The Kid Whisperer Podcast Featuring Scott Ervin and Pat Kiely: Episode 12
Topics in this episode include:
1. I have been using your strategies and have noticed AMAZING results! Most of my students help run the classroom smoothly, from human alarm clocks to taking care of plants to working sufficiently in their teams. I did have one question regarding student work. What could I do if a student refuses to do their work besides failing them? I do not wish to take away recess, and they do not work on their "Laters," either. Do you have any suggestions or advice? Thank you for your time!
2. My 21-month-old is about to get kicked out of daycare because of biting. He doesn't do this anywhere else. We have attempted to offer solutions like removing him from the situation, saying the same thing each time, like "No biting! Biting hurts!" and offering an alternative (he wears a teething necklace to bite). I've also asked if they make him say sorry, suggested that they bond with him more as they tell me he doesn't communicate "at all" (though he does at home), and suggested moving him to a different classroom. I'm at a loss. They haven't given me any suggestions and keep asking me to come up with more and more solutions or to role-play with him. I'd be happy to do that, but I can't get him to bite me at home even if I try taking something away that he wants. This most commonly happens over a toy he thinks a friend will take or a toy the friend does physically take from him. Are there any more solutions or things we can try to get this behavior to stop?
3. I have a son who is in 2nd grade. We have struggled since kindergarten with hyperactivity & wanting all the attention on himself. We tried ADHD medicine in kindergarten due to the teacher saying he needed it and was worried that he would cause an issue in the future. It caused major side effects and he ended up having a massive seizure. We are no longer on ADHD meds. We ended up getting a true psych eval and ADHD testing that lasted two days. Turns out he does not have ADHD.
Things improved in 2nd grade, and he was off to a great start. However, within the past month, we've been getting at least one report weekly on him being disruptive in class, having a lot of reminders to be quiet and so on.
I work at the school he is at and we had a school program the other day. I was shocked watching him. He could not for even two seconds sit still. It was a boring program but I was floored. It was insane that he couldn’t even cross his legs. He got a report home today that was the worst we’ve had. It was a full day of talking during class, in the hallways, and getting recess taken away, and he still proceeded to talk in class and in the hallways.
I asked if something was bothering him or what was up. He wasn’t sure and just said, "I like the attention." We had a major talk on if you’re at least wanting attention why are you wanting negative attention? You’d think you’d want to do the right thing to get positive reinforcement.
I know it’s starting to become an issue in the classroom. As a teacher myself, I get it, but not all of the answers come with medication, and with his epilepsy, now his doctor does not recommend it.
I was just reaching out to get advice on what to do. We have talks at home, he gets things taken away, and there are consequences to his actions. I just am at a loss for words as to why he is wanting negative attention, and why, for the life of him, he cannot sit still.