AboutLeslie Truex Expertise I am a parent of two, but also I'm a social worker with over 15 year experience working with children and families. I can provide many tips and techniques to help with child behavior, interventions for specific behavioral issues, ideas to help children through difficult times such as divorce or grief, hints on keeping the family running smoothly, and tips for developing confident, happy children.
Experience I have a master's in social work and over 15 years experience working with children and families. I have worked in schools, public health, mental health and adoption agencies providing parent education courses and children's groups.
Question Actually the teacher has stated on several occasions that she can solve any problem and had excellent literal skills...if she can just stop talking. She will initiate a conversation with another student during "quite time" about some show on the Disney Channel or similar.
In my opinion...the girl just has it in her genes. Her mother is a real estate professional A-Type personality and can carry on a conversation with anyone. My daughter inherited it all.
I will talk with them about developing something to help.
I started a new simple plan this week. One issue was that we only find out about the disruptions at the end of the week. I have sent a card with her to school and she can ask for a simple "check" or "Minus" each day so that we can address the problem more quickly.
Thanks
Jim
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
-----Question-----
I have a you daughter in first grade. She is in the gifted an talented program...but may not be in it next year if she can't control her talking. She is not disrespectful...just a chatterbox. I am at my wits end.
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Hi Jim,
First of all, is her talking impacting her grades or quality of work? I'm not sure how talking too much would lead to her not qualifying for the gifted program unless she was doing poorly and didn't qualify anymore. Has she been re-tested?
Second, what kind of consequences has been set up or interventions tried? Has her seat been moved away from others to help control her impulse to talk? Has there been a behavior plan to help her learn to control her talking?
I would get with the teacher and maybe even have an INEPT meeting or whatever your school calls the meetings where teachers, guidance and who ever else is on the team can brainstorm and implement strategies to help your daughter. It would likely be the team that determined your daughters eligibility for the program.
Leslie Truex
Answer Hi Jim,
In that case I would get clarification on what is involved in being in the gifted program. It doesn't seem like putting her in a less challenging class will do anything to help her.
Also, while her talking may be innate, she does need to get a handle on it. She may be able to talk and learn, but it may be difficult for the other children.
A behavior chart is a good idea. Since she is first grade, she is going to need more frequent reinforcement than once a week. In fact, she should get them several times a day. For example, she can get a smiley or sad face after each lesson block (or 4/5 times a day). If she earns a certain number of smilies each day (3), she can get a prize. When I did guidance, students would come to me at the end of the day to show me their charts and I would give the prize (sticker, candy etc). As she improves, you can start to require more smilies and eventually wean her off the program.
Physical intervention such as sitting away from others or by the teacher's desk can help as well.
BTW...that was supposed to be IEP meeting in my last note. I imagine she had an IEP or other meeting in which her eligibility for the program was determined. This group can also be a resource in helping with her chatting.
