Swearing!!?

Question

Hi, i am a T.A in a special needs school.
We have a child who is blind and uses the F word to gain attention, also he screams...he seems to know when to do it to gain the most...i.e assembly etc.
We have tried to ignor, change the word, or remove him from the situation..nothing works.
Any ideas...his a lovely boy and only stops when you sing to him but sometimes this is not possible as there are other children and lessons to be got with.

Answer 1

I agree with one of the other responses, singing to him is rewarding him for his behaviour. Does he have behavioural problems, or is the blindness his only exceptionality? The visually impaired often have a hard time connecting to others because they cannot see the body language and other social cues that others can see. Maybe when he is screaming, he is feeling the need to make contact with someone else. Assemblies might make him feel insecure because he cannot always understand what is going on, and there is a lot of noise, so he can't hear everything.

When he is calm, I would try asking him why he screams like that. He probably knows why he does it. You could ask him how he could handle the situation without screaming. If he comes with a solution himself, he may feel empowered and he, therefore, may make more of an effort to stop screaming. I would have a conference with him and his parents. The parents may be able to give you some insight into what is going on with him.

You may have tried that already. Since I don't know the child or the situation, that is the best I can do.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I was a TA too who had students that couldn't be in a regular school. They were sent to the private school I worked for because they couldn't do well or function in regular school. I don't need to tell you that negative attention is better than no attention.
Has the student been tested for Tourette's? Although I think if he can control it while being sung to, that is more of a behaviorable problem. I don't know the dynamics of his home life or what he has been through. As a TA, you know we need the patience of a saint. Where does he live and with whom? If he hears it outside the class, he may think it's acceptable. Let him know that it isn't. His blindness is no excuse for his foul mouth but his sense of hearing is really acute to make up for his blindness. I would try to get to the root of the problem and find out who he is listening to. I would refuse to sing to him when he uses that word..because this is attention too. It illicits a response from you or others. Talk to others. He is hearing it someplace and needs to modify his behavior.
We had a speech therapist that might have some good advice and a counselor. If this is available to you.........use it.
I dealt with a 12 year old who wanted to kill himself. Not easy,,,,,but I walked him around the track outside to talk to him like a friend. The last thing I heard about him after I left, its that he went on to high school and graduated!! How rewarding and I hope I made a difference in his life. I believe that I did but it took alot of patience and work. Good luck and God bless you for being a TA and teaching special children. For me, it was the most rewarding job I ever had! I loved those children and still do after many years. I had to leave because I was rear-ended in a car accident that ruined my knee and gave me nerve damage.so I am disabled.
Did you try the word "fudge" as it sounds very similar?

Answer 3

It appears that your young charge is seeking Attention and it doesn't matter if its Positive or Negetive. You and the teacher need to confont the young man and lay down the rules. You need to let him know that the swearing is offensive and
when he swears it makes him sound like a very bad mean person. If he contiues the outbursts you will take away privileges. Then If he continues you need to get his parents involved! He may have Tourettes Syndrome .It is a disorder that consists of very loud outbursts and sounds and swear words are used frequently and often.If you find he doesn't have Tourettes ,you may suggest counseling also.

Answer 4

I would think that removing him from the situation does work. Since he is doing this to gain attention he should stop if he only gets attention when he doesn't do it and he gets no attention when he does. Is he getting an appropriate amount of attention? Is he adequately engaged in appropriate activities? Since he is missing his sense of vision it's important to make sure that he has adequate connection to his environment and the people in it. Is he able to express his wants and needs using appropriate words? If not, he needs an alternative way to communicate.

Answer 5

Use a cd player with a headset so as not to disturb the other children and play music for him when he is like this, and there is no time to sing. I used to teach pre-school and music helped me at the most chaotic times of the day.

Answer 6

You're trying to parent the child. Send him back to his parents, tell them when they solve this issue, he can return. You are right....there are other children and lessons and he is a huge distraction. All children are lovely and beautiful, but what he needs is beyond your ability.
My first opinion is, he knows exactly what he is doing, his language was most likely learned at home, and this behavior has been accepted at home. If he goes home everyday to such acceptance, you are wasting your time.
Give the other kids some relief, and put this problem where it belongs.......to its source. When they assume responsibility for his behavior, your job will get easier.
Good luck!
~~D@N

Answer 7

play some soft music throughout the classroom, it'll probably help the boy and it's said to also help kids study.

Answer 8

I can see how that is a problem, but if I were in that school, you can bet I would be his bud.
You have my sympathy, but as a student, I would love that guy.

Answer 9

put him in time~out, take snack or recess...tell his gaurdian...set him away from the other kids...give him his own cd player...or play a class favorite cd!!!hope i helped

Answer 10

Give him a whistle