Do you have a student who acts up repeatedly in class? Here is a check list to run down to help you handle that behavior appropriately each time.

How Did I Handle the Situation?

1. Did I stay calm? Staying calm will help to diffuse the situation whereas getting frustrated or worked up, even raising your voice, can escalate the problem.

2. Did I stop the inappropriate behavior quickly? Stopping inappropriate behavior quickly will help keep every student safe, and will help reinforce the class rules.

3. Did I allow the student the opportunity to choose the appropriate behavior? Many defiant students will be more apt to follow the rules if given a choice of activities (you can either put your books away nicely in your desk or you can put them nicely on my desk.)

4. Did I provide an appropriate consequence for the behavior? It is vital that teachers have consequences for students who misbehave so that the student can learn from the behavior.

5. Did I allow the child to join back into activities appropriately? Allowing the student to “save face” and join back in the class activity after the consequence has been served is vital to preventing further out bursts.

What Caused the Behavior?

1. Did another student’s words or actions trigger the misbehavior? It may be necessary to rearrange seating or teach proper skills for working in a group.

2. Was the student frustrated with academic work prior to the misbehavior? The student may need additional help with a particular subject.

3. Did the student come into the classroom angry? Students who start the day angry may be bullied on the bus or have a troubled home-life.

4. Did I treat the student unfairly? While it is not likely the teacher’s fault each time, assessing whether teacher actions or words played a part in the misbehavior will help the teacher improve and prevent future outbursts.

How Will I Respond to the Behavior Next Time?

1. How will I remain calm?

2. What consequences will I enforce?

3. What can I do to help prevent the situation from happening in the future?

4. What lesson can I teach the class that will help resolve this behavior problem?

5. What can I do differently with my classroom management to resolve the behavior more quickly next time?

Related posts:

1. How to Calm Students Down
2. Back to School Checklist
3. Consistency in Classroom Management
4. Five Steps to Handling Any Discipline Problem
5. Checklist for Writing Class Rules