Hi everyone! Although I've been teaching 12 years, this is my second year in this district. I was at one school for 9 years and had tenure. Due to a move, I had to go to another district and was nonrenewed. Now, I'm at my current school on a tenure track. Anyway, especially with my previous job experience, I know you have to be careful how you say things. I teach kindergarten. All of my students have no experience being in a school setting. None have done prek or daycares. Either someone was home or parents were afraid to bring their children out. My child have very low social skills. I have a mix of, with no inbetween!, five year olds who act like 2 year olds or 21 year olds. One child is very extreme. For example, they were saying what they saw on House of Dragons. Of course I know it's a parenting issue and not being around other children. This is what really bothered me. After we talked about (in a postive manner) what we should talk about at school, this child became sarcastic. I was working with another child, this child looked directly at me and said in a sarcastic manner of voice "Did you see Encanto?! It's a REALLY nice movie!". I knew it was to get a reaction. I ignored it. Then, throughout that day, this child keep saying sarcastic comments about children's shows and movies. This has been going on for almost two months. Everyday it's something different (media, something the child saw in person, ect). Since, I've been ignoring it, now the child says inappropriate comments to me. Like I dyed my hair and it came out not how I wanted. I happened to mention it to a coworker in front of the class. 5 minutes later I heard "Ms. Annoyed has ugly hair". I simply told the child "Please don't talk to me or your classmate likes that". I was wondering how to approach this with the parents. I notice during dismissal, this child speaks like an adult with them. It seems to me the parents think this is normal behavior. Please help. While looking for advice, I can not hear to ignore this. I will not last all year by doing that. I know this post focused on myself a lot, this child speaks in an unpleasant manner to their classmates all day. I don't want to get into a million details and id myself. I'm sorry this is so long.
Why have you ignored the behavior so far? If all of your students have zero school experience, I’m assuming that you have been teaching them how school works. Even with my 8th graders, I always had to start the year by teaching the rules and procedures. And, more importantly, what the consequences are for misbehaviors. Without consequences, or minimal consequences, there is no incentive to change the behavior.
I am NOT a kinder teacher by any stretch - so if this isn't any help, sorry. We can guide them and teach them explicit expectations - about appropriate behaviors, However, a student's tone is less specific. I would continue to work with the student on behavior expectations and if you can, ignore the tone - if she is being sarcastic, that's maybe one I would ignore, and I would focus on the actual words. And continue to give positive reinforcement for the right words - even if said in sarcastic tone.
No, I teach kindergarten and I don't teach routines. :/ I felt very isolated coming here, because I don't have any family and personal friends that are teachers. Talking to my coworkers, as someone who is new to this district, would lead to my problems going to admin. Thank you for making me feel worse. I was not going to respond, but something told me to look through your posts. You often write rude responses. Whatever kick you get out of pushing someone who is already down, hooray for you.
I can't do that. This problem is driving me crazy. Thank you for at least trying to help. I think I might have to put out resumes again. Or possible change careers. I'm not able to move for the forseeable future.
In dealing with parents, the best is "just the facts". It also doesn't hurt to add a kind comment or two about the child. If a parent feels that you like their child, they usually will listen to you. If the first words from you about their child are negative, they often get defensive and think that you are "picking on their child". I didn't quite understand the sarcasm you stated about the Encanto movie. This is a very popular movie with Kindergarteners, so if one is saying that is a nice movie would not surprise me at all. Kindergartners are at a stage that they can be very blunt and are not good at thinking how their words effect the adults around them. I'd take what they say with a huge grain of salt.
Oh, wow! I don’t see that anything I wrote was rude, but I can see that you could take it that way since you are obviously upset by the whole situation? I will admit that I am often blunt, but never have the intention of making anyone feel bad. I just go with the belief that if you ask for my opinion, I’ll give it to you, even if it isn’t the answer you want. Even kindergarten kids need to be taught routines. Heck, adults do as well. Nobody goes into a situation knowing how they are expected to behave without a set of expectations. Hopefully you find the answers you are looking for.
I am dealing with the same situation in Pre-K and I also have students that have tantrums when things don’t go their way because they get everything they want at home. One of these students has developmental delays so his outbursts are over irrational things. It is so hard to come up with natural or logical consequences. I also feel like I have little support from administration. Let me know if you find something that works.
While sometimes that is the reason, don't assume that is always the case. There are kids who even though they don't get their way at home still tantrum. Some take longer to stop. Some have underlying deficits that have yet to be uncovered.
