behavior problems in kindergarten

Patty - posted on 11/25/2008

HI I taught emotional support for 6 years and have my master's in behavior disorders. It is very hard to give advice on a behavior plan without knowing some specifics. You are welcome to email me and I may be able to help you come up with some strategies for this kiddo. If he is more involved than what can be provided for him in a regular education setting I can give you the steps you need to try before he can be placed in a specialized program.

Good Luck

Patty

Melinda - posted on 11/25/2008

I have had to use numerous different behavior plans with many of my students over the past few years. With a child (who was so bad that DHR sent a therapist/counselor to sit with her everyday for the last 2 month of school), she had a chip box that she both earned and lost chips for behavior. We also decided to give her a bear to take care of (like a baby) and when she was acting innappropriately or not taking care of the bear, it was given to another child to take care of. We changed the bears clothes, fed it, took it everywhere... With a child this year, I am yet again using the smiley face chart with the day divided up into about 10 sections, with some sections as a "give me" for a smiley face (like appropriate behavior outside, in the bathroom, PE). A website that I used last year with a child was www.interventioncentral.com (I think that it right) and you can make your own behavior report. Just some thoughts-it makes for a long day when you have to put up with an unruly child all day long!!!

Amy - posted on 11/25/2008

I am a special ed teacher... a lot of times, students are not responsive to your reward system because they don't have REAL motivators. You might want to send home a reinforcement assessment so you can get an idea of what he likes... we use what we call reward boards... students pick (from a choice of 3 - 6 depending on student) what they want to work for... they earn tokens toward that prize/thing/attention. Some examples we use: computer, smartboard, slinky, run on track, jump on trampoline, goldfish, etc... you can change it daily (at first, he needs to be reinforced A LOT so he will really buy into it... maybe even with every single successful activity) and you can change it for the situation - like if it is raining, he obviously cannot work for outside time. Do you think any of this might help?

Carmen - posted on 11/25/2008

Amen to Melissa! She said exactly what I was going to! I have the same situation in K, also. I use the charts from freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com he gets to color in something when he attains whatever goal I set. He enjoys the reward at the end of the day. He loves ANY reward, though. It has helped him - hope this helps you!

Karen - posted on 11/25/2008

We had our second meeting on one of the students, I was happy his mom actually showed up to this meeting. She is in complete denial of the behavior problems. We are trying to get this young child into counseling, since his tantrums and outburst are not getting the attention he wants he has begun to threaten his life. It is scary to think a young boy can have so much anger and feel like this.

Nicole - posted on 11/23/2008

I know how you are feeling. I am in the same boat with 2 of my students. Last week one of them was lashing out while I was walking him back to his seat. He kicked an empty chair (on purpose) as we were walking and I tripped over it. I ended up in the hospital with a broken patella. Since I haven't been there, nothing is working at all. He has been suspened numerous times (he punched antoher student in the face the next day and gave him a bloody nose). And we are stil trying to do "paper work" for the evaluation. Just make sure some action gets taken before it gets dangerous for the other students.

Melissa - posted on 11/21/2008

Do you have support of a behavior specialist or a review board that could, maybe get things rolling for the child to be qualied for self-contained or emotionally disturbed? Otherwise, just do what we kindergarten teachers do best--keep charting data (how many interventions you've tried for how long to what avail) for 180 days and then smile and be happy when the first teacher tells you the child has been qualifed for special services. As for the other children, be very harsh with them for a while. It's hard. I hate to be mean, but they know better for pete's sake. When someone says, "Why does Joe get to..." I just tell all the kids honestly that Joe is not ready for kindergarten, but the rest of us are and need to act like it. We can be role models for Joe to help him learn to be a big kindergarten student. Teach them to ignore the explosive child's behavior and what to do in different situations that come up. Be very explicit--when 'Joe" does this ____ your job is to.... I'm sure you are already doing this and have heard it before. I definitely feel your frustration...every day. Good luck and hang in there!

Sara - posted on 11/20/2008

I understand, I also work in a school and we have has a terrible time with one little boy. We have tried everything as well. Our little boy does not respond to the principal or any sort of reward system as well. We have had numberous meeting with the mother as she has "no idea" about what to do. We have refered him for special education to be evelated. In his class we use green (good), yellow (not so good) and red( the worst) days. We have even split his day in half so he can earn two different colors. This didn't seem to work very well either. He does like me and so I started a sticker program with him. If he sits and listen during circle time - he gets a sticker and so one. Things only seem to work with him a few times. We have tried - stickers, notes home, special treats in the room, line leader, helper for the day, pick out a story to read, 6th grade buddy, etc.... Good luck!