Unstructured time at this age can lead to full-blown problems in later years. Laura De Haan, child development and family science at NDSU, 231-8270. For tracking to succeed, remedial teachers must make more efficient use of class time and incorporate new instructional methods already shown to be effective with at-risk children. Growing Child Research Review, May 1995. First graders for the most part engage in physically hurtful teasing, such as tying a classmate's shoelaces together.
Actions speak louder than words.
It's difficult to use verbal teasing at this age. But as young people move into adolescence, their teasing gets more sophisticated and symbolic. Words are as good as actions. By 11th grade, symbolic teasing accounts for about 80 percent of teasing. They start to realize that the words are only symbols of harassment, and if they don't accept that symbol as having authenticity, they can then overlook it and not get upset.