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#Post#: 167403--------------------------------------------------
Re: Squirmy kid: Help?
By: Queenie Date: February 24, 2023, 12:08 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Crazy suggestion: Can you have her read to your gerbils or
Hammy the hamster?
Reading with Rover is supposedly a huge success is why I ask.
#Post#: 167412--------------------------------------------------
Re: Squirmy kid: Help?
By: Bobbi Date: February 24, 2023, 12:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=LesserGoddess link=topic=1760.msg167398#msg167398
date=1677261444]
[quote author=muskrat link=topic=1760.msg167336#msg167336
date=1677255458]
I'm going to start tutoring a 1st grader (6or7yrs old) in
reading on Tues.
Session lasts 45 min starting 1:15pm. (It's after lunch & right
before end of the schoolday so I'm sure she's tired and it's def
not ideal timeslot, imo).
Dilemma: Little girl cant stop squirming. Puts her hands in
her mouth constantly; slouches down in the chair almost to the
floor; always moving around and getting distracted.
The tutoring coordinator who ran the session I observed asked
her nicely several times to take her fingers out of her mouth; a
couple times readjusted the kid in her seat when kid was sliding
under the table. Very nice/calm/professional whenever touching
kid.
Dilemma: I'm not keen on physically wrangling a kid. I'd
prefer to use verbal prompts to change behavior vice me taking
her hands out of her mouth/adjusting her in the chair, etc.
Q: Realizing all kids respond differently, what things would
you say to entice her to modify her behavior ?
[/quote]
Pivot from her sitting the whole time to allowing her to walk
around holding instruction material, or sit on one of those
large balls.
If she can't sit still, someone trying to stop that is going to
focus her energy on that obstruction rather than giving it an
outlet
[/quote]
Depends on the flexibility of the program, but I've had some
good results with:
Spending a little time talking about the day/what happened since
we last met/what are you reading now...
Writing on a whiteboard with colored markers. Student stands at
the board and can fidget ; ) Take a photo of the board to show
the student's teacher.
Writing with colored pencils and illustrating the writing.
Reading books that have action/motion that can be acted out as
they read. Some of this depends on where you are tutoring--one
of my favorite books to read aloud involves howling and other
wolf-like behavior!
Changing gears as needed. Sometimes my plan of action just
isn't going to work that day.
Changing where you work--different space, outside, under the
table...
Using manipulatives--magnetic letters or words on the
whiteboard, or on the table; figures to represent characters in
the stories for student to use; puzzles; games
Good luck! and enjoy. I fall a bit in love with each year's
student. This year's is my favorite so far--but I say that
every year : )
(ninth year of tutoring through OASIS)
#Post#: 167435--------------------------------------------------
Re: Squirmy kid: Help?
By: muskrat Date: February 24, 2023, 1:27 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Queenie link=topic=1760.msg167403#msg167403
date=1677262100]
Crazy suggestion: Can you have her read to your gerbils or
Hammy the hamster?
Reading with Rover is supposedly a huge success is why I ask.
[/quote]
I wish I could!
It's a very formulaic session:
*5-8min rereading outloud from a book theyve previously read
(timed to see if speed improves)
*10min for reinforcement of letter patterns (two vowels in a
word together ("ea"); double consonants "-ill") and writing
those words ("treat; great" "chill; drill")
*20min for reading outloud new material & writing one sentence
summary. Books selected by the reading coordinator tailored for
each kid's level (not chosen by me)
She did well on the first two segments. But by the last 20 min
- with the new reading passages - she was getting squirmier
(and i assume, more fatigued).
But I'll try to see if she can "pretend to be reading to Hammy!"
those last 20 min to try to engage her during that last tough
homestretch.
#Post#: 167438--------------------------------------------------
Re: Squirmy kid: Help?
By: muskrat Date: February 24, 2023, 1:36 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=animaniactoo link=topic=1760.msg167402#msg167402
date=1677261897]
The breaks are a great suggestion, but also try engaging her to
help find a solution. She sounds like someone who either isn't
comfortable in the position she's been requested to be in, or
doesn't stay comfortable for long.
So, ask her what makes her most comfortable to be able to sit
(mostly) still and pay attention. Does she need a comfy, a
fidget toy, or just to sit a certain way which doesn't "look"
like "paying attention"?
Also, I would ignore the hands in the mouth, unless it is
actively getting in the way of things she needs to say - and at
that point you can prompt with the ask "I'm sorry, I couldn't
hear that with your hand in the way, can you take your hand out
of your mouth and try again please?"
