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Primary Elementary Teachers Chatboard

New First Grade Student - Struggling

by newteach

Mar 28, 2009

I just got a new student in my classroom. He has behavior issues and struggles quite a bit. I have a lot of routines in place including reader's and writer's workshop. Sadly, he doesn't have all of his letter sounds down (can't say the alphabet), and can't even write his name. This coupled with the fact that he has behavior issues, is making the day really challenging. Any ideas for activities I can use for this child in the classroom? I have several other special needs kids to attend to as well. I do not have a TA and this student does not get any classroom services. So, anything I try will need to be managed by me. Thanks for your advice!

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Yellow Rose Maybe I misunderstood but he can't write his name and does not know his letters and sounds but is ahead of all the K's? At this time of year?

This child definitely is not ready for first grade and we're on the downswing of the school year. You're in a tight spot, really, but you can only do what you can do. If you do reading groups, he IS ...See MoreMaybe I misunderstood but he can't write his name and does not know his letters and sounds but is ahead of all the K's? At this time of year?

This child definitely is not ready for first grade and we're on the downswing of the school year. You're in a tight spot, really, but you can only do what you can do. If you do reading groups, he IS his own group. Take that time to practice letter i.d. and sounds. Have him write the letter on a white board while practicing the sound. Teach him a simple sight word and have him practice writing it while saying it. If he came from a school with a good program and was getting worked with, he will make some progress but probably not a lot in the time you have left. Speak with your principal and the parents and put the bug in the ears that this child will most likely need to be retained. Work with him on writing his name. Study and practice all of the letters in his name. During writing, encourage him to draw a picture then tell you about it. Have him dictate a sentence to you, say about what he likes to do such as "I like to ride my bike." Have him practice reading it over and over then cut it apart and have him put it back together, over and over. Put the pieced in an envelope and have him practice it at home. Next day, have him glue it back together, copy it and draw a picture to illustrate it.

Are the parents aware of his problems and are they supportive? If so, start sending home a few letter cards and a very low level book for him to "read" at home. Keep the book in a box or a bag at school and have him read it at school too. Give him a new book once he can "read" the one he has. Yes he may end up memorizing it but sometimes that is the first step toward reading.

You didn't go into detail about his behaviors but he may need to be put on a special behavior plan where he earns stars or points or something for keeping himself on task (drawing his picture or whatever) for a specific amount of time.

Good luck to you. MY really low one just moved and isn't as low as yours but he was still a piece of work. I know how you feel.

Mar 28, 2009

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GA 1 I'm not sure how your system handles these situations, but I would speak with the administration about "fast tracking" him in the SST process. Our county has a lot of redtape for students to get extra services which he obviously needs. If you start the process now he will receive the help he needs at least by next year in first grade. If you don't ...See More

Mar 28, 2009

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Sorry - typo.... He is way BELOW all of our K's!

On 3/28/09, Yellow Rose wrote: > Maybe I misunderstood but he can't write his name and does not know > his letters and sounds but is ahead of all the K's? At this time of > year? > > This child definitely is not ready for first grade and we're on the > downswing of the school year. You're i...See MoreHe is way BELOW all of our K's!

On 3/28/09, Yellow Rose wrote: > Maybe I misunderstood but he can't write his name and does not know > his letters and sounds but is ahead of all the K's? At this time of > year? > > This child definitely is not ready for first grade and we're on the > downswing of the school year. You're in a tight spot, really, but you > can only do what you can do. If you do reading groups, he IS his own > group. Take that time to practice letter i.d. and sounds. Have him > write the letter on a white board while practicing the sound. Teach > him a simple sight word and have him practice writing it while saying > it. If he came from a school with a good program and was getting > worked with, he will make some progress but probably not a lot in the > time you have left. Speak with your principal and the parents and put > the bug in the ears that this child will most likely need to be > retained. Work with him on writing his name. Study and practice all > of the letters in his name. During writing, encourage him to draw a > picture then tell you about it. Have him dictate a sentence to you, > say about what he likes to do such as "I like to ride my bike." Have > him practice reading it over and over then cut it apart and have him > put it back together, over and over. Put the pieced in an envelope and > have him practice it at home. Next day, have him glue it back > together, copy it and draw a picture to illustrate it. > > Are the parents aware of his problems and are they supportive? If so, > start sending home a few letter cards and a very low level book for > him to "read" at home. Keep the book in a box or a bag at school and > have him read it at school too. Give him a new book once he > can "read" the one he has. Yes he may end up memorizing it but > sometimes that is the first step toward reading. > > You didn't go into detail about his behaviors but he may need to be > put on a special behavior plan where he earns stars or points or > something for keeping himself on task (drawing his picture or > whatever) for a specific amount of time. > > Good luck to you. MY really low one just moved and isn't as low as > yours but he was still a piece of work. I know how you feel. >

Mar 28, 2009

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TeachinNC I had a child like this last year. I had to teach him Kindergarten curriculum while teaching the rest of the class the first grade curriculum. It was a pain. You could get him a white board and markers and teach him phonics (short vowel sounds first) and have him practice words on the white board...give him some, then ask him to inventive spell oth...See MoreI had a child like this last year. I had to teach him Kindergarten curriculum while teaching the rest of the class the first grade curriculum. It was a pain. You could get him a white board and markers and teach him phonics (short vowel sounds first) and have him practice words on the white board...give him some, then ask him to inventive spell others. You could find/structure fun activities like that that he could do on his own during center or independent reading times. I would also get any help from the parents that I could. Are they supportive? Will they do extra with him at home? I would have them echo choral read your class stories (basal or other) with him each night. I would also make them a sight word concentration game out of preprimer words. He could work on these in class with a low student/peer helper as well and then you could assess him and when he knows these move on to primer, etc. Just some more ideas.

