Teachers encounter students with different types of issues and struggles. Some students have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, some students struggle with shyness and others seem oppositional and defiant. Learning how to teach students with special needs becomes an important task for teachers who want to try to reach all of their students. Teachers can make the experience of teaching oppositional and defiant children easier for themselves and the children by using a systematic approach geared toward these children.
Step 1
Work with the child's parents, guidance counselor and school social worker to determine if the child qualifies for oppositional defiant disorder, which is characterized by temper tantrums, questioning authority and rules, blaming others, anger, meanness and a lack of respect, reports the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Step 2
Request that the child receive individual and/or family counseling to deal with the symptoms of the disorder if the child meets the criteria of the disorder. The child might need private counseling outside of school if your school doesn't offer counseling by a licensed mental health professional who has experience with oppositional defiant disorder.
Step 3
Ask the child's parents what works at home when dealing with the behavior. The parents might be able to give you insight in ways that the child will respond. Consistency between home and school can lead to positive results in both environments.
Step 4
Expect the child to follow the classroom rules set out for each student. Review those rules with the student and give her a warning if she breaks the rules. Let her know what the consequence is for breaking the rules.
Step 5
Follow through with consequence if the child continues to break a classroom rule after you've warned him. Remember that you're the adult and in charge of the situation.
Step 6
Praise the child when she's engaged in learning and following the rules, recommends MayoClinic.com. Don't just respond to the negative behavior. Let the child see that you notice when she's following the rules and that you appreciate it.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't argue or go to battle with a defiant student, because you won't win. Instead, stick with a specific consequence. For instance, if a defiant child refuses to work on a group project, give him a warning and let him know that he'll receive a zero for participation if he doesn't work with his group. If he continues to sulk at his desk, let him know that he's receiving a zero for the day and ignore him instead of getting into an argument with him and trying to force him to do something he isn't going to do. He'll soon realize that you follow through on consequences and don't play into his poor behavior.
