Advice for 2nd grade teacher requested

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My sister teaches 2nd grade in a Christian school. She is having a difficult time with this particular group (16 students); nearly half of them have some problem or disorder, particularly ADD. Some have family problems (one father died right before school started); one girl spends a lot of time daydreaming and "doesn't hear" what the teachers are saying to her. This girl is a bright student and does excellent work when she puts her mind to it. My sister is unable to get every one's attention at the same time for very long. Some of the students "act up" a lot, distracting her from teaching lessons.

She wants some practical advice on helping her class improve their listening skills.

Thanks to any and all.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), December 19, 2001

Answers

Could she work in small groups with them. Set half of them to work on a project and work with the other half?? Or maybe have a parent to help with the second group.

Listening games with rewards???

Charts and stickers for those who complete assigned tasks?? children this age seem to be very motivated by little things like stickers, pencils etc...

I believe you must reward good behaviour and try to ignore bad behaviour as much as possible.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), December 19, 2001.


I mentioned listening games to her, and she liked the idea. But she wanted to know, specifically, what types of games? How do you play them? Etc. I suggested taping different familiar sounds, or even looking for a sound effects tape, but what else?

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), December 19, 2001.

You may think the belfry is a bat or two shy but my aunt who is in a simular teaching position and her 70's has a cure for disruptive challegened children. When a child disrupts they are seeking attention, so she gives them attention overdose by tickeling them, this embarasses them, to be seen in such a helpless manor by their peers is too much. All she has to do is wiggle her fingers when looking at the disrupter and seldom does she need to do this twice. This is in a closed religous school and is accepted practice; check with school officals before proceding with this practice.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), December 19, 2001.

Better check with parents, too, on the tickling. I'm afraid that's a no-no for mine.

-- mary (mlg@aol.com), December 19, 2001.

Yeah, I'm not sure about the tickling-I love the idea, but I can see where it might not be "acceptable" however, I often sub and I find a gentle hand on the shoulder works well. Praise praise praise these kids, even if (especially if ) you have a hard time finding something to praise them about. If they are quiet two seconds say "I LOVE how you were being quiet!" My daughter's second grade teacher uses hand signals-when the class gets loud she stops speaking and holds up a high five, or touches her nose or ear (she changes the signals frequently to keep it interesting) each child sees her is quiet and does the high five or whatever until all are quiet. Another technique is reading aloud. The first few times it might be difficult to engage thier attention. Read a paragraph, and ask questions-"what do you think about that," ect. Read for longer and longer periods until you can read for 15-20 minents at a time-it may take a term to get there, but it does work.

-- Kelly (Ksaderholm@yahoo.com), December 19, 2001.


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