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Sit at front
of class preferably with a good role model. Keep away from noisier
students.
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Have the student
be the child you use for errands. This enables them to be
constructive, give confidence and move about & burn off energy!
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Make sure you
have eye contact & their attention before an instruction is given.
Have them repeat it back. Write instructions down as well. Do not
rely on the child's memory.
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Pair up
student with a buddy that they can check with in regards to
directions & for clarification. This fosters peer relationship
building as well as taking some of the onus off the teacher.
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Keep
instruction s short & to the point.
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Allow student
extra time with assignments and exams (15 minutes per hour is
permissible). Place
in a quiet area free of distractions during exams.
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If child is
having difficulty with homework, reduce the amount. Also if homework
is broken down into 15 minute sessions with a 5 minute break, this
can help to stay on task.
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If there is a
fan in the room, place near student as this creates white noise and
helps to filter out distracting noises. Ceiling fans during winter
can have the blades switched so the fan does not blow on work.
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"Don't sweat
the small stuff". If you can, let something minor slide, let it. Try
to reduce negative responses to student where possible. Only
punish major disruptions, that is disruptions that you have handled
correctly.
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Always
apologise to the child if you incorrectly blame him/her for
something. This helps with their perception of right and wrong
as well. Often this perception is lacking.
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If a child
lashes out, find out the CAUSE before assigning blame. Often
they are being relentlessly bullied by other children and 'go off'
when they can take it no more. Sometimes they have misread a
situation and need to have it clarified; in this situation you can
use it as a learning experience but let it be known that next time
there will be consequences that you BOTH agree to.
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NEVER
presume a child has done something wrong when you can find no-one
else to blame just because they are more likely to have done it.
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Utilise
simple aids such as ear plugs, a desk that a student can stand up at
(great for fidgeters), a stress ball for fidgeting with (or
something else that makes no noise & cannot be smashed!)
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Try to stick
to a good routine. Write daily on the blackboard/whiteboard.
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Try to give
as much one on one attention as is possible. Enlist classmates to
help. Ask for parent volunteers (preferably not the parent of the
child) to assist with target children.
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Praise,
praise, praise! This does not need to be verbal. A quiet touch,
a wink, nod and smile is sometimes all that is needed without
disrupting class. Talk to the parents to keep a score card with
points that can be "cashed in" at home.
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Reward whole
class for the target child's positive behaviour. "I am really
pleased with the class's work this morning…… especially you Jason!"
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Find what the
child is good at, or passionate about, & give activities that can incorporate this.
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Provide extra
time on the class computer.
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Do not worry
too much about the neatness of the work as long as it gets done.
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Make sure
that discipline is understood and clear. Start from scratch each
week.
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If you have
any doubt about behaviour, do not punish it. Overused punishments
become ineffective & damage self esteem if you are incorrect about
your assumptions.
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DO NOT
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PUT DOWN OR BE NEGATIVE ABOUT A CHILD IN
FRONT OF THE CLASS! Actually NEVER do this at all if you
consider yourself a professional. If you do this then YOU are responsible for
the child's ensuing action.
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RETAIN A
SENSE OF HUMOUR AT ALL TIMES!
