The classroom setting influences the learning and well-being of an entire group of students, and children who exhibit behavior problems can negatively affect the classroom environment. While behavior problems can take many forms, including bullying, aggression towards peers or authority figures or destruction of others' property, the result is often a disruption of everybody’s learning.
Significance
Although a child might exhibit a variety of disruptive behaviors, such as excessive talking in the classroom or name-calling on the playground, getting to the root of the problem is the key to eliminating most types of negative behaviors. Alison Ehara-Brown, a licensed clinical social worker and school consultant in Berkeley, California, suggests that something in the school environment might not be working well for a child who acts out frequently in school.
Identification
Encourage the child’s parents to visit the classroom so they can see for themselves how their child behaves at school. Talk to the child’s parents so that you can form a partnership to enhance her learning experience. Set up a series of conferences involving the parent, the child and other teachers or administrators so everybody can discuss how the child acts in specific environments, such as home or school. Try to identify "triggers" for the incidents so that the group can brainstorm solutions.
Considerations
Keep your relationship with the “problem” student as positive as possible. Make sure he knows that you like him and want him in your classroom despite his challenging behavior. Ehara-Brown cautions that in many cases, behavioral problems worsen when students get the feeling that the teacher doesn’t like them. If you feel overwhelmed and unable to effectively handle the student’s problems, see if you can add an aide or another supportive adult to the classroom to help you manage the situation.
Prevention/Solution
With the child’s parents and other faculty members who interact regularly with the student, develop a behavior management plan to help the child become more successful at school. A behavior management plan usually consists of behavioral goals, as well as positive and negative consequences for the child’s behavior choices. You might also come up with a special sign, like a tap on the shoulder, that faculty can use to discreetly ask the child to calm down and control herself. This can protect her self-esteem and help her feel more positive about the school environment.
Warning
If the child exhibits a consistent pattern of negative or destructive patterns, such as extreme aggression, lying or stealing, Medline Plus from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health suggests he might suffer from a behavior disorder. An extremely high level of activity and behavior that regularly appears “out of control” might indicate he suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene from Stanford University School of Medicine. Only a qualified medical professional can diagnose these conditions, so parents will need to seek outside help if you suspect one of these disorders.
