I am not a teacher but i do have 3 daughters 6 and under. And have struggled getting them to listen without me loosing it due to the simultaneous chaos. So i have to say thank you for you videos even from 2016 i am currently watching every one. In my opinion teachers have the best insight on this subject because they work with all types of kids. Thank you so much for your videos!!! 💓💓💓
Amber, thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so happy my videos have been helpful to you as a young mom. Parenting is certainly the hardest (and best) job I have ever had. Good luck; I'm sure you are a great mom!
I like the question you ask them... "Do you want to earn a puzzle piece?" or maybe you could also say "You are doing a great job of earning puzzle pieces. Here's a way to earn another." What a wonderful way to make their effort visible. Great tip.
Definitely going to try this! I have a student who has been struggling and I have not tried anything like this, it seems like it could work- will post an update :)
I’m still new at teaching and I’m having trouble with one of my students who talks back and says, “no!” When I tell her to do something. She cries when she doesn’t get things her way. I’m still very lacking with managing my classroom and still in the process of learning and getting great tips from your videos! However, I feel very discouraged when I don’t know how to act accordingly when she behaves this way. My coworkers tell me to send her to the office if she keeps crying, but I don’t think that’s the proper way to attend to her behaviors. What do you think is the best thing to do when the child is behaving this way?
Oh Korea20, I completely understand how frustrating that must be! My go-to strategy with students is always to give them choices first (I do have a video about giving little one choices). So for example, if you tell her to sit on the carpet and she says, "no" tell her she has two choices. She can sit on the carpet or sit in a chair (close to the carpet). Ask her which does she want to do. If she continues to cry and say "no", tell her you are going to make the choice and your choice will be the chair (pick the one you think she will not want). Ask her again which choice she wants to make, stating that your choice for her is the chair. If she still does not make a choice lead her by the hand to the chair. If she starts to protest and say she wants to sit on the carpet, then say, "OK, you are choosing the carpet. Please sit down". Your goal is to get her to make a choice, we don't really care which she chooses as long as she picks one of them. Let me know how it goes. Good luck!
Love this idea! What about for students with more significant behavior who need more frequent reinforcement for positive behaviors? I have some kids that need reinforcement every few minutes, at least to start. Do you have a fun idea like this one for those kids?
If a child needs reinforcement that frequently, you may want to give eye contact and a quick hand motion (so you don't have to continually interrupt your lesson). I might suggest a thumbs up, air high-five (you motion a high-five without touch; everyone stays in their seat), an A-OK sign with your thumb and pointer finger. I am also putting together a video that has several 'cheers' so keep your eyes open for that (i.e. round of applause where the children clap in a large circle or 'Fantastic'where the children hold one hand up straight and fan it with the other hand while saying 'Fan' then clap both hands together and complete with 'tastic'. Hopefully it will be more clear in a video :). Thanks for the question; I hope it is helpful.
How do you do this in a normal classroom? I am wondering if other students would be upset that they are not getting rewarded for their positive behavior in the same way. I’m wondering if other students would be upset that a certain student get puzzle pieces and rewards while others do not have a puzzle to complete.
kahlin howard I’ve used this strategy with ‘particular’ students...it’s an awesome strategy to use for immediate feedback and to extinguish or shape not so good behaviors...as for the other students...they know...they can see ...and do understand...why the other student has a behavior strategy... Prek students...they’re very observant😊...At the end of the day...then became end of the week...everyone has a surprise...from our treasure box ... ive had a student wanting a ‘puzzle’ ...made the student one...I used my discretion on ‘timing’ it...as for the other student...since I was still shaping his behavior...his ‘timing’ for the pieces...were faster...but in time...I was able to stretch it...by mid year...the student didn’t need it and was receiving his reward by the end of each week like the rest of our students😊👍😊
So, say you do a present puzzle. Do you give them a little present after putting it together or do you just make a big deal about them completing the puzzle?
You and the child can agree ahead of time what they will get for completing the puzzle. It could be extra time playing on a tablet or special time doing something together (that the child doesn't usually get to do). I had a student that got a big hug from the director of a preschool after completing the puzzle. Pick something that the child will work hard to receive. Good Luck!
Its nice strategy and excited. However, do you think it will work for grouo of 7 or 10 children in class. Please tell some strategy of discipline for 10 kids atleast in class.
I have a question. I was write up at because I said to a child.” Why are you crying?” I didn’t say it in a insensitive way. I asked because I was concerned and wanted to know what was going on. The teachers next to me use the same type of verbiage and I feel I am being picked on and set up for termination. I work in the pre-k classroom and we encourage our children to use their words. We don’t only encourage them, but we give them the correct words to use. The person that just became site director only a month ago. She told me she will pick and choose who to listen to. I don’t know what to do. I didn’t sign the write up because I didn’t disagree with her.
I'm sorry to hear that you have had a bad experience. I think the best approach for you is to talk with the site director to understand what her expectations are. I would suggest that you do it with a positive attitude and explain to her that you like your job and want to do a good job. You may ask her for suggestions that you may have said instead of "why are you crying?" This will open up communication between the two of you and give you clear instructions on what is acceptable to say (according to her). Honestly, I don't think what you said was inappropriate but you may want to say something like: "I can see you're upset. Can I help you?". Then let the child tell you what happened. So sound like a caring and skilled teacher; I hope this helps and you can develop a good working relationship with your new site director.
Greetings, you have a new follower. I just started as a teacher's assistant. and we have several children with challengin behavior, how could I use this good idea on a child who runs around a lot in classroom, or that he is not a good listener and he does not like cleaning when is time to do it. I would greatly appreciate your response.
@Gracebatista8929 the trick to using this strategy is to offer a puzzle piece to the child when they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. For example, when he does pick up even one item, reward him with a puzzle piece, then ask him if he would like to earn another piece and to do so, he needs to pick up three things and put them away. Of course, he needs to understand that the puzzle pieces lead to him getting a reward. Once he gets the idea of earning puzzle pieces, then you can give a puzzle piece for picking up an entire area. Give lots of encouragement and praise along with giving puzzle pieces. Good luck and let me know how things go.
If a child doesn't complete the puzzle, the child can pick up where they left off the next day. Be positive and tell them that they are really close to completing and they will get plenty of chances tomorrow to earn the puzzle pieces. You don't necessarily need to start 'fresh' each day with all the puzzle pieces removed. I hope this helps; let me know if you have any other questions.
