The sad fact is, it doesn’t matter how well teachers know their content…it doesn’t matter how many strategies teachers know to improve reading comprehension or improve academic performance…if teachers don’t manage their classroom able, she cannot teach.
Many education experts agree that the students causing classroom management problems typically fall into one of four categories:
1. Attention Seekers ~ (pen tappers, lobsters, students speaking out, etc.)
2. Power-seekers ~ (always have the last word, mutter under your breath)
3. Revenge Seeker ~ (recipient of frequent punishment)
4. Avoid Mistakes ~ (Students who don’t complete the work or withdraw from class to avoid more mistakes)
For most teachers, however, it’s the power seekers that get our blood pumping. These are the students who will question your authority in front of the whole class.
Many teachers feel that they cannot give the power-seeking student the final say or they will lose face to the rest of the class…making others feel comfortable using your authority as well question.
These power-seekers try to “bait” the teacher by muttering something under their breath or shouting, “You can’t make me do this assignment!”
Bottom line…these power-seeking students are trying to get a reaction out of the teacher, and there’s nothing they’d like more than to see their classmates explode the teacher.
Don’t do this… Don’t fall for their tricks… Don’t take the bait!!!
At least not then and there in front of the other students.
There are other options… A much better approach is to take a deep breath, stay calm, and simply tell the student to see you after class in a calm, matter-of-fact way, and then get right on with it Instruction.
Then, if the power-seeking student mutters something again, just ignore it…that’s right, ignore it…the rest of the class already knows that you’ll handle the situation without their presence. At this point there is no need for further reaction as you are merely disrupting your own teaching and will be giving this power-seeking student exactly what he wants.
Then, when the bell rings and the class leaves, just pull that power-seeking student aside and follow along without the audience the student desired. Depending on the situation, you can also phone home, hold meetings with parents, detention, etc.
Just don’t “get into it” in front of the rest of the class.
When a teacher knows the reasons why a student is misbehaving (i.e., striving for power), they can make much better classroom management decisions.
Thanks to Adam Waxler | #Classroom #Management #Handle #Power #Seeking #Students
