Reading this chapter has really helped me think about my student and be able to document the specific behaviors that my student has. I have been talking to my Supervisor about my student’s behavior and we have noticed that many of the behaviors are from a lack of interest in the lesson. My student is above grade level in all subjects and the work load is very easy for her. I feel that she acts out due to lack of interest in the lessons. I have noticed that I have to start finding harder questions to ask her so that she will be engaged.
My student is also a single child and I believe that from prior communication with her parents that she has a lot of attention at home. Her father is back at school at UNC and her mother works night shift and is at home during the day. My student gets constant attention and does not need to share her parents with a sibling.
The behaviors that we have noticed in the classroom include:
- off-task talking
- getting out of seat
- making noises
- playing with objects
- hanging onto chairs/ table next to her
- impulsive behaviors
I have started to notice that many of these behaviors are associated with whole group instruction and observations that my student has a hard time in small group when it requires to share in group settings.
This observation is becoming very interesting and I can see that there are many outside influences on the behavior of the student.
I think that most of us have seen these behaviors in our classrooms as well.
Interesting to see that your child’s behavior is associated with group settings, even during small to whole group connections. Huh…
This is a very interesting situation because I feel like it is outside the “norm” of behavior problems. It is a good thing that you know so much about her home life and background because this can help you to figure out her issues and approach them in the most helpful and meaningful way. You definitely seem to know why she is acting this way, so now you just have to try different ways to fix it. Has differentiated instruction and harder instruction helped at all? Do you use positive behavior support in your classroom and praise her in front of the class when she is doing the right thing? I wonder if this would help her feel like she is getting the attention she wants or if it is not enough direct attention. It is a very interesting case!
That’s really cool that you realize that she is disinterested in what is being talked about and that is what is making her act out. I think it is really interesting that she is above grade level in most areas and an only child with plenty of attention. I would wonder if the attention at home versus the attention at school is imbalanced and that makes her crave it more.