The important thing is whether she's absorbing the information,
not whether she's the picture of still attention - so I would
focus the goal on the information absorption (and the
breaks/excess energy running around dump may help with that),
and the stillness may follow as she settles into routine with
you.
[/quote]
The hands in the mouth was def for clarity: I was observing
last time, but neither the coordinator or I could understand
kid's responses.
And I couldnt quite tell if she was absorbing the info towards
the end: the squirminess had really taken over and she seemed to
be mentally checking out. The figiting seemed to be getting in
the way of processing the info: if she were a whiz, how she sat
wouldnt have been an issue.
I;m just concerned that the constant moving around and
facetouching/fingers in mouth was distracting her from absorbing
the material.
#Post#: 167440--------------------------------------------------
Re: Squirmy kid: Help?
By: Queenie Date: February 24, 2023, 1:39 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=muskrat link=topic=1760.msg167438#msg167438
date=1677267414]
[quote author=animaniactoo link=topic=1760.msg167402#msg167402
date=1677261897]
The breaks are a great suggestion, but also try engaging her to
help find a solution. She sounds like someone who either isn't
comfortable in the position she's been requested to be in, or
doesn't stay comfortable for long.
So, ask her what makes her most comfortable to be able to sit
(mostly) still and pay attention. Does she need a comfy, a
fidget toy, or just to sit a certain way which doesn't "look"
like "paying attention"?
Also, I would ignore the hands in the mouth, unless it is
actively getting in the way of things she needs to say - and at
that point you can prompt with the ask "I'm sorry, I couldn't
hear that with your hand in the way, can you take your hand out
of your mouth and try again please?"
The important thing is whether she's absorbing the information,
not whether she's the picture of still attention - so I would
focus the goal on the information absorption (and the
breaks/excess energy running around dump may help with that),
and the stillness may follow as she settles into routine with
you.
[/quote]
The hands in the mouth was def for clarity: I was observing
last time, but neither the coordinator or I could understand
kid's responses.
And I couldnt quite tell if she was absorbing the info towards
the end: the squirminess had really taken over and she seemed to
be mentally checking out. The figiting seemed to be getting in
the way of processing the info: if she were a whiz, how she sat
wouldnt have been an issue.
I;m just concerned that the constant moving around and
facetouching/fingers in mouth was distracting her from absorbing
the material.
[/quote]
Can you give her something else to do with her fingers?
#Post#: 167442--------------------------------------------------
Re: Squirmy kid: Help?
By: Queenie Date: February 24, 2023, 1:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=muskrat link=topic=1760.msg167435#msg167435
date=1677266863]
[quote author=Queenie link=topic=1760.msg167403#msg167403
date=1677262100]
Crazy suggestion: Can you have her read to your gerbils or
Hammy the hamster?
Reading with Rover is supposedly a huge success is why I ask.
[/quote]
I wish I could!
It's a very formulaic session:
*5-8min rereading outloud from a book theyve previously read
(timed to see if speed improves)
*10min for reinforcement of letter patterns (two vowels in a
word together ("ea"); double consonants "-ill") and writing
those words ("treat; great" "chill; drill")
*20min for reading outloud new material & writing one sentence
summary. Books selected by the reading coordinator tailored for
each kid's level (not chosen by me)
She did well on the first two segments. But by the last 20 min
- with the new reading passages - she was getting squirmier
(and i assume, more fatigued).
But I'll try to see if she can "pretend to be reading to Hammy!"
those last 20 min to try to engage her during that last tough
homestretch.
[/quote]
I was gonna say twenty minutes seems long for a tired,
frustrated kidlet. Again, I am not a teacher. But do you
engage and react during the part where you listen?
#Post#: 167448--------------------------------------------------
Re: Squirmy kid: Help?
By: muskrat Date: February 24, 2023, 1:48 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Queenie link=topic=1760.msg167442#msg167442
date=1677267708]
[quote author=muskrat link=topic=1760.msg167435#msg167435
date=1677266863]
[quote author=Queenie link=topic=1760.msg167403#msg167403
date=1677262100]
Crazy suggestion: Can you have her read to your gerbils or
Hammy the hamster?
Reading with Rover is supposedly a huge success is why I ask.
[/quote]
I wish I could!
It's a very formulaic session:
*5-8min rereading outloud from a book theyve previously read
(timed to see if speed improves)
*10min for reinforcement of letter patterns (two vowels in a
word together ("ea"); double consonants "-ill") and writing
those words ("treat; great" "chill; drill")
*20min for reading outloud new material & writing one sentence
summary. Books selected by the reading coordinator tailored for
each kid's level (not chosen by me)
She did well on the first two segments. But by the last 20 min
- with the new reading passages - she was getting squirmier
(and i assume, more fatigued).
