Managing Misbehavior - Essentials

Some essential components of managing misbehavior (in school settings):


- Have a plan - always have a plan for the period/block/day/week/month/year, etc.
The more organized you are as a teacher and the more time you spend planning, the less time you will spend dealing with misbehavior. Students who are engaged and busy are much less likely to act out.


-Be consistent. Be fair. - Kids are very perceptive and have a strong sense of justice. If they feel that they are being treated unfairly in any way, they will react negatively. This may also lead to a power struggle, in which students begin acting out in a defiant/oppositional manner. (when you correct a student's behavior, make sure they know that's exactly what you are doing. Focus on the behavior and never make it personal. Never attack a student's character, under any circumstance).


- On the other hand, if you are up front with students about what is expected of them and what the consequences are for specific actions (and you hold them to it) they are much more likely to accept the consequences provided and will listen to feedback.


- Be an authority figure, while still maintaining rapport with students. If students know you mean business, they are much more likely to fall in line. This is especially true if they know you truly care about them and want the best for them . Respect is key here. If kids perceive you as a robot or as a dictator, they will not give you their best academically or maintaining appropriate behavior, no matter how authoritative you may be. We'll call this "striking the balance"


- Be yourself (this goes along with building rapport). Be genuine. Let students know you are human. Let them know you make mistakes.





*Note: these suggestions are by no means meant to be an exhaustive list of managing misbehavior. These are just several things I learned while working in an alternative school setting.