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Tips for Working With Difficult Students

Tips for Working with Difficult Students / Resolving Difficult Situations:

Having a good relationship with your students and engaging lesson plans are the best foundations for classroom management. However, even the best teacher still experiences students acting out in class.

Think in advance what behaviors you will not tolerate in your class. Have in place strategies for dealing with them so that you can preserve a premium learning environment.

Questions to consider when a problem arises:

Who is it a problem for — the one student, the teacher, or the whole class? If it is a problem for only the one student who is “creating” the problem, maybe you don’t need to respond. If it is a problem for the whole class, you should respond immediately so the problem does not absorb everyone’s time and energy.

What would a “logical consequence” be for the misbehavior or problem? Logical consequences are respectful, relevant and realistic.

Respectful: speak in a normal tone, avoid sarcasm, speak directly and quietly, focus on the deed and not the doer
Relevant: consequence needs to be logically related to the student’s behavior/action
Realistic: consequence needs to one that can be carried out by the teacher and the student

It is helpful to think in these terms instead of in terms of punishment. It is not our role to punish. You may need to negotiate a consequence with the student.

Do I need to pull another colleague or director to sit in on my meeting with the student? This is a good idea if you think that you would like someone else to act as a “reality check” for you, or to be a witness if you think that the situation may escalate.

Be absolutely sure that the student and you are clear on your expectations as you end your conversation. Write them down, send a follow up email—if you can get your agreement down in writing, it is always best.