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Posted on December 8, 2012 1:54 pm
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areli saucedo
areli saucedo
Reps: 119
New Migrant Child
I am a third grade teacher and I love my job! However, Lately, I have been having problems. I have a new Asian student that just came from China. She is coping very well with her change and is making friends, however, I have noticed that she scratches her hair a lot. One of the students told me that they saw her in the bathroom pulling things from her hair, What should I do? I am not sure if I should tell her parents or the faculty.
 
     
     
 
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Solution 1
Posted February 13, 2013 10:23 pm

Melissa Sapp
Melissa Sapp
Reps: 29
It is common for girls of this age to play with their hair. It is also common for children of this age to think the worst (it must be lice) if they see something like this occurring. However, lice is a serious issue in elementary schools. To be on the safe side I would discuss it with the nurse. I believe it could be of a benefit to you and the other students in your class for the nurse to check the whole class. This would solve two problems. The first you would know for sure if she had lice and had passed it on to others or vise versa, it may have been another student who gave it to her. Secondly, looking at the whole class would keep her from being individualized in the situation.
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Solution 2
Posted February 11, 2013 1:09 pm

Alexa Lowery
Alexa Lowery
Reps: 26
Sometimes children pull/mess with their hair in response to stress. If it is lice as the previous solutions suggest, talk with the nurse and have the other children in the classroom checked. But if she is pulling out her hair, it could be nervousness or stress from being in this new place. I would have a conversation with the student and make sure you are doing everything possible to make her feel comfortable.
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Solution 3
Posted December 8, 2012 6:43 pm

Sha'keela McClendon
Sha'keela McClendon
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The child could have lice but I wouldn't just go to her and assume that she has. As a 3rd grader this is very touchy subject. If you think that the child has lice take her to the nurses office, stay with her because this may be something that is new so it will probably be scary to her. Send a letter home with every student in the classroom informing the parents that a student had lice but remember do not include the name of that child. After the student has been checked out and everything is better have a talk with that student and ensure her that whenever something else like that is going on she can come to you and tell you in confidence.
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Solution 4
Posted December 8, 2012 4:06 pm

Lindsey Harrison
Lindsey Harrison
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I think that you should report the problem to the school nurse. He/She would be able to take a deeper look into the situation.
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zaSyNu
zaSyNu
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I agree this is definitely an issue for the school nurse and definitely the counselor as well!
  Posted on: December 8, 2014 3:21 am

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Solution 5
Posted April 18, 2013 7:58 pm

Lili G
Lili G
Reps: 129
I can see where you are coming from. This behavior seems like self-injury to me. I have seen a lot of students demonstrate this type of behavior. You could always try and give her a fidget. This can be any type of toy like a squishy stress ball or something of the sort. She could be extremely nervous and pulling her hair could be a way she copes with the behavior. Having a fidget, she might focus her stress or problems on it, instead of herself. This could help and she could stop the hair pulling altogether. If it doesn't, I would definitely notify the nurse, school guidance counselor, and ESOL teacher for some back up. They can come in a observe her in class to give you alternative ways to deal with the behavior. I would also notify her parents so that they are aware of the behavior.
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Solution 6
Posted February 17, 2015 1:28 am

aGuvuL
aGuvuL
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It is important to bring any issue regarding a students to the parents. The parents should be informed, and they can decide on further action. If it gets to the point that it is harming other students, then the student can go to the nurse.
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Solution 7
Posted December 8, 2012 4:38 pm

Laine Vilardi
Laine Vilardi
Reps: 119
I would suggest bringing her to the nurse to have her head checked as this could be a possible case of lice. You don't want that to spread to other students in the room or even to yourself. If it's lice, the school has a protocol for that. If not, I would mention to her parents that it is something that you have notice their child doing, and you are wondering if they have seen her doing it as well.
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Solution 8
Posted February 15, 2013 4:38 pm

Ashley Hedick
Ashley Hedick
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I think that I would definitely take the child to the nurse's office to make sure that there is nothing wrong with her head. For example, if she has lice or anything else. I would then have the student go talk to the school counselor so that they can find out if there is a deeper meaning behind the student scratching her head. This could be something that she does when she is nervous or it could be a habit. It is not something that is "normal" and the teacher needs to find out what is going on in order to help the student.
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Solution 9
Posted December 8, 2012 4:11 pm

Amari Hagan
Amari Hagan
Reps: 115
I would ask the student is there a problem with her hair and is something going wrong. If she says she doesn't know, I would ask could I help her solve her situation. Once we discuss the matter, I would them send a letter home to her parents. I would address in the letter what I have witness as well as other students. I will ask is there any way I could help solve this situation and that I am just concern with the matter.
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Solution 10
Posted February 25, 2016 10:47 pm

BeMyDu
BeMyDu
Reps: 200
There could be a number of reasons why this student is scratching her head. I would simply speak to her privately to find out, in her words, why she is scratching her head. If it is medical, by all means refer her to the school nurse and let the parents know. If it is a nervous habit, offer her a stress ball or something else for her to use without distracting others. The bottom line is, you need to find out the cause.
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nuXuma
nuXuma
Reps: 100
Your solution combines everything others have said and I think the best. determining if it is a medical issue like lice or a stress condition. Let her parents know what you and other children have seen so they can talk to her. I will use this protocol in my classroom if I have a similar problem.
  Posted on: October 19, 2019 4:02 pm

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