Please help in maintaining discipline in class.?

Question

I am Pre-school teacher and facing difficulty with two children ,they disturbs harmony of class,because of them no body can concentrate in their work.I tried time-out and rewarded them too for good behaviour but nothing seems to work with them. Also these children does not like to do what other children does in the class like daily activities ,drawing,games they find their own way to crate some nasty thing.please tell me ways to handle these children.Pls

Answer 1

My suggestion is that you really put aside the feelings of anxiety towards those children (which is really hard to do- I am also a preschool teacher) first of all.  I would also suggest that you begin spending "active listening" time with the children- seperate from each other.  10 minutes or so a day will do it.  Learn their patterns...Does one arrive 5 or 10 minutes before everyone else does in the morning?  If so- do it then...

Just spend some time talking with them and encouraging them to talk with you or to "help" you with something.  Don't get discouraged- at first they probably won't open up...

I had a similar situation in my classroom with a child always causing disruptions, never engaging in activities, etc...  So, I chose to one day say "Jonathan, I need a helper- would you like to come help me make some copies?"  I could tell that he was apprehensive, but willing...After the 3rd or 4th time of doing this over a week or so, he was opening up and would help me put the page on the glass and pick it up out of the dispenser, etc.  He also began to share things about why he didn't like to draw, etc.  and I learned about things that affected him and why...

This made a HUGE difference and after about a month of this type of time and hard work, I noticed that Jonathan began to take part in the class and even made some close friends in the class. His parents, (whom I had also been keeping updated and getting help from) even commented on how his behavior had improved and how much he talked about school at home now, etc.!

I have seen the active listening and time aside thing really work and although it is tough when you are in charge of so many preschoolers to set aside the time- it is worth it for both you and the child (ren) who are having the issues!

Hope this helps!

P.S.- Some of the above comments really made me want to add that children in this age group often are not capable of sharing their feelings correctly and often behave accordingly.  With preschoolers, the behavior is normally not "MISBEHAVIOR" but "MISTAKEN BEHAVIOR" and there is usually an underlying reason for the actions- which the child cannot convey.  I am not saying that this is ALWAYS the case, but it often is and sometimes putting harsher "discipline" on them rather than using "guidance" can only make matters much worse...you really have to gauge the children in your situation...

Answer 2

Start with the parents. My guess is the two kids you have are the type where the parents drop them off first thing in the morning and pick them up last at night. The truth is you should talk to your administrator and express your concern that the kid will probably end up in court ordered military time by the age of 10. In the end though its almost 99.9% the fact that the parents are degenerates and say well he's not my problem for the next 9 hours.

Answer 3

Since you have tried time-out and rewarding them then it's time to talk to the parents. It's important that the teacher and parents work together in correcting this bad behavior. Teachers and parents should use the same modifier so the child doesn't seem out of place when the teacher does something different than the parents. Try using charts for the rewards, things that grab the child's attention. You could also try by ignoring the innapropriate conduct as long as it's not harming anyone.  But above all don´t let the child think he/she is in charge. Let them know that they have to obey you because you are the teacher and not them.

Answer 4

I think every room has these children who like to make your day challenging.  I have 2 in my room that do this every single day with me.  Finally what I have started doing is finding activities that will draw them into wanting to join the other children.  Build off their interests and make it interactive.  The more interaction they have in activities, the more they will be involved and interested in the activity. For example, the boys i work with really like bugs, so I used that to build a few activities so that they arent always disturbing the other children.  A matching game with bugs was incorperated and a counting game with plastic bugs were put into the game center.  Books about different types of bugs and insects were also put into the reading center.  You have to observe to see what these children enjoy and build off their interests to help them become more involved and so they dont disturb everyone else.

Answer 5

Have you ever tried to allow them to decide at least one activity?

Sometimes children (especially younger ones) like the feeling of being in charge and have a difficult time in a structured environment. Try letting each one control his world for at least part of the day and see what happens.

Answer 6

try to let them be helpers. Give them responsibilties in the classroom. Keep them busy -and help them feel important.

Answer 7

These kids are little rebels. Don't fight against them. Rather join them and motivate them to do other activities, when they are done. Don't be too strict, you can laugh with them when they are joking, but when they cross the line, make it clear (don't put the line too tight).

They are just kids who need attention, who try to be special, give them attention, but make sure they know their place, try to act as friends, rather then foe's, they will do the same.

Answer 8

First off bring in the parents show them some of their "creations" and maybe you can set up a barrier(cubical walls) to make it where the naughty children sit so they cannot see the others.

When it comes down to them doing what the class is doing tell them they must do as the class does first and then later on after while maybe during a ressess they could stay in and show you what they wanted to do.

  Or maybe ask another teacher for Ideas Good luck

Answer 9

I am not sure what "nasty" things mean if they are just being messy and careless or creating projects with inappropriate content. If it is inappropriate definitely bring in the parents. Otherwise make sure that your rules and expectations are clear. Provide specific examples of what you want them to do and what not to do. Provide concrete consequences of what will happen if they do the correct thing and what will happen if they do the incorrect thing. Also do some research on what time-out is. Most people I have consulted with who say they use time-out do it inappropriately and provide way too much attention to the child while he or she is in time out. Get them to the boring time out area in 10 sec or less with 10 words or less and do not talk or interact at all until the time out period is over. Most children do outrageous things to get a reaction and for attention. Children would rather have negative attention than no attention and as adults we are more likely to recognize and react to the bad behavior instead of the good behavior. A good rule of thumb is to try catch children being good 4 times more often than you catch them misbehaving. This might take a lot of work in the beginning, but is worth it. Also try to ignore minor misbehavior when you can. The kids likely want the reaction and if they are getting what they want then they will continue to do it. Good Luck!

Answer 10

GET A REALLY REALLY LONG STCK AND STAR BEA....................................!...

Answer 11

get out the ol' whip

Answer 12

I know you have probably tried to keep them separated as much as possible since they tend to feed off one another.  If not start there.  In my preschool class this is what we had to do.  I brought in fruit loops.  I explained to the children that they are little rewards for doing the right thing.  I first passed them out to the children that were sitting listening to me explain what the fruit loops were for announcing it to the class.  I gave out 3 fruit loops at a time to each child doing the right thing. I never said anything to the ones that were doing the wrong thing just gave out fruit loops to the ones doing the right thing.  Eventually the problem child caught on.  It took most of the day but he finally got the idea.  As soon as you see that child doing one thing right just for a split second let him know you noticed by giving him  fruit loops and announcing it to the class. You don't have to give them out all day just when you need them to listen and sit still.  I would also point out to the class a child that was doing the right thing.   The min. the problem child did something right I would say "Look at him(use his name) he knows how to do the right thing.  I didn't point out the neg. the troubled child was doing.  If he was doing something very disruptive I would then take him by the hand not saying a word and remove him from the situation and either put him in a chair or on the floor away from the other children.  Not saying anything doesn't give him the attention he may be wanting. He also may have a problem that you can not really ever have any control over.  He may need extra help.  I hope this helps