Need classroom management help with 3-5 year olds (also some teaching ideas?)?

Question

I am assistant teaching 3-5 year olds at a summer enrichment camp. I am tired of the class being out of control. The teacher is good with them because shes 50, but im only 20. Im still in college and not good with managing them. They walk all over me and raising my voice doesnt help. They have tantrums and will not sit in time out. I need help with them because I have to start teaching them small lessons and I cannot even get them to sit in a chair! I will have mostly the 3 and 4 year olds. Can you suggest some way to approach them when they are hitting. screaming, or just generally being not nice to the other students?

Also, how about some suggestions for activities they can do during the day. We have 2 classrooms and we mostly separate them. They play a lot and have circle time but then the rest of the day is hard to plan because we dont know what to do with them. HELP!

Answer 1

There are times when children will show unwanted behaviour, although if practitioners are working to promote positive behaviour, these should be relatively rare and minor occurrences.

When managing behaviour it is essential to stay calm and consider whether their approach is as important: not just to manage the behaviour, but also to try and prevent it from happening again. In some cases where behaviour is recurrent, it will be important to get more information from parents and observations to try and work out the cause:

- Are there any underlying causes that can be resolved? e.g. child too hot, hungry, tired etc.

- How does the behaviour link to stage of development?

- Is this behaviour linked to changes in the child’s life?

- Is the behaviour repeated?

- Has the child learnt this behaviour from copying another child?

- Is it as a result of boredom?

- Was the child aware of the goals and boundaries relating to this activity? e.g. Was he/she aware that they are not allowed to throw sand?

Children need and respond well to positive behaviour.  It makes them feel valued, boosts confidence, self esteem and self worth.

Physical punishment is not necessary, acceptable or effective.

Possible sanctions appropriate for varying situations

Changes to the routine

Modifying behaviour

Time with an adult

Play tutoring

Time out

Removal of privilege

Rewards.

Managing Children’s Behaviour:

  

The A-B-C of behaviour

Antecedent - What happens or leads up to the observed behaviour

Behaviour - the observed behaviour - what the child says and how s/he acts (this is any behaviour, both positive and negative)

Consequence - What happens following the behaviour.

Praising and rewarding children reinforces behaviour that we want to be repeated.

Report any persistent problems with unwanted behaviour promptly and accurately to parents, colleagues and other specialists as appropriate.

Maintain confidentiality whenever you discuss a child's behaviour.

Helping children to learn to show behaviour that is accepted by society is an important role of the child care practitioner.

Answer 2

The best approach is to reward the desired behavior, sitting quietly, follow directions, completing work, and playing nicely. Use hugs, tickles, pats on the backs, stickers, stamps or other special privileges and rewards. Try to ignore minor misbehavior. Most children misbehave for attention, even negative attention and scoldings are better than no attention. So try to put all your attention and effort on the good behavior. AS adults we tend to give kids more notice when they are acting out than when they are doing the right thing. Try to catch the kids being good at least 3 to 4 times more often than you reprimand or correct them. Children will try harder to earn positive attention if the expectations of how you want them to act and behave are clear. Don't assume they know how to behave or what they are suppose to do unless you directly teach them, model, show, role play and reward them.

In terms of teaching ideas there are lots of great books out there, but my approach for summer enrichment is typically to work around themes. One week is sea life, one week is insects, another week might be farm animals. If you start with a theme at the core of our idea then you can think of songs, stories and art projects around the theme. It makes it easier to organize and gather your thoughts around a thematic unit.

Answer 3

well i hope you are patient enough to read my answer as it might get a little bit long!

i've been teaching kgs for about 8 years now and i'll be glad to share my experience with you, i'll try to keep it short and in points so that you won't be bored!

* the lower your voice the quieter the children get, so dont scream, this isnt easy it's always easyer to shout but you need to practice on a tone and volume that are low, they will lower their voices to hear you, TRUST ME.

