When a student acts up in a way that becomes a threat, the behavior is considered serious. Serious behaviors require more serious management, and usually involve several other people.

Examples of serious behavior include:

• Violence to self or others
• Threats involving violence or talk of weapons
• Disturbing pictures depicting violent acts, death or weapons
• Any comments about violence at home and
• Any talk of being bullied

While these are not all behavior issues, per se, they are all serious reasons to document what is happening and speak to the guidance counselor and the child’s parents at the very least.

Violence in the Classroom

When a student acts out in a violent manner, or depicts violence on paper, it can be a sign of a much more serious issue and needs to be addressed immediately. The guidance counselor should be every teacher’s best friend at school, and any questionable drawings or outbursts in class should be discussed privately with the counselor.

When a student acts out violently, there may be abuse at home. If the child comes in with any injury or bruise, two adults should ask the child what happened and compare notes to ensure that the story remains consistent. An inconsistent story is a sign of a lie and something to look into further.

Another reasons for violent outbursts is bullying. If a child is being bullied, he may react by lashing out at other students or teachers. It is important to keep an eye on any changes in behavior as this is a key indicator that something is going on.

Individual Student Conferences

When a student exhibits any serious behavior in the classroom, the teacher should schedule an individual student conference to determine what is going on. While some students may simply be acting out because of immaturity, usually there will be a reason for the behavior that needs to be addressed.

Some common reasons for serious behavior issues:

• Abuse at home
• Bullying
• Learning disability
• Divorce or separation between parents
• Death of a friend or family member
• Other major life change

It is important to remember that the child who acts up the most is the child who needs his or her teacher the most. When a teacher finds herself with a child exhibiting serious behaviors, it is important to find out what is going on and get a support team in place both for the student and the teacher.

It is often helpful for a teacher to use an individual student behavior plan for controling these serious behaviors. Find out more about behavior plans.