kid?

Question

5th grader class clown. Cool kido. However, he can be a little disrespectful and act out for attention. I discipline him by giving extra work. Recently threaten to call home if he doesn’t straighten up. But every answer out of him is “I don’t care” He says he has no dreams or goals! How do I let this kid know I care and what should I do with out crossing the lines as his teacher.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, there is not quick or short answer to your situation.  Most teachers have their own method of teaching, and what usually makes it work is their consistency of it.

What I used to do with such a kid, depends on how my students are that time. One method I use often is making who ever responsible.  There are positive ways of doing it, and sometimes I used somewhat a negative way of doing it (nothing bad, mind you). I would put all the responsibility to such child by somewhat punishing (nothing bad) the class, like less recess time if anyone is misbehaving. So usually all of them would behave, except for one. That's when I take out half a minute to a minute off their recess. What usually happen almost all the kid would tell him/her to behave, and after so many times, he eventually feel bad and behave. They asked me why is everyone getting punished. I tell them we do it the Ohana way - Hawaiian way; where we are all family and responsible for each other. It usually work most of the time. It doesn't works for certain classes where they rather worked than go recess - (loved all my kids, but loved these kids especially). This is my style and they know it, and that's why they work for me.  

The key here is giving kids some sort of responsibilities in one way or another - for each other or for certain classmates (usually, for bullies) - they are all different, though. Good luck!

Jinx also has a good point - done that in my own way, too.

Answer 2

This kid sounds like he is crying out for help.  Sincerely showing him that you care about him is probably the first step.  Do you have a big brother/sister organization in your community?  Maybe you can find out what he likes and hook him up with an organization where he can volunteer or some type of summer sport for him to participate in.  Sounds like he is dealing with a lot in his home life, and I don't think threatening to call his mom will help.  She already has her hands full.

Answer 3

If he is seeking attention--give it to him.  I have taught many class clowns.  They seek attention.  They need it.  If you fight the battle of making them stop, you both will lose.  He will continue and will fail to learn all the while, you will be exhausted and still have a class clown on your hands.  

Solution?  Talk to him privately.  Ask him to put on a show at the end of class about what you've been studying or make a deal that when he is done with his work (stipulate that it should be good work) he can create a routine.  Celebrate his ability to entertain the class.  If he can incorporate what you've been studying into his routine, you will not only reach him but other classmates who may not listen to you nearly as much as they would a funny classmates.  Offer him extra credit for incorporating material into a routine.  

It sounds like he has a terrible home life and isn't expected to do much with his life.  I am guessing if he is a class clown, he has heard how terrible he is throughout school.  Celebrate his skills while meeting your needs.

Good luck!  You could be the person who changes his life by helping him channel his talents to gain new ones.

Answer 4

Call home.  Stop threatening and just call.  Try to have a meeting with his mother.  Tell her you're concerned about his behavior and attitude.  She may be so worried about the other two that she doesn't realize what's going on with him.  Or he could be an OK kid at home and be seeking out attention outside of home because he can see she's pre-occupied.  Or you could find out that Mom doesn't care.  At least then you'd know.

Give him some responsibilities in class.  Is there a "critical" job that he could be responsible for?

  

Do you have preferred activity time/choice time that the kids can earn?  Have Fun Friday Time that the kids can earn (15-20 minutes choice/game time).  Whenever someone does something positive in class, have the kid write a minute/2 minutes on the board toward their choice time.  Catch him doing good and have him write 3 minutes on the board.

Answer 5

He is honest. Why should he care, no one else does. If he get too close, he might get hurt.

Don't give your power away to others. Keep it.

You might try a contract with him.

Start with: You are special. Since the world began and until it ends there will not be anyone like you. Who you are and what you do, no one can do. You eye prints, finger prints are unique.

I am telling you this because I want you to know that even though you are not perfect, nobody is, you are good. What you do may not be good, but who you are is good. When we make a mistake, we ask for forgiveness, and do good. This is what most people do. I believe that you can do this.

When we hurt, we all hurt, we sometime don't want people to know, or we act out for attention or to forget. It helps us forget the pain. Ouch!

So I thought that when you are hurting this is what we can do.

1. Raise your hand or come to me with your fingers crossed ( or whatever signal you choose) and I will let you go outside and kick a box. ( remember that hurt leads to anger or acting out-psych. 101) We can talk about it later.

2. I will have a calendar on my desk. When you feel like you are hurting, come by and I will give you a star so that you can stick on the day. ( This allows him to recognize that he is not alone and can release the pain). Another alternative behavior

3. Beh. Modification - At the end of the day, if you show respect, and care, and make a goal ( or what you feel he needs) I will  cross the calendar day. When you have 5 days, the counselor ( get him used to relating to the counselor or principal as positive role models) or the principal will allow you to help them in their office. (You might ask him what he wants. It will probably be selfish. Make it a We reward.

He signs:

You sign:

Dated:

Copy to principal and counselor and maybe to parent

To review.

1. Defuse the behavior

2. Let himsee that he is acting out and hurting by charting

3. Behavior modification and reward.

I am a retired teacher of 30 years and this system has worked. The box works really well. The kids don't see it as strange. I though they would, but they don't. The kid that is hurting is actually proud of destroying the box and will bring it to you destroyed. Ask him who is it. He will tell you. Make sure that you monitor him so that he doesn't get hurt.

Poor kid, he will do okay because he has a teacher that CARES!! Thanks for caring for him.

Answer 6

He's looking for attention, so I'd give it to him but in a positive way.  If you need someone to pick up papers, have Jimmy do it.  But alway's give him a little prompt.  Something like, " Jimmy could you collect the papers from everyone?  Jimmy, please make sure to do it appropriately.  Please don't snatch papers, kick anyone, mess with anyone's things (or whatever he likes to do that's inappropriate)."  

The other thing I've done is the strategy I call the "Hero" strategy.  Mind you, this worked with a 7th grader so I feel pretty confident it'll work with your student.  It might go something like this.  "Today I'm thinking about letting you guys go to lunch 5 minutes early.  But what I'm going to do is look at one student.  I'm not going to tell you who that one student is.  But if that one student does ALL his work, and follows ALL classroom rules, you guys get to go to lunch early."  When I do that, I kind of throw the kid a glance so that everyone in the class pretty much knows who I'm talking about.  The good thing about this strategy is if the kid fails, you just say ," Well, the student I was looking at wasn't able to do it today.  But we can try again tomorrow."  And if the kid is able to do it, you can announce ,"  Well, the student I focused on today did excellently.  Because Jimmy did all his work, and followed all classroom directions, you guys get to go to lunch early.  Everyone, please give Jimmy a round of applause!"  This makes Jimmy the hero and he gets the attention (this time positive) he's been looking for.  

I would use the Hero thing for a few straight days. You can mix up the reward.  It might be going to recess early, it might be playing a class game during free time, having a raffle, or whatever.  I would do it a few days in a row and then randomly from then on.

Good Luck!

Answer 7

ok, first of all, his family has a bad rep. this family is wack. please consult a psycologist for this family and this boy.

Answer 8

When i was teaching ...I had a younger class clown and I used to thank him for his "actions' and one day I said " thank you (0 this is better than cable tv no commercial interuptions.

I'd ask the principal  and make sure you wont be lighting a gas fire with that.

Good luck, girl,...I been there

you can also pray for him too..that can help in larger ways then us at answers