My Chatty Cathy!

lol...My son did that too when he first started school.The difference is that he'd finish his work too fast, then start chatting. We talked it over with his teacher and discovered the work was too easy for him. His school then developed a sort of gifted program, but included all the kids in it. It was a computerized math program that the children would do when their work was done and they could move at their own pace. It worked out great for my son, because he's very competitive, it kept him busy, and it helped to push the other kids ahead also. His elementary school had a card system, so the teacher could flip their cards after a warning, then they'd color in a calendar so the parents could ask them what happened. The other thing we did was just simply talk to him about it and explained that it's distracting to the other children and not fair to them. His elementary school was different, because the parents actually have a say.

She has this problem in class.
SO many kids there to socialize with.
Getting distracted.
That is the problem.
It is AT the classroom.

Instead of thinking up things at home... you just need to sit her down.
Tell her, that at school, her Teacher said, she is NOT doing her work.
Because... she is talking too much and not finishing her work.
Tell her that.
Just tell your child what the Teacher said.
Don't bother thinking up ideas for at home. This is a school related problem.
And, don't pussy foot around it. Just tell your child, that at school, she is not getting her work done. Nor even eating her lunch/snack, because she is talking too much.
Tell her... plainly, that she must, DO her work. Or she will fall behind and then what?

This expectation of the Teacher... to me, per 1st grade, is a bit, hands off. The Teacher is not wanting to address it or 'remind' your child to be quiet. It is... learning by having to fall down, first.
That is what your daughter is needing to do. And seems to be the approach of her Teacher.
In 2nd grade.... this expectation, will be even more so.
The child, has to become... self-reliant. And to do, what is told to them.
If a child for example does not complete work, sometimes they even have to stay in for recess. To finish it. And their grades/evaluations will suffer.

Why can't the teacher, simply remind ALL students, to finish their work? There is usually a period of time, where kids get things finished.
They are only in 1st grade.

But yes, in the end, YOUR child has to complete her work.
You need to just tell your daughter this. Directly.
And, that she is talking too much.
It is also... distracting to the other kids... and what if, because of her talking THEY cannot finish their work, either???
My daughter had a chatty table-mate once. It drove her NUTS. She couldn't concentrate on HER work. She told the Teacher and the Teacher let her switch seats.

You can also let your child be chatty, at home.
Tell her that.
Is she chatty at home too?
Or only when there are other kids around?

She may be the type of child who processes the world through her hearing and must talk it out to make it work for her. A 1st grade teacher should be equipped to deal with all types of children. While it is informative to let you know about the talking in the classroom and the work not being completed, I don't know how much you will be able to actually accomplish with your daughter without being actually there.

What motivates you kid to complete assignments? Perhaps those tactics can be put in place at the school without alienating the other children and without taxing the teacher.

My daughter was Little Miss Social Butterfly America too.
You just have to keep reminding her that yes....she is at school and it's fun to be around other kids and make new friends. BUT, she is also there to learn and concentrate on her work and unless her teacher tells her differently, class time is not talking and visiting time. Snack and lunch time are for eating her snacks and lunch.
I told my daughter if she wasn't getting her work done in class for playing around, there would be no playing after school and I would make her practice letters or read on TOP of her homework.
I only had to follow through with that a few times.
It just takes reminding.

My daughter was outgoing, gregarious, hilarious and very bright. Those are all good qualities, but there is a time and a place for it.

They do get it figured out.

Best wishes.

My granddaughter was/is a chatty kathy. I agree with S. H. Keep reminding her that talking at school during work time is not acceptable. If she doesn't have attention difficulties this should eventually work.

My granddaughter's 1st grade teacher had a discipline plan that resulted in loss of recess after 3 "strikes." This didn't help my daughter because she did have ADHD.

I would add that it's possible that your daughter is dealing with ADHD. My granddaughter was finally diagnosed with ADHD in the 4th grade. Her mother did not want to put her on medication. When she was in the 5th grade she relented and started her on meds. Now my granddaughter is better able to control her naturally social nature.

I wish that my daughter had had her daughter evaluated sooner. Her teacher suggested it in the 2nd grade but my daughter didn't want to consider that possibility because of her fear of medication. She did try to change her diet but this didn't help.

My granddaughter stopped the medication over the summer and inattention became an issue again. She resumed the medication once school started.

J.,
Don't squash your child's natural personality!

Check into waldorf education. Expectations and responsibility really lie with children older than age six. In fact all you are going to get now is work for you, heartache for her, and no changes until after she is 7. Or later, if methods used really push her will and personality underground.

Not sure what your home life is - but if you could home school her for the next year - she would likely benefit immensely. And please, don't worry about the social factor. Home schoolers are socially acceptable as well as well-versed socially. It isn't a lot of work or a social stigma like - schools - make it out to be.

Good luck,
M.
PS: I'd say alot more but my baby is cooing in precursor to HUNGRY!

My advice? Don't worry too much! My daughter was the same way, and while it has presented challenges over the years (i.e., not finishing work, missing directions while chatting, etc.) she has learned to manage her social personality as she has matured... She is now 14, a freshman in HS and in Advanced and Honors courses with mostly A's. Your daughter will likely always be a social butterfly which is wonderful! Continue to encourage her to wait for the right time to express herself, but remember that she will mature as well. School is still new to her!! Good luck!!

My 5 year old is the same way. We have "The Quite Game" at home during meals. The one that stays the quietest longer, gets a piece of chocolate after the meal. I give her three chances and just restart the game when either one of us talk ( I make sure I do it at least once to show I'm human too).

School lunch room has a time set aside for everyone to be quiet and eat. You might want to check your school out to see what their lunchroom policies are.

The classroom can be tough. If you discuss with the teacher what you are trying to do at home and if you choose "The Quiet Game" mention it. Ask the teacher to write a note home stating how many times she had to re-direct your daughter's talking. See if she can include times when she listened. Then once you review the information, you can set up a certain reward for the day...don't do it weekly. Depending on the feedback, you can choose under 5 times re-directed she can get...(Pick reward).

Nanc

My son was this way too. Once work piled up at school it was sent home to be done over a school vacation which was not fun. He learned from that. His teacher also had rewards for kids who got their work finished. Not a prize, but an opportunity... To read, color, go on computer etc. This helped bc my son loves to read so he learned to finish his work so he could read more. I also set up play dates with school friends as a reward when he had a period of time where he finished school work in school. And I made him a homework spot at home where he learned how to do his homework independently.
But this took over the whole year of first grade to work on, because I thought learning to socialize was ok too, just wanted to slowly show him how to balance it. I also found out some of why he didn't finish his work was bc he was helping kids who didn't understand the lesson when he did.
Hope some of these ideas help. I'd talk to the teacher, make some reasonable goals together but make sure you both know it's a process and may take time.