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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.