You all gave me great advice on tattling. So now my question is: how do I respond to frequent "he cut me in line" complaints? This is 2nd graders and I'm the para for several special ed kids in the room. If I see the cutting happening, I will make the naughty kid go to the back of the line but some times I don't see it happening and kids will complain to me. Usually I tell the complaining party to stand next to a "good choice partner", "we are all going to the same place,let's be quiet and keep walking". What else can I tell them if I don't see the cutting in action? Thank you so much!
I'm not sure that it's your place to do this, given that you are a para and not the classroom teacher. However, I'll make the suggestion anyway. At my school, all teachers have a "line order". Every day, every time we line up, the kids get in their assigned line order. No cutting. No arguing. No complaining. Problem-solved. It's not alphabetical either. I create it in an order than may appear random to an outside observer, but, instead, students have been strategically placed based on who they get along with and how far back in line I want them to be.
Thank you both. There is no assigned order - they line up by table or carpet square order which changes daily. The teacher is in the front of the line and walks ahead and Im kinda stuck with the arguing kids at the end of the line. I do feel bad for the good kids when somebody (usually the naughty kids) cuts in front of them What about: 1) "if you can't problem-solve yourselves, you walk with me (on my other side away from your friends) ?" 2) "Since I didn't see the cutting, you both need to be in first name alphabet order??? The IEP kids might throw a tantrum if I do 1) & 2) and delay the line even more.
My script goes something like this: "That sounds like a problem you can solve yourself. You can speak with the person who cut in line or you can just ignore it, knowing we are all going to the same place." Also a quick chat about "What if everyone did that?" if the line cutting is ongoing. Talk about the grocery store - in real life, you have to wait in line and people get really upset if you try to jump the line.
I would always walk at the end of the line so that I could monitor and maintain control. The line leader was selected for his/her ability to follow my oral directions - much like the way a musher communicates with the lead dog. There was no cutting on my watch!
But this is not fair to the "good kid"! I find the cutter is usually one of the naughty kids who's usually in trouble always..
I think it is the teacher who has to have the chat, right? But I want to figure this out myself and not go running to the teacher yet)
I always love reading these posts about whole schools using the same procedure. It's such great continuity for students and it's great for them to know what to expect for procedures. I tried assigned line spaces this year, but the kids thought I was crazy (they'd never done it before) and it took too much time with all the reminders. (Kerri! You're supposed to be in front of Ella! Ms. O?!) I know they would have gotten better if we'd stuck with it but eventually I decided our time was better spent elsewhere. Reading your post, I think we'll try again next year maybe.
If cutting in line is a regular issue while the students are under your supervision, why can’t you have the “What if everyone did that?” chat? Keep the tone light and just discuss your observations with them. I would have no problem with anyone who had that chat with my class.
I have a combination of all of these. Baseline: It's a good general philosophy. Practical Policy: Since they're not able to respect the good philosophy of manners or manage it themselves, it's how I'm going to manage it. The Issue: Sure, but the "good kid" might also be struggling with how to solve it. I actually find the fear of having to move back to the end of the line to prevent many problems and encourage them to find a solution. I actually only have a couple of perennial line-cutters. Watching: I haven't done this much myself this year, but my TA and I have always split lead/follow. Last year I was at the end a lot... this year my TA seemed to have switched positions. But yeah, having someone watching helps matters...
I can attest that assigned places in line works extremely well! Who cares if they think you're crazy? A couple of days of being nagged by their peers will set your line straight for the rest of the year. I would also teach them to space themselves at arm's length (without touching the person in front of them). It's quite doable and satisfying to see!
I've oft heard recommendation of the line spacing, but I've never tried it myself. Now that we're discussing it, I kind of want to try it. My mentor during student teaching always had an assigned line order, and I used it myself my first couple of years teaching, but fell away. No particular reason, it did have many a benefit. I might have to give it another go.
I have the cutter and complainer go to the end. We talk about how if you are at the store in the line and cut, everyone behind you will get mad at you.But also, if you get out of line to go complain to the manager, you also lose your spot. I try to encourage the children to stand up for themselves without running to me to complain.
Other than telling the other student they can't cut, what do you allow the student to do? I'm sure the cutter figures it out fast that they can do whatever they want because you don't want to be involved. The cutter has the true power unless you allow all the kids around the cutee to stand up to the cutter. Then on top of that, the cutter knows that he or she can get the cutee punished also. It can be easily used as a way to bully another child.
Glad to hear that you're open to trying old ideas - seen it used widely in Africa and Asia. BTW, if it is your practice to do so, forget about praising them with "Good job" at every opportunity! Teach them to demonstrate expected behaviors without the expectation of always being praised - and definitely do not say "Thank you" for such behaviors as is so commonly done by teachers. There is a time an place to teach proper etiquette.
Really bothers me when the road is cut off for repairs, and everyone can see the sign that says you must merge to the left and some pain-in-the-butt person and his friend, and cousin start creeping up to the right anyway, so they have to force themselves to cut you off. I make them sit there. Some people let them in, and you never get anywhere. This is what happens when kids cut the line. They turn into those adults who think they need to be more important and ahead of everybody.
Except that traffic studies show that those people are doing it right. It’s the people who merge too soon who hold up traffic. https://auto.howstuffworks.com/traffic-lane-zipper-merge.htm This is just one link. Search for “zipper method of merging” and you’ll find all sorts of videos and articles referring to state departments of transportation trying to get the word out to drivers in their states. Being knowledgeable doesn’t mean that someone thinks they are more important than others. This analogy to kids cutting in line doesn’t work.
I agree .. .you are actually supposed to stay in the lane until the very end. If you can use 4 lanes instead of 3 for as long as possible, it cuts down on traffic. Although my kindergartens are not traffic nor adults in cars. I always let people in front of me when I'm driving anyway. I would want someone to let me over too. I also let people in front of me at the grocery store if they have 1 or 2 items and I have a full cart load. In my opinion, those are ways to show others that I know I'm not the only person in the world. Quite the opposite of what you are implying.
Kindergally, I am happy to see you are posting back on this thread. I'm still wondering how you support the students for standing up for themselves. What do you allow of the student or the others around the student? What happens when the cutter doesn't listen? According to your post, the cuttee has the choice to suck it up or get in trouble too.
Really... I am not implying anything. I thought you are supposed to wait your turn. Why not line up in alphabetical order? If someone starts creeping up front, ask them what letter does their last name begin with?
As long as they aren't using the shoulder illegally to get to the front, they are driving the right way. It isn't about being more important. Proper use of merging helps traffic flow. Not allowing the person to merge where the lanes come together is hindering traffic flow.
I would go to the teacher and state what I tried, then ask for suggestions. My guess is the offender knows he can get away with it with you. Listen for advice. I woukd follow youy teacher’s script. Find out his behavior modification steps. Give him a warning. “We stay in line and wait our turn. If you get out if line, you go to the end. That’s the rule. If you push someone and/or get in front, you will .....(insert consequence that he knows).
