Behavioral Disorders In the Class... I Wasn't Trained For This...

[greyskymornings]

Fellow NETs, I don't know what to do.

I have a few kids in my school (middle school, second and third grade) that clearly have some pretty extreme behavioral/attention deficit problems. But, as is often the case, these students are incredibly smart and some of the most advanced English speakers, so they are naturally sifted into my classes. Problem is, they are so disruptive, that we can't get anything done.

I have one third grade boy that is just constantly rude and disrespectful and will not take direction at all. My co-teacher and I have tried every tactic with him, and it's just a disaster. It completely stalls the entire class.... every. time. If we deal with him while in the whole class, he just completely grinds the activity to a halt, but if my co-teacher takes him into the hall to deal with him one-on-one, the class gets lost/bored because I can only instruct them with my crappy Korean to a point.

Don't know what to do. These kids are so obviously in need of specialized behavioral attention, but the teaching staff seems content to sweep it under the rug.

Don't. know. what. to. do.

Suggestions?

Signed, Flummoxed

[jonpurdy]

Have you tried giving the student a bigger role in class? Perhaps having them translates your English instructions into Korean and rewarding them for doing so?

I haven't had a situation that bad but perhaps it's worth a try.

[Briguyman]

This problem is way too common in Korea. The way they view things like this - and really all disorders including psychological, emotional, or mental - as either not a big deal or a student acting up.

Swept under the rug is right. There is no clear solution to this, and if you put time and effort into truly understanding what the child needs, you'll be sacrificing the education of the other 20 something kids.

Good luck, this is Korea, nothing will be done.

[csw06]

Well, I had a similar problem... it's either the really advanced kids being bored or the really behind kids who don't know anything who cause the problems. I started a warning system. Basically I have 2 yellow cards and a red card. Yellow card is a warning and the red card means no stickers for the day, no games, and no fun videos (they really like the animation Mr. Bean so I sometimes show that to them if they're good). My classes have 8 groups. So everyday, I give points for kids who raise their hands and participate. Thr group with the most points gets a sticker for the day. I also give out a sticker for the best behaved group. When their group eventually gets 5 stickers, I give them candy. So with the yellow/red card system, they know that if they are too noisy they might get a red card and this means bad news for them.

I made a powerpoint explaining the system. It includes all my classroom rules and the sticker system. I also made a poster to go along with it so that I can stick the cards onto the poster.

I don't know if you will want to use this or not but it works pretty well for me. Hope your situation gets better!

[gilbert.a.h]

Fellow NETs, I don't know what to do.

I have a few kids in my school (middle school, second and third grade) that clearly have some pretty extreme behavioral/attention deficit problems. But, as is often the case, these students are incredibly smart and some of the most advanced English speakers, so they are naturally sifted into my classes. Problem is, they are so disruptive, that we can't get anything done.

I have one third grade boy that is just constantly rude and disrespectful and will not take direction at all. My co-teacher and I have tried every tactic with him, and it's just a disaster. It completely stalls the entire class.... every. time. If we deal with him while in the whole class, he just completely grinds the activity to a halt, but if my co-teacher takes him into the hall to deal with him one-on-one, the class gets lost/bored because I can only instruct them with my crappy Korean to a point.

Don't know what to do. These kids are so obviously in need of specialized behavioral attention, but the teaching staff seems content to sweep it under the rug.

Don't. know. what. to. do.

Suggestions?

Signed, Flummoxed

I'd try going higher up. Get your co-teacher to talk to the VP or Principal. It should be dealt with and quickly. I have some elementary school students who are at least as bad. I used to think I was doing enough, but every class was a total mess. And I am teaching alone. All you really can do is your best. If the government doesnt want to give you the correct tools, then I wouldn't worry too much. Just do your job. If the students cause problems, take care of them. Sure, it will hurt the student's education, but there isn't much you can really do about it. In some ways, teachers, no matter what school level, are baby sitters. 'Tis the problem with required education.

[firebreaker]

You're not alone. I have a 3rd grader with autism and obviously, the parents won't admit it and don't want him in a special school. The only thing I can suggest is for you and your co-teacher to talk it over and have the troublesome kids stay in their homeroom or something. We are trying to get the kid out of the class, so the other students can learn. It's better for the group.

The other option would be handcuffs and a muzzle.

[flasyb]

Why do you need Korean to give instructions? Just choose the next smartest kid in the class and demo whatever it is you want to do with them. My co-teachers are frequently absent, you get by.

[DMZ]

I honestly think that the best way to deal with this is to treat them as much as normal students as possible. If you treat a kid like he has a disability then he will act like he has one too. Tried and tested!

[todd]

I have had success using peer pressure to modify the behavior of my problem students.  If the problem student acts up, I punish his group (or the class, depending on the activity).  I point at the kid and say, "Because of him, (the game is over/you have homework/etc.)" In most instances the classmates will get angry with the student and he will straighten out. 

[Not a fan of kimchi]

I think the best solution is to make the ''problem child'' a teacher's helper.  They usually feel very special because they have an important role.  And, hopefully if that works the rest of the class will follow suit.  Hope this helps :D.

