Jsbrads Posted November 27, 2017 Posted November 27, 2017 I am teaching an amazing intelligent boy about 10 yr, he has behaved well in the past, but his home life is so extremely bad that he gets distracted and will occasionally distract other students. His father seems nice and is the child’s full time guardian at the moment, him and his brother are refusing to go to their mother’s home. What can I do to minimize his distruption of others? Help him focus? Help him in general?
barn Posted November 27, 2017 Posted November 27, 2017 Hi @Jsbrads That's a hard one for me too. As part time I also teach. Not creating an additional problem for him/her, plus not getting sucked into his unconscious 'manipulation' would be certainly a good idea, I am guessing his 'acting out' isn't for the purpose of disruption itself but to call attention and/ offloading anxiety. He/she hasn't learnt how to put things in the right place, as of yet. I wish I could give you a brilliant answer because that would mean I had 'cracked the code' myself. I'll certainly try my best. Here's my best 'two cents' : 1. Draw up and remind the solid boundaries serving healthy group dynamics he/she can choose to accept if wants. A ten yr old needs clear guidance, critical thinking is in development, role models are essential. You can be one such example. (punishment for being anxious is a 'duche' move, it's better not granting luxuries as a way of demonstrating consequentialities if necessary. Offer a way back to preferable behaviour. Isn't it better if he/she have an option to positive motivation to try to deal with 'demons', rather than worry about things he/she might not be able to 'lock up'? ) 2. Graded to the level of understanding - explain why it's bothering and what would be better and why you are asking(how it's for the benefit of him/her - what's in it for him), while highlighting constructive goals that will be maintained. Invite student to make a decision. 3. Extra activity that can absorb the student's 'energy bursts' and turn it into something productive. Possibly making him/her realign focus. Have a few 'plan B' prepped for those occasions. 4. Short attention span (youth), boys (moving as much possible), boys (competitiveness) Kinaesthetic activities (5-10minutes,many) geared towards utilising all of the above. 5. People like stories. If well told, captivating, enticing and can be used to attract attention to things. - Graded, referable, relevant to class/topic at hand. 6. Make student feel important when trying to reward... wiping the board, handing out, collecting stuff... little autonomous grants. Hope there's at least 1 useful thing for you. Barnsley
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