What can I do to get my 1st-grade son to behave in class?

Question

While he manages to get the work done, he is often the last one to start when given instructions. He also has issues where he calls out the answers instead of raising his hand, and distracts others from time to time. I understand that he is a kid, but I have repeatedly reminded him about behaving in class. Anyone have suggestions of things (short of physical punishment) that can deter this in the future?

Answer 1

Have him evaluated for a disorder, like Being-A-Six-Year-Old disorder, or maybe even the dreaded Acting-Like-A-Child Disorder.

"Last one to start" is not an issue of "behaving" in class.
"Calls out the answers" is just learning to take turns.
"Distracts others" - well, yeah - THAT's unique among 1st graders.

Here's an idea: play school at home! Let HIM be the teacher, and you be the student. And DO the things that he does, and he will correct you. Then, swicth roles - YOU teacher, him student. And when he acts up - point it out. And if he DOESN'T act up, REINFORCE his good behavior (see? It ISN'T all about punshment).

Maybe he's just - ummmm, what's the word? maturing!

Answer 2

Make sure he gets plenty of exercise at school and at home. I hope his school is one where they have a morning and afternoon recess. Kids need unstructured blowing off steam time, especially at that age.

Play games at home with him to encourage the desired behavior. Teach him to play Mother May I? and Red Light, Green Light and Simon Says. Play an activity where he practices holding up his hand in order to answer a question and give him a token (like a bean) to count. Have him play with a sibling or a friend or the other parent. That way if he wins in the end, he gets to pick the next game or book or activity, which puts him in control. Tell him this works nicely in school too and his teacher will appreciate his holding his hand up. Make sure he gets lots of positive feedback when he does well.

And it sounds like he gets his work done, maybe he just needs time to get in the zone. Maybe the teacher should provide a calm down time before the work starts too...just some thoughts.

Answer 3

I teach first grade and have a few students like this in my class. The parents do not seem to care when I discuss this with them. I think that some children just go through phases. I have tried everything, taking away gym taking away recess or art and giving extra work. Nothing seems to help. The kids have to want to behave. You can always take something away at home, like a video game system, that works with some children. GOOD LUCK

Answer 4

It doesn't sound like he has the behavior problems a lot of kids seem to manifest in class. I would do some practice on obeying-right-away at home, and this will help him obey instructions immediately in class. Make it a game and see how fast he can obey. Brag on him. I do think that most of the things he is doing are not serious and are sort of normal and he will mature out of these.

Answer 5

You could try sitting down with his teacher and telling him/her that you want to participate in correcting this behaviour. (They'll love you for it) Set up a duotang that has time periods small enough for him to demonstrate good classroom behaviour (for instance from first bell to recess, then from recess to lunch, from afternoon bell to recess, then from recess to dismissal). Photocopy one of these pages for every day of the week.

Ask the teacher to either make check marks (or comments) for each time period he has been successfull, or write quick comments when he has misbehaved. At the end of the day you can review the daily events with the teacher and your son and reward him for the good behavior.

This doesn't have to be a huge reward...kids love even the small things....a dollar to spend at the dollar store, a trip to the local mall where he can have a ride on the small horse or elephant rides they always have there, a trip to the library where he can pick out 10 books al by himself, a kiddy cone at the local icecream parlour. Just remember to give him a big hug and show how proud you are BEFORE you give him any other rewards. As time goes on , he will eventually be satisfied with the hug and kiss!!

Answer 6

I would definitely have a conference with the teacher. He or she should be the one coming up with strategies to help your son be successful in school as well. Perhaps though, you can have some sort of chart where he can earn some activity or prize for getting good behavior the whole week at school. The main thing is, you want school to always be a positive place, because the minute he looks at it like "everyone is against me", or that he is always getting in trouble, you will most definitely see his academics slip.

Answer 7

No it is common,no longer basically is your little infant growing to be up yet he's spending an excellent sort of his time with a instructor that may not treating him like a 1st grader could be dealt with. Does he be attentive to how disillusioned you're? if so that's inflicting him to be somewhat disillusioned notwithstanding it relies upon on how nicely he's conscious the situation. specific he could be understanding the instructor dislikes him too. Why do no longer you get him right into a diverse college?

Answer 8

He just needs constant reminding of how to behave politely in class. Remember he is just a little boy and boys at this age are still a bit hyper.

Answer 9

see if there's an underlying reason for the behavior. is he trying to get attention or is he ADHD? rewards or punishment, like withholding a favorite activity or toy, will help. spend some time with him in the evening or on weekends and see if he'll tell you of a problem that causes the behavior.

Answer 10

my son had this same problem i will contaCT THE TEACHER EVery day and ask how he was behaving and if he went 2 weeks of behaving i would take him some where like minture golfing or to go see a movie something fun like that or get him a toy that he has wnated