Little Ones

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Home : 2002 : October : 26

Little Ones
By Cathy-Dee

Trust me when I say that it is most likely nothing to do with your height or your young looks when dealing with young children. Remember anyone over 15 is old to them and grown-up.

Kindergarten and grade 1 especially at
the beginning of the year can be frustrating grades. I watch my grade 1's when they are with other teachers and it's amazing the things they will pull with another teacher they will not with me because they know I won't let them get away with it. This is mostly due to the fact I am with them all day long, 5 days a week except for a few classes.
Young children do not respond well

to change. When I was a sub I found these younger grades more difficult because they just seemed to have energy I couldn't control. Older students might be disrespectful at times or outright rebellious but it just seemed easier to handle them. And I think that is partly due to us not wanting to "scare or hurt a young child's feelings". When they are a little older we feel they should know better.

I find having a variety of attention getters is helpful. A little bell, a noise maker, counting to five, clapping your hands, flicking the lights on and off, saying a little chant they repeat, etc., can all bring them back to focus in an instant. It is a lot of work and can be tiring and frustrating by the end of the day.

When I was subbing I tried to get a good read on the class by first recess - do they enjoy story times, singing, colouring pictures. If I noticed one or two things they really seemed to enjoy then I used those whenever I needed to get control again.

24 is a large class size and it takes time to get them settled. They are also learning which teachers mean it when they say settle down - they haven't had time to figure you out yet. So that other teacher is an authority figure they are learning to respect.

You will find that if you should be in this class again 2 months down the road they will be so different you will wonder if you really are in the same class.

And even with little ones you can be firm. I use my voice when necessary (not yelling, but definitely a louder, more determined voice). I will have a class time-out - everyone sit with your heads down. I will tell them I am disappointed in how they are behaving (little ones do not like to disappoint teachers). Where I am more leniant is in the actual work - I will not force a young student to do something if they do not want to do it. In grade 1 I will be more forcefull. In kindergarten I would make note of it and let the teacher handle it. Some children take longer to settle into the routines.