Have you noticedsome students who just can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves? Well, here are a few ideas that mighthelp.
Get a shoeboxand write “brain toys” on the box. Next, get some old socks and tie knots in them. When children need to focus invite themto get a “brain toy” from the box. They can hold the sock, untie it, tie knots, and give their fingerssomething to do.
I’ve hadteachers say, “Well, what if everybody wants a sock?” Who cares? Geta sock for everyone. The main goalis to give children an outlet that is acceptable, quiet, and won’t botheranother student.
A similar ideacame from a first grade teacher. She gave each of her students a jumbo craft stick to decorate. They tied a 20” piece of string totheir sticks and kept them in their desks. When their hands got “figdgety” they could get out theirfiddle sticks and wind and unwind the string.
You just neverknow what will work until you try! I recall a teacher who kept a bottle of lotion on her desk and called it“self control lotion.” When herstudents were having trouble paying attention she would give them a squirt oflotion and tell them to rub it in. They believed her just like Dumbo believed he could fly with the featherin his trunk! Her students wouldactually come up to her and say, “I need a little self control lotion.”
Teaching is achallenge, but it’s also like winning the lottery when you find the right “fix”in your classroom! Keep on trying!
