Teaching help?

Question

I am a teacher assistant for a two year old group in a daycare and I am really battling with getting the children to listen to me and I am not getting much support from the place I am working from the staff, just a lot of criticism. What can I do to try to get the class flowing and a bit more organized? Any tips?

Answer 1

I've been teaching a preschool classroom for 6 years now.  I would sort of re-frame this question.  Instead of thinking about the 2 year olds 'listening' to you, I would think about these things: the environment, relationships and engagement.  

Is there enough structure in the day?  Do adults interact appropriately with the children?  Usually, when kids don't listen to grown ups, it is a problem with the environment (this includes structure and activities as well as physical environment) or the relationships between the adults and children in the classroom.  Having a set schedule (maybe with a visual schedule somewhere), appropriately designed space, developmentally appropriate activities, etc all are signs of a good environment.  What's your sense about these things?  What about relationships?  Are children respected?  Are they given encouragement?

You want the kids to always be engaged with you, each other, or with what they are doing.  If they are not listening, they may not be engaging. I would think about what you, the adult, could do to increase engagement.  That's exactly what puppets and activities like pretending to all sleep will do, get the kids engaged.  Think about the activities.  Are they short enough?  Are they developmentally appropriate for 2 year olds?  

If the above things are solid and strong, more than 90% of children will listen, learn, and grow.  Good luck!

Answer 2

I teach sunday school with 2-5 year olds. When I seem to be losing the class I pull out a puppet! I have 3 that I use...cat, dog, and mouse. I then ask the kids to help give him a name. After that's done I use the puppet to talk to and answer questions. If the kids start acting up again I tell them they need to be nice and listen or "puppet" will leave. It usually works.

Hope this helps a little

Answer 3

Two year olds need to be interactive and don't like to sit and listen long. Try singing songs with lots of movements- Also simon says works well. When my class gets crazy- I sing-" The animals are sleeping, the animals are sleeping in a soft voice. My class immediately falls to the ground and pretends they are a sleep. Then I say, " Wake up little bunnies" They get up and pretend they are bunnies. Then I say, The animals are sleeping again, and They fall to the ground to sleep again. I give them several animals to pretend they are. Then I will say at the end, " Wake up little two year old and come sit in a circle" It works everytime.

Answer 4

Some things that may work:

every morning they get a stamp on their hand...decorate a sponge and name it...let the kids know if they don't listen  Mr. Sponge (whatever u name it) will have to wash away their stamp.  With little ones, anything that can be taken away, usually helps them listen, because they love tangible rewards...Try to use positive praise.  "Boy I like how nice Joey is sitting" or Great job getting line line Madison.  Being consistent will work it just takes time...When u r transitioning (moving from activity to activity) keep them busy.  For example tiptoe to the table or hop like a bunny to the carpet.  I know its frustrating, but it will get better.  Let them know your boss, and have reasonable expectations that they are sure to meet.  Good luck!

Answer 5

i am a three year old teacher in a preschool and i use the stop and drop technique...stop what you are doing wherever you are at and do something like singing or reading or a nusery rhyme. when the kids notice you they will come to you and when they all are sitting you can resume your teaching

Answer 6

Tell them you'll give them candy at the end of class to the quietest kids.

Answer 7

I'll second what the first commenter said- 2's shouldn't be sitting for more than 10 minutes- they just aren't able to focus that long.  Brief activities are best.  

When you're losing control of the class, the best trick I've found is to pull out the classes' favorite book, sit quietly on the floor, and start reading.  Don't call them over, or tell them to stop what they're doing, just sit down and pretend to ignore them.  Whenever I do that, the whole class comes running over to read with me.  I imagine it would work with a favorite toy as well.

Time out doesn't work on 2's (they can't understand the concept yet, so it doesn't correct the behavior).  Yelling makes the situation worse.  

Keep their day predictable and developmentally appropriate.  Break up activities with songs and quick stories.  Give them some free time to balance the structured times.  And try to keep yourself calm.  The way you talk and move has a huge impact on how the children will act.

Answer 8

I Teach two years old's when you want then to listen you make it fun ex cleaning up toys ask the kids to help you tell why how they make glad when help you and that you done with toys you do what with them cause they can show you they want to make you happy and be sure to you feeling words good luck

Answer 9

They have short attention span so speak like for only 2 mins then let them be interactive because soon they are going to do hard work in the upcoming years. While they are playing help them learn while they play like may a board game for Little ones that teaches u while u have fun.