Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Go Back                 Case Posted on September 21, 2012 12:43 pm Add to Favorites Matthew Sollers Reps: 63 Nervous student What do I do with a 4th grade student who has a habit of chewing on erasers, crayons and pencils?                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.                 Solution 1 Posted October 2, 2012 3:13 pm NeDema Reps: 113 A student doing these things is most likely suffering from anxiety. It is best to use strategies that make him/her feel less stressed in the classroom. Giving him/her classroom jobs that they can easily accomplish will give him confidence. Make them line leaders, and class helpers to make him feel special and comfortable an successful. Ask him questions that have been thoroughly discussed and give that child extra time to answer. Votes: +9 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution erugyn Reps: 100 Good idea, things like this can be hard to stop but giving another outlet is a good option.   Posted on: October 18, 2014 8:33 pm Jenna Herberson Reps: 200 I like your ideas, this will definitely pull the student from being nervous, and bring them out of their shell. However, what if it is social anxiety? I would suggest that you do meet and greet every morning to allow the students to get comfortable with one another and feel comfortbale to voice their opinions in front of everyone because they know no one will make fun of them.   Posted on: February 22, 2018 7:36 pm WeDyje Reps: 100 I agree with this solution   Posted on: July 8, 2018 1:47 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 2 Posted October 2, 2012 6:31 pm tebyXu Reps: 114 I would try to find the source of the student's nervousness. If it's attention I would put the student in the back of the classroom to lower any unwanted attention. If it's from worrying they will be called on I might develop a cue for the student to know ahead of time I will call on them. Or a cue from them to let me know they want to be called on. Whatever I discover the nervousness to be coming from I would try to lessen the students stress. Votes: +4 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 3 Posted October 16, 2012 9:21 am JemyWe Reps: 132 Before implementing any type of behavioral plan, I would anaylze the situation and get a better idea of when the student is chewing, how long, and in what setting. Chewing is a calming activity and if you take something away from the child, there might be a reaction that is more problematic. I would start off by redirecting the student and giving him/her something else to chew on. Do not stop this behavior all at once, you just need to redirect the student with chewing on something else that is more appropriate. Votes: +3 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 4 Posted October 14, 2016 9:46 pm yNubas Reps: 101 To me this student sounds like they are stressed out in some way and this is their bad habit. I would try to make the student feel comfortable and give them things to do to ease their mind. For example maybe they are stressed out about a test. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 5 Posted October 4, 2012 5:17 pm vusyHa Reps: 112 This student could be nervous or anxious do to the possibility of change in the classroom. I would create a routine for this student so they know how the day will progress and feel at ease. Votes: +1 / -3 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 6 Posted October 2, 2012 3:16 pm Rachel Ressler Reps: 121 I would ask this student if they would like to bring their lunch in my classroom. I would ask the student if there is something bothering them that I may be able to help with, or even just be someone to listen to what they need to say. There is a problem that may have recently popped up or may have always been there. I would ask the student if they would like to talk to the school councelor about the topic as well. I would also tell the student that when I see them chewing on their nails that I will put my finger on her/his desk as a reminder to that student that they are chewing. I may also talk to the student about germs and that it is an unatractive habbit that we can tip in the bud now at a young age. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 7 Posted February 24, 2020 4:17 am agejeM Reps: 102 I would suggest allowing them a way to use this energy, such a through stimulation or sensory toys. Its possible this is a nervous reaction, so have a conversation with the student about how they are feeling. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 8 Posted October 7, 2023 2:19 pm zuLuZy Reps: 208 The signs could be a student exhibiting signs of anxiety. You could try to make them feel more comfortable in the classroom. By giving them activities to focus their attention on. Or by giving them things such as pop-its and different stress-relieving toys. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 9 Posted October 9, 2023 12:15 am Zygepy Reps: 101 These are signs of anxiety, which is common especially in schools. The best way to help this student is to find what hes nervous about, is it a home situation? is it him not understanding the lesson? Young kids struggle with finding ways to deal with anxiety, directing his attention to something else and finding out the root of the problem is the best to fix this. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 10 Posted October 2, 2012 6:29 pm guPeRu Reps: 135 This student is most likely in need of some form of stimulation. He/She may also be anxious. I would provide the student with a large rubber band on the chair or a stress band that they can squeeze during instruction. If these do not work, I would ask the ESE specialist for a safe oral device the student can use during class. Votes: +0 / -1 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 11 Posted October 2, 2012 3:08 pm uNaBeZ Reps: 131 I think you should contact the student's parents and ask them to provide the student with a healthy snack in which they can chew on when they are nervous. If the parent is non responsive or unable to afford this option, you could potentially give him a piece of hard candy to chew on. Votes: +0 / -2 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.