- 1). Learn to anticipate potential problems and try to stop them before they escalate. For instance, have a quiet word with a child who is misbehaving rather than shout at him in front of the entire class. Another technique is to quietly drop the student's name into your talk to show her that you know what she is doing. For example, "so Jane, we write the date at the top of the page," might stop Jane from bothering the boy in front of her and bring her back to task.
- 2). Use positive language to deal with problem behavior, rather than aggressive language that could make the situation worse. The emphasis should be on the required behavior, not on the unacceptable behavior. "I want you to turn to page 33," is better than "Stop shuffling on your seat and scribbling in your book." Use praise as often as possible for displays of good behavior.
- 3). Identify the root of any misbehavior and try to deal with it. For instance, some students do not learn well within the confines of a classroom environment and exhibit restless behavior. Educational consultant Anne Farrell suggests small breaks within the class for a student like this, perhaps allowing him to walk around the room. Problems with learning in terms of keeping up with the work is another potential trigger for bad behavior. Additional teaching support can help improve the situation.
- 4). Discuss the situation with the principal, school officials and the parents if the bad behavior is persistent. Together the group can form a co-ordinated plan to deal with the behavior and tackle it at both home and school.
- 5). Learn the school's policy on discipline and try to follow this as a last resort. Sending children out of the room or to the principal can just cause resentment and inflame the relationship between the student and teacher.
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