I intend to encourage positive student behavior by coming up with our classroom rules together, to enhance buy in. Then I will clearly set those expectations of the rules we agreed upon and put them up on a flipchart in the classroom. As a trainer of adults, this alone, will help manage out any poor behavior, even from those trainees that might have been sent to training for ‘punishment’ or those trainees that see my class as a ‘vacation’ from work. By engaging and jointly coming up with the rules, I find classes are more harmonious. I also clearly state that I don’t care what happened in the past or why they are in my class, I just want us to learn and have some fun along the way. I encourage my student’s throughout the class and while walking around, I engage each student personally throughout the day.
Behavioral Management is crucial and all teachers must have a game plan, because it is inevitable that there will be a need to manage behavior. Most of the student’s poor behaviors are not intended, but there is always a root cause of why a student is acting out the way they are. ‘All behavior is purposeful.’ (Comprehensive Classroom Management, Pg. 34)
I think if students learn about behavioral skills specifically in school from a young age, there is a higher likelihood they will understand how to positively deal with challenging situations. If we teach students to listen to themselves, look out for warning signs, and teach strategies of how to deal with emotions from an early age, they will understand and succeed as students and in becoming successful adults.
In order to help them become successful adults, we should model good behavior and help manage the behavior at the early onset, should any arise. If we can use I-messages, offer assistance, or clarify that the student must make a choice, we can stop the interrupting behavior before it negatively affects the classroom. I think by using these three tactics among others, we can thoughtfully deescalate negative behaviors before they reach a crescendo. If problems do persist in my classroom I will remind my students/trainees that their actions are their choices and I’d much rather problem solve, then punish.
I am a firm believer that teachers should be trained to help identify, address, and improve behavioral success, much like we do with academics. We should also focus on ourselves, to identify what behavioral areas we have struggled with and improve those. We should go back to the basics and study communication, continuously questioning how we can improve our own and our students behaviors. We should read articles and studies, talk to colleagues, and experiment with those best practices. We should also make sure to make it a priority and make it a part of our schedules, so that we make time for it, just like we should be asking our students to make time for it. We should also have periodic workshops and invite parents and communities on how to succeed behaviorally.
I’ll end with an odd concept: in order to best be there for our students, we have to be selfish. What do I mean by that? Well, we have to make sure we are taking care of ourselves, sleeping, and also forgiving ourselves. I’ve noticed on days when I do this, the students are better behaved, whereas on days I don’t and I’m tired and stressed, students seem to be worse behaved (like Dr. Phelan’s article, ‘Teaching Style and Classroom Management’ begins)
At the end of the day, if we set the expectations up collectively and clearly, many behavioral diversions can be cut off at the head. There will still be behavioral challenges, because we are human, but being clear and agreeing on the correct behavior in class, will limit the misbehavior.
