Many teachers are able to identify the fact that there is a problem in their classroom. Some are even able to specify what the problem is:
“John is my biggest classroom management problem”
“There are a couple of boys that just don’t get along”
“My students have respect issues”
These teachers often are also able to list various strategies they have tried in order to solve the problem.
“I’ve tried everything – taking away recess, threats, calling parents, notes home, sending them to the Principal’s office, ignoring the behavior, yelling, rewards, punishments, new seating arrangements, nothing helps!”
It may in fact seem to be the impossible class – often it is a group of students who have been impossible each grade level, developing a pattern of issues.
Solving a problem like this may not be simple but it is possible with some reflection. It is important for the teacher to take a good long look at what circumstances surround the issues involved in the classroom and attempt to think back to a trigger. It may be problems at home, it may be the style of teaching or it may be the lack of a social skill.
With some intense reflection on what works and what doesn’t work in each situation, the teacher may be able to start to address the heart of the matter and begin to see small changes in the behaviors. Addressing the behavior may not solve the problem, so through this reflection the teacher will hopefully begin to see beyond the outward behavior to the root cause.
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