Did you just "label" a child!?
We often times as teachers, adults and humans look at a child who is different and immediately classify them in our own brain. Right or wrong, we do it. We decide if we think they are loud, if they are cute, obnoxious, impulsive or challenging. This is a dangerous thing that many of us have done over and over throughout our lives. Why do I say this is dangerous? Because a child who has been classified before they've been given a fair chance to become successful is now playing catch up the rest of their lives. You've classified a kid who is missing something that we could offer.
Kids are ever evolving, absorbing everything that is happening around them to create who they will eventually become. Kids are not yet ANYTHING. They are instead using the world around them to evolve into who they will one day become. Instead of classifying them, think about how you could be the person to help them find the missing piece that would help develop them into someone who is not loud, obnoxious, impulsive or challenging.
With this in mind, I have posted before about how an individual can help a child be successful. I do not want to debate what needs to be done to parents or adults who may or may not be offering all of the opportunities for kids to develop into a great person. I'm also not interested in petitioning, complaining or debating about our government, because that doesn't help right now. At this point, I'm tired of looking at the other person and giving my opinion on what they could do differently. What I do want to discuss is what you. what I can do to help a difficult child be successful. I will not point fingers, I instead will work to find the missing piece to help that child be successful.
5 Ways to Help a Difficult Child Be Successful
5) Sensory Integration
Many students, especially younger students have not figured out how to help themselves feel comfortable physically in their environment. A way to help with this is incorporating Sensory Integration. Think about yourself and how you've trained yourself to help you be successful. What do you do when you're in a situation to help you feel comfortable? Personally, I know I have a few things I do. For example; during meetings, sitting at tables, listening to a speaker or in a class I calm myself by putting something in my hand. At dinner in a restaurant I have even been known to destroy a napkin or two while I am sitting there listening and engaging in conversation. I have developed things to help me. Use this link-----> Sensory Processing Disorder to read about ways to help that child that might need a little help "getting centered".
4) Lagging Skills
I truly believe in the beliefs of Ross Greene who says that "A kid will do well if they can". Often times kids who are struggling haven't been taught necessary skills to handle life's challenges. They don't want to be bad. Instead they have seen things at home, on TV, on the street or at school that have influenced them. Somewhere along the way they've missed key pieces of learning to help them be successful. Help to identify what skills they are missing and then help build those skills up.
3)Unconventional Thinking
Does the student need a different outlet? Are you having them sit in conformed rows? Forcing them to think very black and white? Instead - Allow them some freedom - Allow them to in fact be a kid while getting the desired end results. If that child can be successful doing his or her work laying on a pillow LET THEM. If that student can get their work done sitting under a table LET THEM. Forget what makes you comfortable, find what helps them.
2) Engage Them
Find something that truly interests a kid. Often times the students that are the most difficult are unengaged, uninterested. You as an educator have to take the time to find out what interests them and allow them the freedom to do that, while working to achieve their academic and social goals.
An example of this is a student that I have worked with who without a doubt was disengaged with everything we were doing at school. Writing, used to be fun. Reading, was sometimes OK. BUT creating his own digital movies = Totally Awesome.
I reached out to a district tech person who guided me towards some digital video creation websites. I then used a rubric that my student had to follow that focused on our goal of establishing a good beginning, middle and end in our writing. We spent time preparing for his animated story by creating a rough draft and creating a story map. We found success! So much success he WANTED to work on it at home. In his mind he HAD to work on it at home. Needless to say, by the end of it he taught me how to use the digital video creator. Here is his work!
1) Making Connections
Have you connected with the student? I'm not talking about just having that student trust you. I'm talking about, have you gone above and beyond? Have you gone out of your way to be a part of that child's life that no teacher ever has? Have you visited them at home? Have you gone to their sporting event? Have you made that connection with the student that probably no one has ever done before? When you come to a student who you are struggling with, you need to step back and look at what you've done to connect with them. I know of a teacher who comes to their students home and cooks a meal with their family. I know of another who will go running with girls from her class on the weekends. Take these teachers' lead and find your own way to connect.
Making connections is my number 1 because it does not matter if you are an educator, electrician, banker, nurse, farmer, college student or young married couple. You can find a way to make a connection with a child who really truly needs it. The Council Bluffs School District offers a mentoring program; get involved. Almost all cities offer some sort of Big Brother/Big Sister program, get involved. I truly believe it is our responsibility as an adult to find ways to reach out to a child and make a connection with them. Stop talking about it, start making them.
As you close this link, I want you to stop and think about the following:
I will not point fingers, I instead will work to find the missing piece to help that child be successful.
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