Have your children ever had an extremely disruptive child in elementary class?

[Anonymous]

Also, I still do not understand the "teacher" who sent her other kids to a "safe place". As a teacher, you are responsible for the education and safety of all of the kids--not just the squeaky wheel.

[Anonymous]

My dd had a child in her K class in FCPS who would meltdown. It seemed to be standard procedure to move the children out of the room until the child calmed down. So the technique is not unheard-of.

[Anonymous]

Yes. But, at what cost? Also, the teacher has an aide. Not all teachers have full time aides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a former teacher, I understand the need of every child to a good education. I believe in inclusion--but not when it works against the education of the rest of the children in the class.

+1. The premise behind inclusion is that it must benefit all kids. If it doesn't, that will be the end of it.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, some disruptive kids are included for too long. Talked to a friend who subbed for an aide the other day. She was responsible for three kids in a classroom with others. One of them screamed constantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Like a good magician, you are trying to distract attention. Sorry, EVERY kid needs attention and support, and the squeaky kid that in the comment above is getting all that extra attention is getting support and learning away from all other kids.

Good comment. At some point, common sense must reign.

+1

Every single kid would benefit from extra, one-on-one attention. 'Smart' kids, 'average' kids, 'well-behaved' kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
What I think you get out of being patient with others is the belief that others will also be patient with you.

How's that a two way street? He's not patient, but the class has to be.
What is he contributing to the class other than being a nuisance that helps others build patience?

Agree with this. How in the world is this a 'two way' street?

[Anonymous]

Are these disruptions once a week, once a day, or all day? Occasionally, is one thing. Daily and constantly is another.

[Anonymous]

Mainstreaming and special education and one on one aides is in the process of collapsing across the country because our educational system is simply not set up to handle what seems to be an ever increasing number of children needing special services. In theory, it's great to say that every child deserves his or her best possible education. In reality, public education is *group* education and cannot sustain if the focus shifts to individualized attention for susie...and bobby...and taylor...and emily and so on and so forth. Public schools are attempting to provide what amounts to private or one-on-one education and they simply can't do it.

To add, it's ludicrous, appalling, and completely self-absorbed to believe that an entire classroom of children should constantly be interrupted from learning just so ONE KID can eventually come to understand that it's not acceptable to pee on the shoes of others or throw chalk or bite/hit (!) the teacher. If my kid were in this situation and no one would address her right to learn in a safe environment - along with the other kids - I'd be filing suit. This is madness and needs to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mainstreaming and special education and one on one aides is in the process of collapsing across the country because our educational system is simply not set up to handle what seems to be an ever increasing number of children needing special services. In theory, it's great to say that every child deserves his or her best possible education. In reality, public education is *group* education and cannot sustain if the focus shifts to individualized attention for susie...and bobby...and taylor...and emily and so on and so forth. Public schools are attempting to provide what amounts to private or one-on-one education and they simply can't do it.

To add, it's ludicrous, appalling, and completely self-absorbed to believe that an entire classroom of children should constantly be interrupted from learning just so ONE KID can eventually come to understand that it's not acceptable to pee on the shoes of others or throw chalk or bite/hit (!) the teacher. If my kid were in this situation and no one would address her right to learn in a safe environment - along with the other kids - I'd be filing suit. This is madness and needs to stop.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, I still do not understand the "teacher" who sent her other kids to a "safe place". As a teacher, you are responsible for the education and safety of all of the kids--not just the squeaky wheel.

This was a suggestion by the child's previous teacher and school counselor based on the student's behavior plan. If a child goes from just being disruptive to escalating into potentially hurting someone, you want the other students out of the room.

Fortunately this year physical outbursts have been nearly non existent. But given his past history, the system was set up the way it is to protect all the students. Also, the students' disruptions often become worse if he has an audience or if the students are reacting in a negative way (ie: yelling at him).

Sending 5 students to sit at a table in the common area for less then 5 minutes to prevent a situation from escalating further is honestly not a big deal.

As for the frequency - so far this school year it happens a couple times a week or not at all. He's been off this week because of another disruption in his home life, so it has been more frequent. But, not all of the disruptions are caused by him. There have been a couple of situations of other students doing or saying things to cause him to become upset which resulted in the disruption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, I still do not understand the "teacher" who sent her other kids to a "safe place". As a teacher, you are responsible for the education and safety of all of the kids--not just the squeaky wheel.

This was a suggestion by the child's previous teacher and school counselor based on the student's behavior plan. If a child goes from just being disruptive to escalating into potentially hurting someone, you want the other students out of the room.

Fortunately this year physical outbursts have been nearly non existent. But given his past history, the system was set up the way it is to protect all the students. Also, the students' disruptions often become worse if he has an audience or if the students are reacting in a negative way (ie: yelling at him).

Sending 5 students to sit at a table in the common area for less then 5 minutes to prevent a situation from escalating further is honestly not a big deal.