On 3/28/09, newteach wrote: > Thanks for the advice! I had considered a peer helper, but the > student is SO low, I'm not sure how they could help. For > example, in reading, I can obviously get letter cards for a > child to review with him. I'm also teaching him how to picture > reading. Actual reading would be tough for a peer to do with him > as he has no letter sounds and knows no sight words. I'm not > sure what to do in writing. This child won't do anything (even > sketch) and stands and continues to yell out my name. I'm > working on the behavior part of all this :) > > On 3/28/09, TeachinNC wrote: >> I would use peer helpers and offer them a reward. For >> example, "Mckenzie please help so and so with....and get a >> star when you are done." >> >> I wouldn't use the same peer helper all of the time, though >> because the parent might complain. Vary who you use and also >> consider the behavior of the child you will choose...for >> example, I wouldn't pick someone who would play with him or >> if it is someone who he is uncomfortable with I wouldn't pick >> that child either. >> >> >> On 3/28/09, newteach wrote: >>> I just got a new student in my classroom. He has behavior >>> issues and struggles quite a bit. I have a lot of routines >>> in place including reader's and writer's workshop. Sadly, >>> he doesn't have all of his letter sounds down (can't say >>> the alphabet), and can't even write his name. This coupled >>> with the fact that he has behavior issues, is making the >>> day really challenging. Any ideas for activities I can use >>> for this child in the classroom? I have several other >>> special needs kids to attend to as well. I do not have a >>> TA and this student does not get any classroom services. >>> So, anything I try will need to be managed by me. Thanks >>> for your advice!

Mar 28, 2009

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Gracie It sounds like tis child has never been in school.. I would begin with his name and counting..auditory and recognizing and then writing.

1. Have him say his name. 2. Show him his name and tell him the names of the letters in his name. Show him a paper with three names on it. Have him identify his own name. Work on it until he can identify ...See MoreIt sounds like tis child has never been in school.. I would begin with his name and counting..auditory and recognizing and then writing.

1. Have him say his name. 2. Show him his name and tell him the names of the letters in his name. Show him a paper with three names on it. Have him identify his own name. Work on it until he can identify his name and indentify the letters in it. If his name is long and he cannot identify the letters, go to the next step. 3. Have his name cut out in letters. Have him put the letters in the right sequence to make his name. Have a model of his name above so he can use it for reference. Once you think he can do it without the model, take it away. First name only. Once he has mastered that, have him do it periodically with a peer.

Finally do with last name. Go on to writing on unlined paper,(half sheet) and then lined paper.

Once the name is mastered, you can do recognition of all letters with their sounds. Get a workbook from the Teacher store. Best way to teach letters and sounds is to find a page of all the letters and a picture that goes with the sound and do a daily 15 minute drill with a peer.

1. Numbers. Count from 1 to 5. have him count to 1 to five and point to the numerals as he counts. Several times. Have him do that with a peer. 2. Cut out number cards. Have him put them in the right sequence. Have a model on the desk for reference. Once you think he can do it without the model, take the model away. Practice with a peer. 3. Take a light colored pencil and write the number 1 1 1 1 1 1 trace over it. Then ask him to make five more just like yours, but put a starting dot and a stop dot. Have a peer sitting next to him. Then write the number 2 in the colored pencil five times to trace over. Then start the curve of the two and put the bottom foot of the two so he knows where to go to make his own 2. Do the same with the 3, tracing first, and the start of the 3 and showing the bottom loop of the 3.

Later continue with all five numbers until mastered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On 3/28/09, Sorry - typo.... wrote: > He is way BELOW all of our K's! > > On 3/28/09, Yellow Rose wrote: >> Maybe I misunderstood but he can't write his name and does not know >> his letters and sounds but is ahead of all the K's? At this time of >> year? >> >> This child definitely is not ready for first grade and we're on the >> downswing of the school year. You're in a tight spot, really, but you >> can only do what you can do. If you do reading groups, he IS his own >> group. Take that time to practice letter i.d. and sounds. Have him >> write the letter on a white board while practicing the sound. Teach >> him a simple sight word and have him practice writing it while saying >> it. If he came from a school with a good program and was getting >> worked with, he will make some progress but probably not a lot in the >> time you have left. Speak with your principal and the parents and put >> the bug in the ears that this child will most likely need to be >> retained. Work with him on writing his name. Study and practice all >> of the letters in his name. During writing, encourage him to draw a >> picture then tell you about it. Have him dictate a sentence to you, >> say about what he likes to do such as "I like to ride my bike." Have >> him practice reading it over and over then cut it apart and have him >> put it back together, over and over. Put the pieced in an envelope and >> have him practice it at home. Next day, have him glue it back >> together, copy it and draw a picture to illustrate it. >> >> Are the parents aware of his problems and are they supportive? If so, >> start sending home a few letter cards and a very low level book for >> him to "read" at home. Keep the book in a box or a bag at school and >> have him read it at school too. Give him a new book once he >> can "read" the one he has. Yes he may end up memorizing it but >> sometimes that is the first step toward reading. >> >> You didn't go into detail about his behaviors but he may need to be >> put on a special behavior plan where he earns stars or points or >> something for keeping himself on task (drawing his picture or >> whatever) for a specific amount of time. >> >> Good luck to you. MY really low one just moved and isn't as low as >> yours but he was still a piece of work. I know how you feel. >>

Mar 28, 2009

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