Managing constant low level disruption

[redskyatnight]

DS has started a new junior school in Y3 (so all the children are new to the school). Every day since he's started it's sseems he's come home and moaned about one particular girl being annoying constantly and distracting him. "Gentle" probing reveals that she talks when she's not supposed to, doesn't listen to the teacher, fidgets, messes about. But it's continual. DS says she does stay in her seat so I guess it falls into the category of constant low level disruption.

The school use a "traffic lights" system for behaviour management and (again according to DS) this girl has been on "red" pretty much every day. She's also had detention (the only one in the class, and I was very surprised they would be giving detention in Y3 so early on in the year) so the teacher is obviously aware of and dealing with the bad behaviour.


I appreciate that a certain amount of classroom disruption is to be expected but this seems to be beyond the norm. Can anyone suggest any strategies DS can use to try to avoid being distracted? And (whilst I realise the school are obviously dealing with it and we're only a couple of weeks into term) at which point is it "acceptable" for me to raise this with the teacher? And what might the school actually do? At the risk of being very pfb I have to admit I am worried about DS being in the same class as a very disruptive child for the next 4 years.

[thebeansmum]

You do sound a bit pfb when you say you are worried about him being in the same class for her for the next 4 years - there are very few classes in the history of the universe that won't have at best one disruptive child, at worse lots of disruption. Some are special needs kids, they aren't always 'naughty ones'.

I don't feel, however, you are being at all unreasonable about your son being seated next to her for the long term. They may have picked your son out as someone who works hard and keeps his head down, thinking he may have a positive effect on the girl, a role model of kinds. Which is fine, but if it continues to be a problem, you should speak to the teacher. Like you said, they seem very aware of her and although she needs to be seated somewhere, it shouldn't always be next to your son. Teachers are normally good at this and 'rotate' kids around a lot.

[Fairenuff]

Teachers are often expected to manage this disruptive behaviour without any extra help. It really depends on how supportive the management are and whether there are funds available for extra staff. Sometimes a gentle 'complaint' from a parent can help the teacher in their efforts to get support for the disruptive child.