You say your goodbyes at the end of the day. Your lovely classroom is in shreds and will take hours to restore. What can you do? Turn to the 3 C’s – Communication, Creativity and Commitment.
The Need for Social Media Safety
Today’s teens need to be aware of the extended reach—and shelf life—of their online presence. College recruiters as well as potential employers are searching the Internet before interviewing or accepting applicants. They’re viewing not only what teens are posting, but how they interact with others.
Digital citizenship is a critical part of your teen’s social media training, especially when it comes to maintaining their online reputation. Who is responsible for this? The schools? Teachers? Parents? Students? Community?
It actually starts at home—instilling kindness and empathy offline will be the foundation that pours into their online etiquette. Then it goes to schools. More and more of them are now implementing digital citizenship classes. Common Sense Media stresses the importance of empowering students to be able to communicate and connect safely and responsibly online.
Teachers, including librarians, are independently taking time to talk with students about digital citizenship. It is not only about helping students become a better cyber-citizen, it is also about adults learning from the students.
We can’t deny that many teens will find out about apps and sites before their parents, but having these conversations with them will open the lines of communication and we can start learning from each other.
1- Communication
Communication is at the top of the list of the 3 C’s. Discuss and agree strategies as a team. Write an Individual Behaviour Management Plan (IBMP), which can be shared with all those who work with and support the child. Speak to parents and show them this plan, asking for their input and checking that they are in agreement. Help them come up with practical ways to redirect behaviours at home.
2- Creativity
The child who climbs will not be stopped by being told ‘no’, but they can be redirected to climb on something different. However, the child who rips down your displays or tears up the book corner will need a space where they can be redirected to rip and shred in a helpful way. However, they could be ripping up the recycling or preparing collage materials.
Try redirecting the child from:
• Chewing toys to chewing specially made sensory chews.
• Drawing on walls to supervised drawing on big paper.
• Climbing on tables to climbing on a climbing frame.
• Ripping up books to ripping up paper for collage.
• Throwing toys at staff to tidy up or throw a ball.
3- Commitment
You will need a really committed team of staff who are completely dedicated to seeing the child turn around. They will need to continue agreed strategies when you are out of sight, so it’s vital that they have contributed and committed to the behaviour plan.
Additionally, speak to lunchtime supervisors, after-school club leaders, temporary support staff and parents. If everyone involved is committed and consistent, the turnaround will be so much faster.
Final thoughts
Picasso once observed that, “Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.” When that tricky child arrives in your class, don’t look at erasing their behaviours but think up creative ways to embrace their emotional or sensory needs. However, what are they are getting from the ripping, the chewing, the leaping or the throwing? Moreover, brainstorm with your team and find a way to redirect them in a positive way.
