5/10/02
Question 155
Dear Preschool
Teacher,
I am a preschool teacher in a classroom of
ten children. They are all great kids, but it seems that when
one of them is having a tough day (listening, following directions,
etc.) it rubs off on several of the other children and the whole day
is affected! Any suggestions for a troubled teacher?
Bad Days are Contagious
Dear Bad Days are Contagious,
This question has plagued teachers since the
beginning of time! Every teacher and classroom experiences this phenomenon.
The only way I know to improve this situation is to do something different and
fun. Remember the song "come on now, forget your troubles" ?
Well, you can try to do something to lift everyone's spirits. Blow
bubbles, fingerpaint
with pudding ( and eat it!) or shaving cream (depending on their age), take a
laugh break and tell jokes, anything that is not part of the everyday routine.
Fill the sand table or a small pool with water. Some of the tactile
activities are very soothing to troubled children. If all else fails,
throw out the lesson plans for a day ( or just one activity) and play!
Jackie
"Ask The Preschool Teacher
Staff"
Dear Bad Days are Contagious,
If you are all by yourself, this is a tough one.
If I come across the situation like this, and the child just will not
co-operate, then he/she can sit quietly at the table and do puzzles or the
like. I will under no circumstances let that child walk around and do whatever
he/she pleases.
Good luck
Heide
"Ask The Preschool Teacher
Staff"
Dear Bad Days are Contagious,
I like to draw attention to the ones that are behaving themselves. I find that if the one behaving him or herself is getting positive attention, that the other children will want to act like them to get attention also. I have a three year old who likes to act like an animal at circle time. I will stop and ask him to look at the other children (that are hopefully behaving) and ask him if any of them are acting like an animal. When he stops and sees that he is the only one doing this, he'll usually stop.
Peg
"Ask The Preschool Teacher
Staff"
