Elementary Students’ Problems at School – A New Upcoming Series

My students often talk to me about problems they are having at school.  Some of these problems involve problems with a teacher, but most often involve problems with other students. I’ll be treating each problem separately, in subsequent posts.

Often, parents (and many teachers) either don’t realize the problems their kids are having at school, or they just don’t know how to help their kids with these problems.  I don’t always know how to help with these problems, either.

If your child confides in you, make time to listen.  Listen sympathetically, as you would to a friend.  Make the same kind of comments that you would to a friend.  Tell the child how you would feel, if you were in their shoes.  Finally, you can make comments like, “Have you tried saying this…” or, ” What about this?”  Sometimes, when I can’t think of anything better, I suggest giving the person “a taste of their own medicine,” as that is the only thing some people understand.

Sometimes I suggest to the child that she talk with her parents about some issues (such as if a boy is bothering a girl).  I also suggest things I can do as a teacher to help, or bring up issues to discuss with the whole class, in general.  I ask if they want me to talk to the whole class, and get the child’s permission first.

In one case, I felt a girl should talk with her mother, but her mother never made time to listen to her privately, without the girl’s sister being around.  I got permission from the student to call her mother, and ask her mother to make time to speak with the girl privately.  The girl felt much better afterward.

Sometimes, there just isn’t a solution.  But just as you feel better sharing your problem with a trusted friend, students also feel better just having someone listen sympathetically, and hearing another person’s thoughts about the problem.

Eileen

Related posts I’ve Written:

One Girl’s Problem – Stalked Since Nursery School!

Young Children Have Serious Concerns That Can Interfere with Their Lives and School Work

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