Managing Problem Behaviors in the Classroom |
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It is important to develop behavioral autonomy, so teachers don’t have to spend valuable classroom time reprimanding students which is detrimental to their self-esteem. I build on students’ abilities to self-manage their behavior by first modeling behaviors that are appropriate. An example of this would be how I react when students give the wrong answer. Instead of saying, “No, that’s wrong!” I respond by saying, “You are on the right track, but let’s delve deeper into your response.” When this is practiced over and over students start to use some of the same wording in small groups. By doing this the students are able to get more out of each other’s answers instead of negative responses such as, “That is a stupid answer!” which diminishes self-esteem. Secondly, I reinforce positive behaviors by making comments like, “Thank you for raising your hand!” and “That was a great way to add to the class discussion.” By doing this consistently most students will look forward to the positive feedback and act accordingly. A natural consequence of this approach is that there is less time for disruptive behaviors. The need for negative discipline is diminished.
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I make every attempt to use praise rather than discipline, but I am human and I do not always achieve what I aspire to do. Sometime there are students that either don’t know how to accept the praise or the subtle approach does not work. So, in my frustration I might revert to coercive authority in order to get their attention. This usually takes the form of raising my voice (and throwing staplers—just kidding). Unfortunately, this way of reacting becomes a pattern with these students, and I tend not to go back to reinforcing their positive behaviors. I need to be conscious of how my reactions to these students impacts their behavior in the classroom, and strive to treat all students the same. I could do this by stopping and resetting my mindset to refocusing on praise and verbal rewards. |
Resources for Managing Behaviors
How to: Handle Common Classroom Problem Behaviors Using a Behavior Management Menu |
Five Persistent Middle-School Behavior Problems and How to Handle ThemTeachers must correct and guide students in a positive and friendly manner to redirect poor behavior. On this site
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