As for the frequency - so far this school year it happens a couple times a week or not at all. There are good days and bad days. And sometimes he will be great up until the end of the day where he begins to fall apart. He's been off this week because of another disruption in his home life, so it has been more frequent lately. But, not all of the disruptions are caused by him. There have been a couple of situations of other students doing or saying things to cause him to become upset which resulted in the disruption.

I should add - his disruptive behaviors typically involve melting down/becoming upset, becoming impulsive and pushing papers onto the floor/scribbling on whiteboard/etc. At times he will be verbally or physically aggressive, that is less frequent. Physical outbursts which escalate has also occurred in previous years.

There are consequences for his behavior. He does not get away with it. He is written up for his behavior and loses recess or elective time. If it is physical, he is sent to the office. If there are field trips scheduled and he disrupts or becomes physical in the days leading up to the field trip he loses his right to join. Sending students out is to reduce his audience, prevent the situation from escalating, and to protect the students in case it escalates further. Once the students leave, he typically calms down very quickly. If they stay, the situation will not deescalate and may get worse. If he does not calm down, he's removed from the classroom.

There are many reasons why he disrupts. His home life is a mess. His past is a mess. He has severe learning disabilities which cause him to become very frustrated. And there is a medical condition which probably contributes to it as well.

I guess I can't really expect people who are not teachers to understand this, or for people who aren't familiar with my school and its students to understand what goes on either. As I said - I'd welcome suggestions. If we give up on him, he has zero chance and he has the right to an education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher out of the DC area who has a student who can be disruptive. There's a lot of possible causes of why he disrupts, none of which makes me want to remove him from my classroom permanently.

When my student begins to be disruptive he gets a warning. Often I will send him on an errand, because that helps him reset. If it continues and starts to escalate, I give a signal to the class which tells them to leave the room. The students walk to a common area and sit down. That leaves me and the student alone in the room. There is a button that I can push which will send help if needed. Once he is calm, I get the rest of the students and we move on.

I have a behavior system (marble bucket) in the classroom for all students which helps. If he escalates to the point of hurting someone he has to sit in the office during electives, PE, or lunch.

He is showing a lot of growth compared to previous years, and is a great kid. He just can't handle himself sometimes. He's only gotten physical with me once, and that was because I went to hit the button to call the principal and he was trying to prevent me from doing so because he didn't want to go to the office.

Part of being employed at the school I work at (this is my first year) was receiving non violent intervention training (including how to escape holds/grabs) and PBIS training. I've quickly realized that DC/MD/VA's idea of PBIS is very different then here.

This is what I find utterly ridiculous. Hurting someone?? Hurting the teacher?? Yeah, but otherwise he is a great kid who LOVES school?

OP, with all due respect, do you have children? How would you feel if that 'great kid' hurt your child?

I don't know a single child who has never not once in their entire life hit, pushed, or bit someone.

He is a great kid. That's my job as a teacher - to look past the issues and all of the negative things in all of the kids (and even look past the spoiled brat in some of them) and see who they are underneath and foster that part of them. My job is not to give up on them and assume they'll never get it and focus only on the ones who do.

We're talking about an elementary aged kid. Think under the age of 8. When he's an adult, he will not have the chances that he has now. So, we need to try our best to educate him and give him the chance and skills and the ability to control himself. Giving up on him or isolating him will not give him that chance.

I'm involved, other teachers are involved, the school counselor is involved, the principal is involved. He goes to counseling outside of school. He has supervised visits with his biological mom (which may or may not be a good thing). It takes a village to raise a child.

This sounds beautiful, but potentially harmful for the public good. It takes a village to raise ALL the children in your class and school, not just that one. Ask yourself, why do the other kids deserve less attention and support? Wouldn't they benefit too from more personalized attention from all those adults you mention?

Support is provided to any student that needs it. What makes you think it isn't?

Like a good magician, you are trying to distract attention. Sorry, EVERY kid needs attention and support, and the squeaky kid that in the comment above is getting all that extra attention is getting support and learning away from all other kids.

And again - they all get attention and support. What makes you think they don't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, I still do not understand the "teacher" who sent her other kids to a "safe place". As a teacher, you are responsible for the education and safety of all of the kids--not just the squeaky wheel.

This was a suggestion by the child's previous teacher and school counselor based on the student's behavior plan. If a child goes from just being disruptive to escalating into potentially hurting someone, you want the other students out of the room.

Oh, what a nice educational setting where kids are taught on a teacher's signal to run out to in ordrr to avoid being harmed. What kind of moron came up with this idea and thinks it's normal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There are many reasons why he disrupts. His home life is a mess. His past is a mess. He has severe learning disabilities which cause him to become very frustrated. And there is a medical condition which probably contributes to it as well.

I guess I can't really expect people who are not teachers to understand this, or for people who aren't familiar with my school and its students to understand what goes on either. As I said - I'd welcome suggestions. If we give up on him, he has zero chance and he has the right to an education.

Maybe the school setting is not right for him. Maybe he needs to be home schooled or go into heavy psycho therapy.