[FullMetalJacket]

I empathize - I've encountered a similar situation. I've had success with the incredibly smart behavioral problems by having additional handouts/activities prepared just for them (about 5 of them total in every grade level). Instructions are on the handout (sometimes translated) and I let them have at it while the rest of the class focuses on me. For the ones that act out and do so because they have no clue what's going on and they don't know how else to channel their energy, it's unfortunate there are no IEPs in place for them. It makes it difficult not only for those kids, but also for those around them trying to learn.

At my middle school back in the States, the special education coordinator once put a behavior chart in one student's binder that was unlike any other I've seen. It consisted of two columns, the first with numbers 1-5 and the second with short, concise behavior expectations. She attached an arrow to the chart with a paper clip. Every time that student would go to any class, he would take out his chart. His teacher would move the arrow to the number that coordinated with the behavior the student was exhibiting. The student's goal was to get a 4 or 5 in every class. If numbers and descriptions are too complicated, cartoon faces with expressions ranging from frowns to smiles could be used. It was an effective tool for that student because it gave him immediate feedback on his behavior in that moment. I'm sure there was some reward system in place in addition to the chart, but I'm unsure as to what that was.

[confusedsafferinkorea]

I think you would not be out of line in requesting a meeting with the parents with your co-teacher and preferably the VP.  I have great sympathy for you.  Some good advice has been given as well.

[Fallon]

 I think you should give that students a personal behavioral chart as a above poster mentioned.  That way he can see his progress when he is doing a good job, and it can motivate him.  If he is is more advanced, maybe you can give him higher level work to do to keep him occupied.  Sometimes students just need something to do with their hands.  I have soft toys I give to students who seem anxious.  They usually just squeeze the toy during class and calm down.  Making the problem student the "assistant" has worked a lot in my experience. Or give him "jobs" like writing down game ideas, or activities he would like to do in class.  When he does a good job recognize it with descriptive praise-"Thank you for raising your hand"- and it might lead to more approriate behaviors.  Look for progress not perfection. 

I have a plethora of behavior managment/ special education resources if you would like me to email them to you. 
Good luck

[SBracken]

I have two classes that definitely have special needs kids. I have a handful of others with mild disorders as well, but there's a middle school girl who spends all of class repeatedly throwing the same small piece of paper in one direction, and seems to not even know that class is happening, although she greets me in the hall. I also have a high school class with a boy who can barely string a sentence together, be it English or Korean. At first I thought it was only a speaking deficit, but I realized he probably is moderately mentally retarded.

Although they're sometimes disruptive, these kids are sweet, and I feel horrible not being able to do more for them. My coteachers have both basically told me to ignore them, so I try to involve them when I can, but I can't make them pay attention like the rest of the class.

very different Korea....

[GrenWhit]

Keep in mind that a common complaint even within Western society is that we over-medicate.  Without denying the existence of learning disabilities, some tend to become handicaps only when we slap labels on them.  Having worked in the education industry in the states, you certainly get the vibe that some parents literally just say 'Doc, I had a boy; get out the Ritalin!'  (before you get to upset at me and tell me i'm ignorant about the disorder, i come from a family in which three of the four children, myself included, easily fit the symptoms)

Ok rant over.  So where am I going with that?  Basically education, or behavior modification if you will, has proven much more beneficial than pharmaceuticals.  Treat your student like a student, treat yourself like a student, and learn how to help him learn.  I had several similar students last year, and what people are saying is sound.  I would add that good discipline and better lesson planning made my students seem like a whole different crew.  They now recognize the line, know they won't like what happens when they cross it, and are hopefully challenged during class by being pushed to expand on the same lesson as the lower level students.

If you can avoid extra bust work for your advanced kids, do it.  Modify your lesson so that when lower level students are listening for the answer a second time, the wild bunch are listening for something new.

[rilakkuma]

Good luck, this is Korea, nothing will be done.

I'm sorry to say this but...why am I not surprised?

I feel for you, 100% because I have the same problem so I'm assuming it's quite common. Yesterday, a female (higher level student compared to her peers but still far from being fluent in English) yelled at me when I was explaining the rules of a game. She yelled impatiently and repeatedly 'yes yes, we understand!' At first I ignored her but when she did this for the third time, I just stopped explaining (there is a limit to everyone's patience isn't there?) and told the class that if they didn't understand any part of the game, they should go to that student and ask HER for instruction because I was cut short by a student and the co-teacher did not want to send her out of the classroom. After class, however, she told that student to apologise to her and explained that she didn't understand it was wrong to interrupt a teacher like that.

Does she really not realise it's rude and wrong? I don't know and I have neither energy nor inclination to find out.

I've come to a point where I just stopped caring because this is just beyond my ability to care. I feel so sorry for the students who lose our attention because of those dissruptive students but there's nothing I could do since my co-teachers are not happy at all when I send such students out of the classroom. They think by doing so, I'm depriving those bad students a chance to learn English when clearly they have NO inclination whatsoever to do so AND they themselves deprive some of their classmates (who show much more motivation) of their chances to learn.

How I wish I could just group those students who show a genuine interest in learning and make them sit around me in a small circle and direct my attention ONLY to them. This would be much more constructive as it can benefit the students who really do want to learn and excuse the students who according to my co-teacher, consider it a 'torture' to be in my class!!

But at the end of the day, what can I possibly do when given NEITHER freedom NORauthority in the classroom?

[coco.w]

I have disabled kids in my classes mixed with higher level kids its really hard