But I'll try to see if she can "pretend to be reading to Hammy!"
those last 20 min to try to engage her during that last tough
homestretch.
[/quote]
I was gonna say twenty minutes seems long for a tired,
frustrated kidlet. Again, I am not a teacher. But do you
engage and react during the part where you listen?
[/quote]
Yes: the coordinator I observed kept up an ongoing stream of
coaxing and responding and asking and recapping and praising.
The coordinator conducted an excellent session: the kid was
just not in receive mode at that last 20min slog.
(I'll ask but likely wont be able to change the tutor time to
earlier in the day.)
#Post#: 167451--------------------------------------------------
Re: Squirmy kid: Help?
By: muskrat Date: February 24, 2023, 1:51 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Queenie link=topic=1760.msg167440#msg167440
date=1677267579]
[quote author=muskrat link=topic=1760.msg167438#msg167438
date=1677267414]
[quote author=animaniactoo link=topic=1760.msg167402#msg167402
date=1677261897]
The breaks are a great suggestion, but also try engaging her to
help find a solution. She sounds like someone who either isn't
comfortable in the position she's been requested to be in, or
doesn't stay comfortable for long.
So, ask her what makes her most comfortable to be able to sit
(mostly) still and pay attention. Does she need a comfy, a
fidget toy, or just to sit a certain way which doesn't "look"
like "paying attention"?
Also, I would ignore the hands in the mouth, unless it is
actively getting in the way of things she needs to say - and at
that point you can prompt with the ask "I'm sorry, I couldn't
hear that with your hand in the way, can you take your hand out
of your mouth and try again please?"
The important thing is whether she's absorbing the information,
not whether she's the picture of still attention - so I would
focus the goal on the information absorption (and the
breaks/excess energy running around dump may help with that),
and the stillness may follow as she settles into routine with
you.
[/quote]
The hands in the mouth was def for clarity: I was observing
last time, but neither the coordinator or I could understand
kid's responses.
And I couldnt quite tell if she was absorbing the info towards
the end: the squirminess had really taken over and she seemed to
be mentally checking out. The figiting seemed to be getting in
the way of processing the info: if she were a whiz, how she sat
wouldnt have been an issue.
I;m just concerned that the constant moving around and
facetouching/fingers in mouth was distracting her from absorbing
the material.
[/quote]
Can you give her something else to do with her fingers?
[/quote]
Thanks to the input here <3, I just picked up a cheap squishy
ball thingie. I'll run it by the coordinator first, but
hopefully handling that (and taking minibreaks) will help Kiddo
focus.
#Post#: 167455--------------------------------------------------
Re: Squirmy kid: Help?
By: muskrat Date: February 24, 2023, 1:54 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Bobbi link=topic=1760.msg167412#msg167412
date=1677263519]
[quote author=LesserGoddess link=topic=1760.msg167398#msg167398
date=1677261444]
[quote author=muskrat link=topic=1760.msg167336#msg167336
date=1677255458]
I'm going to start tutoring a 1st grader (6or7yrs old) in
reading on Tues.
Session lasts 45 min starting 1:15pm. (It's after lunch & right
before end of the schoolday so I'm sure she's tired and it's def
not ideal timeslot, imo).
Dilemma: Little girl cant stop squirming. Puts her hands in
her mouth constantly; slouches down in the chair almost to the
floor; always moving around and getting distracted.
The tutoring coordinator who ran the session I observed asked
her nicely several times to take her fingers out of her mouth; a
couple times readjusted the kid in her seat when kid was sliding
under the table. Very nice/calm/professional whenever touching
kid.
Dilemma: I'm not keen on physically wrangling a kid. I'd
prefer to use verbal prompts to change behavior vice me taking
her hands out of her mouth/adjusting her in the chair, etc.
Q: Realizing all kids respond differently, what things would
you say to entice her to modify her behavior ?
[/quote]
Pivot from her sitting the whole time to allowing her to walk
around holding instruction material, or sit on one of those
large balls.
If she can't sit still, someone trying to stop that is going to
focus her energy on that obstruction rather than giving it an
outlet
[/quote]
Depends on the flexibility of the program, but I've had some
good results with:
Spending a little time talking about the day/what happened since
we last met/what are you reading now...
Writing on a whiteboard with colored markers. Student stands at
the board and can fidget ; ) Take a photo of the board to show
the student's teacher.
