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3-25-00 Question 19
Dear Preschool Teacher,
I am a pre-school teacher that goes into home daycares and
teaches for an hour of activities. I have been teaching for 5 years.
However I have never been in a daycare class such as this. The kids are
out of control, 6 of them. When I speak to one or they ask a question
everyone scatters, when I turn to get a book or whatever they hit or
push each other or yell at someone at the top of their lungs. They
complain about what I do and playing games is nearly impossible. I have
put a standard and tell them this is not allowed in class and send
them to the corner if they do this. It does not work and sometimes some of
them openly defy me. It is not only me because the daycare provider has
a music man come in to play and he leaves early because of the chaos. I
have a job here 3x a week.
Help!!
Total Chaos
Dear Total Chaos,
It sounds like the daycare provider is not providing
structure during the times you are not there. But we can't worry
about that. You need to make your experience as positive as you can for these
children. I would try not to use discipline. You should be seen
as the one who the children get excited when you come! I would make a
special place for children who can't sit nicely in the group. That
is where they go when they are not sitting nicely. Until they can
behave they will not be able to do the fun stuff. If it is the
whole group in this special place than have a quiet time. Put on quiet
music and do nothing. Tell them you will not do anything fun
until they can sit nicely. Do this every time until they are
ready.
I would use a lot of music, like tambourines to get their attentions.
It also sounds like they need to be kept very busy. Plan and pack
as many activities as you can in a lesson.
Good luck.
April
"Ask the Preschool Teacher" Staff
Dear Total Chaos,
Wow! You have your hands, don't you? Sounds
like you have a discipline problem with the children. Are you teaching at
the level of their ages? The reason I ask this, is because the
children seem bored. Have you tried some moving records
with the children? Keep them active and moving and then they want
have time to complain and hit one another. Have you tried asking the
children what they would enjoy? Try a few of these ideas I have
written down and see if that will help. Good luck.
Brenda
"Ask the Preschool Teacher" Staff
Dear Total Chaos,
I can totally sympathize with you! I have been
teaching for a while and it seems like every so often you get a group of
kids who just don't pay attention. I think it is the "group
dynamics" where one child eggs another on and it is almost impossible
to get anything productive done.
Have you tried starting your session with a puppet on
your hand? Sometimes this works for me when no one will listen.
Begin your session with a puppet, pick any kind you like. I usually
use an animal puppet based on a book I'm going to read, or song I'm going to
sing. This just might get their attention, at least for a few minutes.
Another activity you could try is to do a finger play
using finger puppets. For example, try "5 little monkeys swinging
in the tree, teasing Mr. Alligator, Can't Catch Me, Can't Catch Me...Along
comes Mr. Alligator sneaky as can be and...SNAP (at this point, letting one
child pull one monkey off your finger) Maybe some kind of interactive
song or game would work to keep the group focused.
I'm sure your shaking your head right now, thinking
"not with these kids", I know, I've been there! But maybe
some kind of game or song using puppets might help.
Good Luck!
Jill
"Ask the Preschool Teacher" Staff
Dear Total Chaos,
As this is a home daycare, I wonder if the children are
of a large age range?
May I suggest you try the following, if you have not done
so already:
- ask the provider to sit with you and support your activities, perhaps
holding the youngest on her lap
- you appoint a 'helper' for the day--this child can be responsible for
gathering the others for group time, giving out props, turning book pages,
choosing games etc
- you can make a chart so each child knows when her helper day is coming
-give out a reward to good listeners, something like a sticker
- when the kids get loud and out of control, switch your voice to very soft
-carry a bag full of interesting things and make it part of your beginning
to get the children curious in what special things you will be showing them
'when they are ready' to listen
-ask kids to help you by holding things for you until you need them
-include a 'special' word that the children must listen for very carefully
and give them permission to hoot and holler when they hear it... or jump up,
spin etc.... include it from time to time to get the kids listening
carefully to you
Also, you might ask the provider to prepare the kids for
your arrival, maybe with some outdoor exercise before it is time for them to
sit with you.
Sorry, but I must also say that sitting in the corner is
a rather old fashion and outdated method of discipline. I have found that
just sitting beside the teacher is effective, or perhaps off to the side
with a book.
Hope these suggestions are a bit helpful and good luck!
Shelley
"Ask the Preschool Teacher" Staff
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