I have a first grade class that is chatty ALL THE TIME. There are times when I will be teaching and they'll sit and talk with a neighbor. I then ask those who were talking to sit by the wall. Many times when I ask him/her to sit out by the wall, they will sit there for a little while and then they take it upon themselves to crawl around, slide around on their backs on the gym floor. I then remind him/her to sit on their pockets by the wall. I seem to be having the same issues with the same kids consistently. I have had individual conversations with each kid about what is expected, how their grade is impacted, and I remind them frequently to make good choices.
My question: Does anyone have any good management strategies to decrease the frequency of some of these continuous problems?
My kiddos are preschoolers - so there is a little age difference, but here are some things you could try. From your description it sounds like you are teaching PE - so THEIR main focus is playing time. SO - Keep them as active as possible! Chatting usually happens when they are "waiting" (which is sometimes what they feel like they are doing when you are "teaching" - at least I know that's what my little kiddos think!). Start them with something active to get them moving that doesn't need much instruction for the first couple minutes. Then pull them together for a few instructions and let them be active again. If you can give a few instructions like this and let them try out those directions, then pull them in again and add on to the task and give feedback about how they are doing. . .it might capture their attention and help them be successful in learning the task in steps. You could try some kind of clap, hand motion, word, or cheer to let them know when they need to come back together for more direction (and some of the best ones have a response they give back to you ie one two three, eyes on me) If you need a longer block of time for instruction - work on how the kids are grouped by assigning them places to sit that are further apart and away from the others that they chat with the most.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are on the right track. I teach first grade at Eagle Creek and I have a similar problem quite often. I also teach gymanstics with kids that age. One thing I do is find ways to make instruction active. For example, while I am giving instructions for a game called weather mayhem, I will ask them to be a cloud. Or if we are playing freeze tag they have to freeze like a statue while they hear the rules. Putting some pressure on from classmates can help too. For example, in the classroom I say " I would be happy to start when you show me you are ready." The rest of the class will let the wiggly kids know pretty quick they are getting bored waiting to play. If they act up in the middle I say, "I would be happy to continue when everyone is showing my hands in lap, sitting on pockets etc. I also start calling out the students who are doing a good job and on task. If I have to I got through everyone and by the end that one or two who were goofing off will want to fit in.
ReplyDeleteAshley-
ReplyDeleteSometimes when I have to sit students out during PE, I sit them out in the hallway. A lot of times they are moving around and messing around they are doing this to get attention from their peers. If they're in the hallway then they can't seek attention and they usually think about what got them out there in the first place.
If I see 1st graders getting restless, then I ask them to do a quick body check and let them know that the quicker I can get through the last instructions, the sooner they get to play.
Also, just like Emily said, I always point out the students who are doing what is expected of them and on task; they love to hear their name called for something positive.
It can be very fustrating having a chatty class. It really disturbs other's learning. One of my Social Studies classes is this way. I use a incentive program called punch cards. They can get up to 15 punches(with ahole puncher) Once they get all 15 they get a prize. Their card goes into a bucket for Friday drawing. The winner or the Friday drawing gets a bigger prize from our class prize bucket. This has helped! I am all about incentives:-)
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