Re: Behavior Management of 4th Grader I Am Tutoring
Posted by: Susan on 10/19/09
I'd say first that I'm guessing you're not a teacher by
trade. Children listen in different ways - and I wonder what
your program directors have suggested to you. That you are
not free in any way to modify a program that may not be
working for this child is the first problem.
No single program, no single approach is the right approach
for every child. When it is not the right approach, the child
can act out. To continue to force the approach down the
child's throat leads to more acting out, not less.
That he chose Goosebumps is meaningless - don't rest any
laurels on that. If you must continue to read aloud to him,
are you a good expressive reader? If so, then understand that
looking around the room is ok - children do not have the
focused attention spans of adults and playing with something
in his hand can help him to focus. Children - some more than
others - cannot sit still for long without some fidgeting.
If you take his pens from him, you are doing something that
will made modern children very angry. Why do that? Having him
repeat the dictionary thing is like something you see in a
very old movie. You are making this child angry and asking a
chatboard what to do about his anger?
Do you want him to be angry? This does not sound like a
tutoring session to me - it sounds more as if you are
frustrated by the child and now engaged in a small battle
with him that you want to win.
That he makes up words based on an initial consonant is what
children who have no phonics foundation do - it's also what
dyslexic children can fall to doing because phonics sadly
doesn't work well for them.
Restless behavior goes hand in hand with poor academic
performance but nothing that you're doing in these sessions
will improve his academic performance or his reading. You
seem to know nothing of children and just as little of
reading issues and learning differences.
I dislike my own tone and apologize for it but 30 years of
teaching experience are riling me as I read your post.
Indeed, much of what you're doing is exactly the opposite of
what should be done and your tone about this child is as
touchy as is mine to you.
Why do this volunteer job if it frustrates you? No teacher is
the right teacher for every child and the same holds true for
tutors. Get some training. Stickers will not make him less
angry or make either of you less frustrated with the other.
Continuous redirection is par for the course for many
children particularly so when they feel trapped in the moment
and I'm guessing he feels as trapped in these moments as do
you.
> . He behaves a little better when I am a little
> stricter with him but even with my best efforts I have to
> continuously redirect him.
> The program gives stickers to the younger students but he
> seems to feel he is too old for that. I could create
> another reward for him but I would have to check it with
> the director.
> Any suggestions are appreciated.
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Behavior Management of 4th Grader I Am Tutoring, 10/19/09, by Elizabeth Marie Wampler.
- Re: Behavior Management of 4th Grader I Am Tutoring, 10/19/09, by Susan.
- Re: Behavior Management of 4th Grader I Am Tutoring, 10/19/09, by Jo.
- Re: Behavior Management of 4th Grader I Am Tutoring, 10/19/09, by Susan.
- Re: Behavior Management of 4th Grader I Am Tutoring ADHD?, 11/04/09, by Leah.