Writing with colored pencils and illustrating the writing.
Reading books that have action/motion that can be acted out as
they read. Some of this depends on where you are tutoring--one
of my favorite books to read aloud involves howling and other
wolf-like behavior!
Changing gears as needed. Sometimes my plan of action just
isn't going to work that day.
Changing where you work--different space, outside, under the
table...
Using manipulatives--magnetic letters or words on the
whiteboard, or on the table; figures to represent characters in
the stories for student to use; puzzles; games
Good luck! and enjoy. I fall a bit in love with each year's
student. This year's is my favorite so far--but I say that
every year : )
(ninth year of tutoring through OASIS)
[/quote]
Thanks for the encouragement [member=187]Bobbi[/member] ! I
really want to help this little girl bc reading is SO important
at a young age and I dont want her to fall too far behind her
classmates.
Do you have any handy things you say to get your kiddo to
focus/sit up if theyre squirmy? (Or do you have older students
where that's not an issue?)
#Post#: 167522--------------------------------------------------
Re: Squirmy kid: Help?
By: animaniactoo Date: February 24, 2023, 4:40 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=muskrat link=topic=1760.msg167451#msg167451
date=1677268287]
[quote author=Queenie link=topic=1760.msg167440#msg167440
date=1677267579]
[quote author=muskrat link=topic=1760.msg167438#msg167438
date=1677267414]
[quote author=animaniactoo link=topic=1760.msg167402#msg167402
date=1677261897]
The breaks are a great suggestion, but also try engaging her to
help find a solution. She sounds like someone who either isn't
comfortable in the position she's been requested to be in, or
doesn't stay comfortable for long.
So, ask her what makes her most comfortable to be able to sit
(mostly) still and pay attention. Does she need a comfy, a
fidget toy, or just to sit a certain way which doesn't "look"
like "paying attention"?
Also, I would ignore the hands in the mouth, unless it is
actively getting in the way of things she needs to say - and at
that point you can prompt with the ask "I'm sorry, I couldn't
hear that with your hand in the way, can you take your hand out
of your mouth and try again please?"
The important thing is whether she's absorbing the information,
not whether she's the picture of still attention - so I would
focus the goal on the information absorption (and the
breaks/excess energy running around dump may help with that),
and the stillness may follow as she settles into routine with
you.
[/quote]
The hands in the mouth was def for clarity: I was observing
last time, but neither the coordinator or I could understand
kid's responses.
And I couldnt quite tell if she was absorbing the info towards
the end: the squirminess had really taken over and she seemed to
be mentally checking out. The figiting seemed to be getting in
the way of processing the info: if she were a whiz, how she sat
wouldnt have been an issue.
I;m just concerned that the constant moving around and
facetouching/fingers in mouth was distracting her from absorbing
the material.
[/quote]
Can you give her something else to do with her fingers?
[/quote]
Thanks to the input here <3, I just picked up a cheap squishy
ball thingie. I'll run it by the coordinator first, but
hopefully handling that (and taking minibreaks) will help Kiddo
focus.
[/quote]
Understand that a lot of what I know is 2nd and 3rd hand for
kids, but I am a strong teacher for tweens to adults (this is
not my evaluation although I don't disagree with it), and the
ultimate thing is that when the student's eyes start glazing
over, it just about doesn't matter what you try - they've
absorbed as much as they can in that moment. Whether that's the
entire session, or the time since the last mini break.
It may be that they don't respond to or process that particular
portion of the teaching, or it may just be "teacher, my brain is
full!", so sometimes, you actually get farther by abandoning
what you're trying to work on in that moment and re-directing to
something different. If she's bored with a verbal report, maybe
she'll work well with simple cut outs to act out/show what was
happening in the story. Or matching up spelling letters to
words. Or doing a mismatch - let's be silly! which one is the
wrong one!
It might be slower than the goals of the program, but if it's
the right pace for her, then it is, and the need is to meet her
where she is at, rather than forcing her to the program's pace.
This is not to say that she'll never need to work at the pace a
teacher/tutor wants her to be at, just that this is early into
learning and the goal is to get her engaged in WANTING to learn
it, and that means that the engagement is generally more
important than the pace at which it happens.
Also, has anyone asked the parents what works for getting
focused non-squirmy attention? I suggested engaging kiddo and
having her help earlier, but consulting the parents is also a
likely place of help. Both these sources have more information
about what works for this particular kid, so if you can check in
with them, that will hopefully get you some useful info.
*****************************************************
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