OT question about dd and school

Avatar for comountainsprite
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Registered: 03-26-2003
OT question about dd and school
5
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 3:19pm
I've posted about this on some other parenting boards but welcome your feedback. Dd started 2nd grade last week and has already been in trouble several times for talking during work time and it's making me crazy!!! She almost never gets in trouble, either at home, school or daycare, and not because there aren't rules and clear expectations but because she really is a good kid and is well behaved most of the time. We didn't have this problem last year at all. I keep reminding her daily that it's important to stay focused and not to talk during classtime but it keeps happening. The teacher separated her and one other student last week because of this but yesterday dd was talking during work time again (sounds like it's mostly happening during the time they're supposed to be doing worksheets and stuff silently) and about 4 or 5 students now have desks completely away from the other kids--they usually organize the desks in groups of about 4 and call them tables. I just don't know what to do with her! We've talked to her about it and I feel like I need to be punishing her but don't know really what an appropriate punishment is--I want to get through that she has to fix this problem but I don't want to overreact in relation to the crime.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 4:06pm
I would go and have a meeting with the teacher to find out what is going on. Little girls talk a lot and 2nd grade is a big difference from kindergarten and first grade.

Also - it helps if you use positive reinforcement - such as a jar of marbles - if she gets a bad report you take them away - but if she does good she can trade them at the end of the week for something good.

I also think you should try to volunteer for stuff in the classroom to observe what is going on with the other kids and the teacher - that is enlightening sometimes.

Good luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 5:09pm
I think it has more to do with her age now. At this stage, she's more aware of social connections and friends and wanting to share of yourself. She could just really be excited to be around her friends, you know? So she's wanting to talk to them because she doesn't want to lose that connection.

I know I used to get in a lot of trouble for talking in grade 3, because I was new at a school and trying so hard to make friends.

So maybe she's just a chatterbox and you need to find a way to get her energy out before sitting down. Talk with the teacher and see if there's a different time they could do the *quiet* work? Maybe they could do a group activity after XX amount of quiet work? Or vice versa? Could be helpful to get all the *sillies* out and concentrate.

Good luck

Alison

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Avatar for cl_beckty
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Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 5:21pm

I think West's idea on positive reinforcement for this situation was excellent. I don't think "punishment" will be as effective here as rewarding good and "quiet" days.


DD is hitting a very social age, and she's going with her instincts to share everything she knows. Some encouragement in the manner of positive reinforcements might be just the incentive to keep a little quieter. And the visual (marbles going down. marbles going UP!) in the household will be very effective, I'll bet.


Let us know what you decide to do. I know I am not often very good with the creative discipline. It's SO hard!

Becky

Becky

 

 

Avatar for cl_tcranky1
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 5:42pm

I don't really have any experience with this as both my kids are very loud at home and very quiet at school.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2003
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 7:07pm

It really isn't that unusual for girls this age.

Kim