Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Go Back                 Case Posted on April 17, 2022 1:03 am Add to Favorites aDaVyD Reps: 100 Pencil Chewer In one of the classrooms I've observed, there is a student who chews the eraser to his pencil. Not only is this a distraction to the other students, but also poses a small threat to the students overall health. The teacher has told the student several times to refrain from doing this, but he continues to. I'm assuming this is a fidgeting tactic the student possesses. Any suggestions on how to terminate or lessen this behavior?                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.                 Solution 1 Posted April 20, 2022 1:18 pm VuDaNy Reps: 124 I definitely suggest a sensory chew toy, also speaking to the parents as this may be a sign of an underlying health condition like an iron deficiency. Votes: +9 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 2 Posted April 17, 2022 10:18 pm SaZaLa Reps: 103 I suggest you offer the student a sensory chew toy. Votes: +7 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 3 Posted April 17, 2022 3:06 am NuMyDe Reps: 200 I know that there is funding available for fidget devices that can be placed at the bottom of a students desk that allows them to move their feet and steady their mind without moving from their seat. If this were my classroom, i would ask around for the email/number of the person who deals with that funding and see if u could get a fidget toy. Better yet, you could buy one from Amazon for very cheap with your own money Votes: +4 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 4 Posted October 10, 2022 4:15 pm yHuJyG Reps: 100 I would not allow to have a student working with a pencil unless they're actively doing work and make parents aware of this as well. I was in a classroom once where this occurred and this solution worked best Votes: +2 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 5 Posted October 10, 2022 11:04 pm Sophia Sunyak Reps: 200 Number one - get him pencils without erasers. Number two - he may need an IEP or 504 plan meeting. Number three - someone needs to watch him almost constantly! Number four - notify parents. Votes: +2 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 6 Posted October 11, 2022 5:16 am Pearl Reberkenny Reps: 205 I think providing a safer option to chew on would be something to think about, a sensory chew toy, or maybe some small candy that can help the chewing sensation. Votes: +2 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 7 Posted April 18, 2022 1:10 am Lauren Toner Reps: 261 This behavior may be attention-seeking, however, further data and information would need to be collected. I think it has to do with a tactile fixation. Perhaps this teacher can try a fidget tool or something of a sensory teething toy or something to occupy the student physically versus verbally commenting on the behavior. Hope this helps. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 8 Posted April 25, 2022 12:32 am ySeJeg Reps: 101 Since chewing on the eraser can pose a small threat to the students overall health maybe replace the eraser with something edible or give the student some type of fidget object like a squishy ball to replace the eraser chewing. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 9 Posted February 22, 2023 3:49 pm Georgia Gee Reps: 200 I would provide alternative options for the student to fidget with. I would definitely say it is a fidgeting thing, if you provides other tools it can help. If not, then take it up with the school psychologist because it could be an anxiety thing. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 10 Posted February 26, 2023 7:51 pm adeSah Reps: 201 As others have mentioned, other toys would be a good solution. Additionally, gum may be a good choice as well. You may have to be careful and ensure they toss the gum when the sugar is exhausted, but besides that it should be a very good choice for mouth fidgetting. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 11 Posted October 13, 2022 8:06 pm Andrea Reps: 100 I think that the use of fidget tools might help in this situation. If it doesn't and the student continues to chew on his eraser, the teacher should contact the parents and express their concerns. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 12 Posted October 14, 2022 12:32 am MeMuXu Reps: 203 Behaviors like fidgeting are not always things you can terminate. To suffice the student's need to fidget, while also making sure the fidgeting does not interrupt the lesson presentation, provide your bucket of fidget toys. This way you can choose toys that are not obnoxious and distracting. Also, allow the whole class access to these toys so that your classroom is a fair environment. Most likely, the kids that do not need to fidget will eventually get bored of the toys and put them back in the bucket. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 13 Posted October 14, 2022 4:52 am naJyGa Reps: 46 I would suggest a 1-on-1 discussion with the student to reach a collaborative alternative that would satisfy their fixation without posing a health risk and distraction. This conversation can be approached from a positive perspective that does not embarrass the student or give them the impression that you are upset with them. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 14 Posted October 16, 2022 11:56 pm GebyXu Reps: 203 Stress and/or anxiety are the most frequent causes of certain children's chewing. Chewing causes the jaw to receive soothing, self-organizing proprioceptive signals to the brain. It's common for youngsters to chew on their pencils, which is typically not a problem, but when the chewing gets out of hand, it can cause issues. When chewing is causing problems, you can try to get the student to stop by providing them with something more acceptable to chew on. Gum, sensory chew necklace, and chewable pencil toppers have all been successful for certain individuals. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 15 Posted October 17, 2022 1:04 am VuJeTa Reps: 100 I would definitely suggest buying the student a sensory chew toy and maybe have the student start out with no erasers on his/her pencils and if they need one the teacher can monitor while the students uses one. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 16 Posted October 17, 2022 1:48 am hyLeqe Reps: 101 Definitely start providing the student with alternative fidgets. Address it with the students counselor and school psychologist, so that they can look at what they are trying to cope with when they do that behavior. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 17 Posted November 12, 2022 10:39 pm uHuGuh Reps: 101 Start by talking to the student about what he/she think is an option to replace the pencil chewing such as a sensory chew toy as mentioned by others. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 18 Posted February 20, 2023 5:26 pm aXeDen Reps: 205 You could offer them other things to chew on that are made to be chewed on, such as some sensory toys. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 19 Posted February 26, 2023 9:38 pm ataLyr Reps: 100 It is very likely that this student is doing this as a way to help himself focus. Offering a sensory chew or other form of fidget as an alternative to chewing on his pencils. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 20 Posted April 2, 2023 11:37 pm atyraQ Reps: 203 I actually did not exactly have this problem as a kid but I would instead chew on the pencil finger guards that would go around the pencil. As long as it is not a chocking hazard, I would suggest giving them something like that because it’s far better than chewing on a pencil. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 21 Posted October 7, 2023 7:55 pm paTedu Reps: 101 I have a friend who's son would do this. he has some type of condition not sure of the name; however, what they did was to give the kid a lollipop, and to be honest this helped his son. maybe is something to think about. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 22 Posted April 17, 2022 9:23 pm beGeZe Reps: 100 Replace the pencil with a pen every time they start to chew on it. Votes: +0 / -3 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution byseLu Reps: 103 The student should be offered an alternative. Ig the school allows gum and if the student agrees not to dispose of the gum improperly, this could be a helpful solution.   Posted on: April 18, 2022 6:46 pm Add a Comment                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.