Colorado Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Moms and teachers
We just received J's report card. Overall he's doing well, except he talks too much. ALL his teachers commented on that.
We've talked about this before, how school is his job, he's not there to socialize, but learn, teachers can't do their job while he's talking, etc....
I'm not so sure how to get it in his head to shut his mouth. Any ideas?
Do we need to increase playdates outside of school so he's gets more social time? Or would that just make it worse?
Re: Moms and teachers
If you figure out the secret to getting overly chatty kids to zip it and listen, please let me know. Every.Single.Child in my class is a chat-aholic. They would literally talk nonstop from the second they walk in the classroom in the morning until the second they leave in the afternoon. I have tried everything, as did their teacher last year. I am absolutely not the kind of teacher who expects kids to sit there silently all day long and I give them plenty of time to talk and move, but it's driving me bsc. This is my 11th year in the classroom and it's the chattiest class I've ever had.
Here are a couple things I've noticed. 2nd recess HELPS. My life got a whole lot worse when the principal told us that we could no longer take our classes out for 2nd recess. I don't see how more social time and physical activity outside of school could hurt. Also, what works one week will not necessarily work the next week. Usually consistency works the best, but not this year. They get bored. If I change up what they're working toward earning and how they can earn it, it helps a bit. Sometimes, unfortunately they don't care about earning anything (well, don't care enough to change their behavior) and there has to be consequences. If there's a way for you to tell how he did each day, maybe you could tie it to some sort of reward that he cares about?DS2 is a talker. Anywhere, anytime, he has something to say, and will tell whoever listens. (Even at the CE last year) He has a better on/off button for class now, but had none when he was younger.
I talked to his teacher & started an "idea book" when he was in 1st grade. When it was an inappropriate time for him to talk, he would write his comment down or draw the scene in his head. Either I or the teacher would read his comments later & look at the pictures.
Sometimes they were school related. If she was teaching about the Pilgrims, he would bring up the previous week's language arts saying "Do unto others.." and start talking about how that would have worked in the early Pilgrim settlement, and would they have left England if people did that there. It's really important to him that someone listens & understands, but it's not on topic & helpful for the class. Plus, he could expand on that idea for 10 minutes.
I tended to read more of his social comments. His friend wants to grow up and drive race cars. He likes fixing things so he would like it. (That sort of thing) I read the others, but without being there for class discussion, DS2 sometimes got frustrated that I didn't understand his points.
Between the two of us, he felt "heard" and knew we cared what he had to say. It helped some of the behavior issues. Still, sometimes he struggled (and still does). I'll never forget his 4th grade teacher forwarding me a note from DS asking her to move his desk away from other people so he could allow them to concentrate without him being a distraction. lol.
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Both good points. I would ask his teacher if he could keep a small journal on his desk and when he had something he HAD to say, he could write or draw it in there quickly. Some kids use this as a way to get completely engrossed in the journal and thus aren't paying attention to what is happening, but some kids do really well understanding that it has to be a quick note or drawing and then get back to focusing on their work.
Also rewards and natural consequences is something that might work for him. He is a caring little guy so playing on his heart strings might also work
(It makes your teacher sad when she can't teach you and your classmates things because you are talking over her. Mom is sad that you might be missing out on some really neat things that your teacher wants to share with you...) A weekly piece of paper for a smiley, straight, or frowny face each day might work also. It is quick for the teacher to do at the end of every day, and provides an opportunity for her to point out his behavior and discuss what went wrong that day, or to praise him for a really great day and build on that.
One thing that also comes to mind is if he is bored most of the time. Some kids just don't need as much repetition with direct instruction and they use talking as a way to fill their time. I have a couple chatty kids and I make sure they are seated away from their friends (one has his own seat outside of a pod when we are doing individual vs. group work and he wants to be able to focus but just isn't always able to control himself), and I also allow them to work ahead if they know they can start a task early. It helps for them to feel challenged and that I a recognize their ability to pick up on things quickly, which I want them to know is a good things instead of something that gets them in trouble and is frowned upon.
GL! You are such a good mom for caring so much and wanting to help him thrive in school. When are you going to come be my room parent?!