Dealing With Difficult Students

dealing with
difficult students
detailed presentation on understanding and dealing with difficult students in a classroom using effective strategies
Introduction
Challenging behaviors can disrupt the learning
environment and negatively impact student
achievement. This presentation provides
insight into various scenarios regarding
challenging behaviors and effective strategies
for managing them in the classroom.
understanding challenging
behaviors
Challenging behaviors are actions that interfere
with learning and disrupt the classroom.
Common behaviors include disrespect,
noncompliance, and aggression. Understanding
the causes of these behaviors is key to
developing effective management strategies.
Causes of Challenging Behaviour
in Children
1 HEALTH 5 HOME
ENVIRONMENT
2 BEHAVIORAL
6 BOREDOM
DIFFICULTIES
3 CHANGE 7 LACK OF
ROUTINE
4 LEARNED
BEHAVIOR
Health
Does the child have an underlying medical
problem that explains their behaviour? If a
child is experiencing pain or discomfort then
they may be acting out to express this,
particularly if they have a problem
communicating it.
Behavioral difficulties
Conditions like ADHD, autism, and other
learning difficulties may make the child
unable to handle and express their feelings
effectively. Furthermore, if other children
leave them out due to these difficulties, it’s
likely to make their feelings and behaviour
worse.
Change
It’s worth asking yourself whether the child
has been through any big changes recently and
whether this is causing them to display
challenging behaviour. For example, if they’ve
moved school, their parents have separated, or
someone close to them has passed away.
Learned behaviour
The child may have learnt that acting out is
how they get what they want, or may have
been in an environment where everyone acted
in the same way.
Home environment
If the child has a poor home environment, such
as frequent arguing, then they may feel like
shouting and hostility is the norm.
Additionally, if there are parental issues, such
as domestic violence, mental health problems,
and substance misuse, the child may adopt
challenging behaviour as an outlet.
Boredom
Challenging behaviour may arise if the student
feels bored in class and with their work.
Moreover, an unrecognised talent may also
result in the behaviour, as students struggle to
stay on track with something they already
know how to do.
Lack of routine
A lack of routine, often in the their home
environment, can also create challenging
behaviour. For example, late bedtimes and not
enough sleep, insufficient support, and no
behavioural boundaries.
dealing with challenging
behavior
1 PREVENTION
2 MANAGEMENT
Prevention
Preventing challenging behaviors involves
creating a positive classroom environment that
promotes respect, engagement, and
responsibility. Strategies include establishing
clear expectations, providing positive feedback,
and using proactive prompts.
Management
When challenging behaviors occur, it's
important to respond quickly and appropriately.
Strategies include using positive reinforcement,
redirecting the behavior, and providing
consequences when necessary. It's also
important to involve parents and other
professionals as needed.
10 Strategies for Dealing with Challenging
Behaviour in Your Classroom
1 TURN NEGATIVES INTO 6 RECOGNIZE GOOD BEHAVIOR

POSITIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTSS
2 TEACH POSITIVE 7 PROACTIVELY DEVELOP
BEHAVIOUR RELATIONSHIPS
3 MODEL THE BEHAVIOUR 8 HAVE A QUIET AREA
YOU EXPECT
4 ESTABLISH A CLASS 9 KEEP CLASS
CODE OF CONDUCT DISRUPTIONS MINIMAL
5 COMMUNICATE WELL 10 COMMUNICATE WITH
PARENTS
• Turn negatives into positives
Information and commands sink in better when we’re told what we should do,
rather than what we shouldn’t. For example, we react much better to statements
like “Thomas, please talk quietly” than “Stop shouting Thomas.” Framing your
instruction positively, as opposed to negatively, will have much better results.
Furthermore, when a child behaves in a typically ‘negative’ way, identify their
reasons for acting that way instead of just punishing them. Then, discuss
alternative ways that they can achieve their desired outcome. For example, if
they misbehaved because they wanted attention, establish a turn-taking system
where they get plenty of opportunities to speak. Children will soon learn new
behaviours when it helps them get what they want without punishment.
2. Teach positive behavior
Rather than trying to completely remove unwanted behaviour, you should focus
instead on facilitating the behaviour you want. Identify what counts as good
behaviour and how you want your class to behave. Then, work on ways to
communicate it.
Have a class discussion about positive behaviour and base an activity on it, such
as creating reminder posters for the classroom. In doing this, you’re getting
students involved in a stimulating activity rather than directly telling them what
to do, which will have better results.
3. Model the Behaviour You Expect
Be a positive role model and behave in the same way you expect your students to. For example,
if you ask your students to always be on time, make sure you demonstrate good time
management. Similarly, if you ask students to be organised, ensure your organisation matches it.
You should also try to be considerate of your students’ feelings, just as you want them to be
considerate of others’. If you feel an emotion that they feel, such as frustration, act out how
you’d want them to respond: count to ten and then carry on.
4. Establish a Class Code of Conduct
At the start of a new school year, both you and your students should work
together to establish a class code of conduct. Discuss the different types of
behaviour that you think are acceptable and unacceptable and how you want
students to act towards each other, such as ‘treat each other with respect’. Type
this up and display it in the classroom so students can always see it.
Involving students in this is important, as it gives them a sense of ownership and
in turn a greater commitment to following the code of conduct themselves.
5. Communicate Well
Always ensure that you communicate clearly and consistently. The way you
phrase your comments can have a big impact on the way children perceive them.
For example, you can try to:
• Preface your requests with ‘thank you’. For example, “Thank you for putting
your crisps packet in the bin.” This is a closed request and doesn’t give the
student any element of doubt to hold onto or argue with.
• Be specific. For example, “Hand your homework to me at the start of the
lesson on Monday” is much more specific than “Hand your homework in on
Monday”. In doing this, you have communicated to the student exactly what
they should do.
6. Recognise Good Behaviour and Achievements
Most children misbehave from time to time – that’s just a fact of childhood. However, they also
learn new things and make magnificent progress every day, and that’s an achievement in itself.
When a child behaves well or completes a good piece of work, make it known. Tell them well
done and show the rest of the class how proud you are. In doing so, other children are more
likely to behave positively to get a similar reaction.
7. Proactively 8. Have a Quiet Area 9. Keep Class
Develop Relationships Disruptions Minimal
Establish a time out/quiet
Take the time to get to know area in the classroom that When you do have to call a
each of your students and students can go to when student out on their behaviour,
they’re displaying ensure you do it in a way that
build relationships with minimises class disruption.
challenging behaviour.
them. Talk about common Shouting at a student in front of
However, rather than making
interests, open a casual them will likely make them feel
this an area for punishment,
conversation, and always embarrassed about their
make it an area for reflection
ask them how they are. You behaviour. As a result, they’ll
and calming down. Ask likely feel annoyed at you and
could even ask them for students to bring an item for won’t want to listen to what you
advice and recommendations the area, like a teddy or a say next. Instead, use a simple
on something, such as “I picture of their pet, that they glance or a directed question to
want to read a new book. can use to bring enjoyment let them know that you’ve
Has anyone read any good when they’re struggling to recognised their behaviour and
ones recently?” manage their behaviour. there’ll be further consequences
if they continue.
10. Communicate with Parents
Maintaining frequent communication

with parents is essential for managing
challenging behaviour. Keep them in
the loop when their child has
misbehaved, and ensure that they
establish similar rules at home to the
ones you have in school.
Thank
You

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dealing with

1 TURN NEGATIVES INTO 6 RECOGNIZE GOOD BEHAVIOR

Maintaining frequent communication

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