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How to Redirect Behavior in Preschool & Pre-K Students

Preschool and pre-kindergarten children are eager to learn and full of energy, making them a fun age group to teach, however, their energy levels and short attention spans often cause them to become easily distracted and fall off task. If you are working with this age group and you find that children's minds have drifted elsewhere, employ the use of some simple tactics to redirect their behavior to get them back on task.

Instructions

    • 1

      Clap out a pattern to get your students' attention. Produce a pattern of claps when children are losing focus. Upon hearing your clapping, students should stop what they are doing and repeat the clapping pattern and give you their attention. Keep clapping the pattern until you have everyone's attention. Once all children are focused on you, now is the time to give your next instructions. The clapping will grab their attention and refocus them on you and the task at hand.

    • 2

      State a simple rhyme. In a loud, assertive tone, say the rhyme "1,2,3, eyes on me!" When students hear the rhyme, they should repeat back the rhyme "1,2, eyes on you!" You may need to say the rhyme a few times to get everyone's attention. When all eyes are on you, tell students what is expected of them.

    • 3

      Turn off the lights. When students fall off task, simply turn off the lights in the classroom to redirect their behavior. When children see the lights off, they should stop what they are doing and you can discuss how they should correct their behavior.

    • 4

      Sing a song. Sing a song that includes your students' names set to a catchy and familiar tune, such as "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." When children are getting unruly or when they are not doing what they are supposed to, begin the song by singing "I see..." and insert children's names to the tune of the song.

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