Teaching the Hard-to-Handle Student
The school year started and yet again, you can easily pinpoint that student who is going to disrupt your classroom. You dread the thought of this student. You just want to get him or her out of your classroom. Teaching is too hard when he or she is around. You are constantly battling this student about one thing or another. Eventually you just give up and start sending the student out of your room. So much easier than having to deal with such a negative impact on your classroom. But, have you thought about the message you are sending to this student?
After teaching behavior disordered students for most of my ten year teaching career, I do know a thing or two about classroom management. I also know a thing or two about only finding the negative in a child. I know that constantly sending them out of the room can have a negative impact on that student. also. What student wants to come to your classroom when all you do is find things wrong with them? What student wants to behave in your class when he or she gets the feeling you don’t like them because you are constantly sending them to the principals office? What student wants to learn in that environment? Not many, and honestly the student that feels this way is going to act up more in that classroom. The student will start believing that there is no point in behaving because the teacher is going to find something wrong with him or her anyway. What is the point?
There are so many ways to turn a negative management situation into a positive. Or to just start your classroom management out on a positive note, especially with the challenging student. I will pinpoint three important ways to make your classroom more of a positive place to be for this type of student.
1. Catch Them Being Good: What in the heck does that mean? Simple! You see a student being good, no matter what it is, and you praise them! The power of praise is a magical thing in any classroom. Even the worst of students like hearing something positive about themselves. Doesn’t everyone? Think about it. You think your teacher doesn’t like you, you reluctantly head into class just knowing you are going to be told to leave again for some reason or another. Instead, your teacher surprises you, she or he says they notice you have your book today and are proud of you for bringing it. Hmm, how does that student feel, hearing something positive from the teacher who usually has no positives to say about them? What happens if you catch the student being good a short time later? Maybe it is something as simple as sitting in his or her chair and not tapping his or her pencil. Praise them for it! It doesn’t even have to be out loud to the rest of the class. Walk by him or her, whisper it, or just give them a thumbs up! Praise is simple to hand out to any students. It builds students up. A teacher should find the good in each of their students, no matter how challenging.
2. Let the Student Know You Care: I realize that this type of personal concern for the student is hard for some teachers. I also realize it is hard if you see hundreds of students a day. But lets face it, too many kids today don’t have someone at home who truly cares for them. That makes coming to school difficult and often times students without support at home are the students who act up in the classroom. Let the student know you care, show them you care. Talk to them about things they are interested in. Ask them how they are. Just show some interest. Simply showing some concern for the student can do wonders for them. Someone does care! My students knew I cared, often times when no one else did. Creating a bond with a student can do wonders for their self-esteem and it can change their attitude in your classroom.
3. Set up a Positive Behavior Contract: Okay, I know, setting up a behavior contract can be a pain, but it can work wonders! Talk to your teaching team, talk to the counselor or psychologist. Get them involved! But, more importantly, get the student involved in what would motivate him or her to improve behaviors. It doesn’t have to be an involved process. It can be something as simple as meeting with the student privately with the counselor present. Let the student know you care and because of that, you would like to talk about some behavior concerns. Let the student know why the counselor is there. Try to keep the meeting with as few teachers or support staff as possible. Too many teachers or staff can overwhelm a student and can also cause them to be put on the defensive. Talk to the student, ask him or her what they like doing for hobbies. Write out a contract for the student. For example, if the student stays in class, is on task and doesn’t talk back to the teacher for 3 days in a row, they earn something. It could be an extra piece of pizza at lunch, it could be an extra recess with a friend. Keep it simple. Show the student how you will track their progress in class. Will the teacher keep a sheet, or better yet, will the student have something with them that will show how they are doing during class? Have the student, the teacher and the counselor sign the contract. Make sure that when the contract is reached, that the student gets his or her reward quickly. Behavior contracts can be a very positive thing when you have a student in your class who seems to be anything but positive.
There are many, many more ideas that can be used for teaching a challenging student. I highly recommend the book TheToughkid Toolbox by William R. Jenson Ph.D., et al. It is filled with classroom management ideas for the student who is a bit more challenging than your typical student. I utilized it for many of my years in the classroom.
A challenging student can make your classroom miserable, if you let him or her. It all comes down to how you handle the student. It also comes down to how you react to the student and what message you are sending him or her. Handling the student in a positive way can make a world of difference for you and the student!
