Managing Inappropriate Behavior in the Classroom
Tips for Dealing With Difficult Students
Oct 27, 2009
In order to maintain a comfortable and encouraging learning environment it is important for an instructor to follow up with difficult and challenging students.
Managing Inappropriate Behavior – Student Considerations
Prior to meeting with a student or providing feedback for inappropriate behavior it is important to take into consideration the student involved, the facts surrounding the situation and specific observables that have been noted.
- Students act out in class for a variety of reasons including a discomfort with the learning process, a personality conflict with another student or a personal problem occurring within the home.
- It is imperative for an instructor to assess each situation as it occurs and respond according to the issue that is unfolding rather than the individual who is causing the issue.
- An instructor that manages a situation based on facts and specific observables rather than emotion has a better chance of reaching a student and facilitating a positive change in behavior
Remaining non-judgmental and fact focused will allow a student to express his/her concerns regarding the class, curriculum or issues that are contributing to the poor performance or inappropriate behavior.
Managing Inappropriate Behavior – Schedule a Feedback Session
A discussion or feedback session should be scheduled and conducted in a private setting such as an office or meeting room with another instructor present to record the details of the discussion for documentation purposes.
- Asking a colleague to be present is an important step in the feedback process.
- Providing feedback alone with a student can pose a problem if the student becomes irate or aggressive or makes false accusations against the instructor.
- A student that feels accused, judged or berated can become emotional and has the tendency to escalate his/her inappropriate behavior.
A feedback session should be focused on one issue or concern with factual information and specific observables to back up the feedback being provided by the instructor.
Managing Inappropriate Behavior – Allow for Discussion
An instructor can open up dialogue by allowing the student to provide his/her view of the issue or event as well as encouraging the student to come up with a way to correct the inappropriate behavior.
- Prevent the student from rambling, going off topic or bringing up issues related to other students. Remind the student that the issue being discussed in the meeting pertains to his/her specific behavior and keep him/her focused on the facts.
- Ask the student what he/she can do to correct the behavior.
- Ask the student what he/she can do differently if the situation or issue were to occur in the future.
- Offer ideas to the student on how he/she can improve or correct his/her behavior going forward.
If an instructor demonstrates empathy and understanding it creates a supportive and encouraging environment which can lead to a change in inappropriate or unacceptable behavior displayed by the student. With regular and timely follow up classroom management becomes easier and less time consuming for an instructor.
Providing feedback to a disruptive or difficult student is not always a comfortable situation. However, when an instructor refrains from making assumptions, focuses on factual information, provides a private forum for a feedback session and allows for discussion the situation can be handled with professionalism, integrity and empathy which can ultimately lead to a necessary change in behavior.
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