* use a reward chart, now i used to give a number to each table or group, write the numbers on the board, and the moment i get into the classroom i start giving stars to the tables that are being good and following the instructions ,which by the way i dont say them but DRAW them on the board in simple drawings: quiet, sit , empty tables... and whatever you want them to do to start your class. this way the class starts quietly on your side and theirs.. then every now and then go to the table numbers and write more stars . in the middle of the lesson if anyone disrupts the class erase a star from his group, YES from the whole table this way they kinda encourage each other to behave! at the end of the day reward the table\s with most stars NEVER let a day pass without rewarding the best table..

* dont talk too much use eye language to tell a child to clean his table,tuck in his chair..etc

* the reward can be a nice sticker on the table, stickers on their shirts, if you are sure that they can play safely with marbles they just adore them!  nothing expensive i mean..

* for really serious aggressive behavior dont punish the whole group of course.. go to the child dont let him come to you, come down to his eye level, talk in a low tone of voice, give him a warning, then if he repeats it do the same and take him to time out FORSE him to sit there and walk away, comfort the victum child.

* use a lot of verbal praise: see how (samy) is behaving! his table gets a star! try to hunt for a moment of good behavior from the troublesome ones and praise them with enthusiasm.

* have something for the kids who finish their work early (couloring sheets\ play dough\ stories to look at or read) they should go quietly and take something to do after they have finished untill you have the time to check their work.

* tell a story about the happy and the unhappy classroom, draw both and ask them to describe both, have fun drawing the unhappy one with all the caos and the dirtiness, let the children laugh at it!

* try this website for complete lesson plans:

www.first-school.ws

i'm not sure if the address is correct but you can search for (first school).

good luck. it's a wonderful job.

Answer 4

I remember feeling just like you years ago. I still have occasions when my class gets a little wild. One of the best ways I get their attention is- I say" If you are listening pat your head- Then you pat your head- ( Or what ever motion you want to do)The ones that are listening will do it and the wild ones will stand out- then you can change the motion- " If you are listening clap your hands" I always end with " If you are listening cover you mouth with your hands" The key is to keep them active and wear them out when they have too much energy. Do a very active Simon says game- until they are tired - then sit them down and do a circle time.

Keep circle time interesting and interactive.

As far as activities there are many great websites- like 'perpetual preschool"  with great ideas.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Ask the kids what they want to do. Do they want to paint? Do they want to use blocks? And have the stuff set out for the next day so they are interested with what they are doing.

If you need help controlling them, ask the older teacher? She has experience and most likely willing to share it and pass on her wisdom.

Answer 6

Let me start off by saying you're only 20 and no matter what, it's just going to take time.  I have been teaching for 6 years and it's easier as time goes on to manage the classroom.  I don't think there's a lot of specific things I can say that you don't already know.  I think something happens over time where you subconsciously act differently somehow and it shows.  

I might get thumbs down, but I have to disagree with a lot of what was said already.  Rewarding good behavior with something extra seems backwards to me.  Your goal should not be to get the children to want an external reward.  Your goal should be to have the children internalize the desire to do well and act appropriately.  Sure, you might get them to act one way with a behavior chart, but you are certainly not going to help them grow with that past the reward system.  With that said....

....you answered your own question with the second part.  Trying to find ideas of what to do with them.  If the children do not find meaningful work or anything purposeful, they will be bored and will turn to running around, screaming, and all those things you get annoyed with.  Structuring your day and your classroom is critical.  That's the area you need to focus on if you want the behavior to change.  Going in every day planned will equal a smoother running class.  Going in not sure what to do will equal a chaotic class.

Matt

Answer 7

make the kids feel special and like they have a part in the group...have them play a game for kids like london bridge... let them have fun...but make sure you establisht the rules and a time out and but make sure you reward them if they have good behavior like maybe a small piece of candy at the end of the day if they don't get put into time out

good luck

have a great summer : )