how should a secondary school teacher deal with difficult children in the classroom?

Answer 1

I have three rules,
Do your best
Do what is right
Be Kind to others.

The trick is to not tolerate misbehavior from day one, minute one.

For rule breaking, I have a graduated system:
1. talked to
2. teacher detention, call home
3. sent to office, detention, call home
4. written referral, call home

And a kid could conceivable skip past 1-3 and go straight to #4. depending on what they've done.

But my best advice:

If a student is distracting and disruptive, I'll ask them to help more than the other students, i.e. passing back papers, standing in front of the class to write notes on the board as I say them (like a scribe)--this keeps them busy, but also they feel like the center of attention. AND they are on task!

When all else fails, stick to your discipline system, and bide your time. School years don't last forever.

Answer 2

God help you, lol I'm a parent of a 15 yr old who for his whole secondary career has been a royal pain in the bum to teacher and staff alike. He is smart but an underachiever preferring to chose his friends over study. I have no idea how you cope with these kids. The area where i live is poor and lots of parents just let there kids do what they want without any repercussions . I personally think the whole school system needs revamped with more imaginative and physical demonstrations in the classroom to capture the children's imagination. I think children learn in different ways and expecting them all to absorb information the same way is a mistake. Relating teaching to real life situations might help these kids. Most importantly Ive noticed teachers hate to be wrong about anything which is unrealistic to kids and that's why they cant relate ,if teachers make a mistake they should say so apologise if necessary.That would be a big life lesson that these kids need in life it will also make you as a teacher human and more approachable. best of luck.

Answer 3

Theres been a lot of press attention about the behaviours of certain children within the classroom today. The issue is, the lack of respect children seem to have towards a system who is favourably choosing the elite students to focus their attention on. Personally, I am within sixth form, and i have seen a generally increase in the negative attitudes of the younger first year (7) students coming in, into the secondary school environment. They seem to be more focused on image and friends and trying to look good in retrospect to the older students. Certain behaviours stem from the home, the lack of control from the parents and strict guildlines which help to mentally control the child throughout life. Without these, how can we expect difficult children to suceed @ school? - Disruptive children, DO influence other children within the classroom. They damage the learning of children who wish to learn. Teachers tend to send kids out, however this is simply moving the problem, not dealing with it head on. Children who mess around should be punished, - but the question is how - send them home, segregate them into "naughty" classes - send them to detention??!?!? - NO - deal with the student 1-1, this way the teacher can understand why the child is acting in the way he/her does - this will help far more than simply dismissing their existance!!

Answer 4

Call the parents and inform them of the problem. Ask them to bring in their child for an appointment with all of you in attendance.

Ask the parents to come in and sit in your classroom whenever they want to. Don't tell the child that they might come.

Write a progress letter to the parents, every
Friday, until the problem ends.

Keep a record of everything you do. This is for your own protection. If this gets out of hand, your union can better protect you if you have kept a dated journal.

In writing, let the vice-principal and the guidance counselor know what is going on and what you are doing about it. Ask them if there have been other complaints from other teachers. Inevitably, you will find out that there have been.

The vice principal should schedule his/her own meeting with the student and set up a contract.

If your meetings with the parents do not resolve the situation, then ask for a joint meeting with VP, guidance, parents and you.

Remember, the other kids deserve an education in a stress-free environment. They don't like what is going on anymore than you do. You must protect them.

Answer 5

Your school should have a 'school lesson' that will give you a structure to your lesson ..... start, middle & finish.

Again, your school should also have in place a 'system' to deal with crap kids. My school uses a C1, C2, C3 system. C = consequence -

eg.

Jonny, stop talking while I'm talking = C1

Jonny, leave the room (throwing paper at Jane) - get him to stand outside room ...... issue a C2 and warn him about his behaviour and allow him back to join the class if he is willing to behave.

A C3 is issued (just like a 3rd strike) if his behaviour does not improve and he has to be told to do something again.

NB - obviously this system only works if the school has something in place to action a C3. In my school, a C3 means the kid is kicked out of that lesson and taken/sent to another rom which is managed my a senior/department head.

Of course each teacher can also use their own methods of control to assist with the school system - merits, bribes (sweets etc), name calling, time outs etc.

But other simple things also work - start the lesson well by greeting th kids as they walk in to the room. Establish some starting sequesnce to the lesson .... wait behind chair before sitting, silience during reg etc.

Ultimately you are going to need the help of your department and school. If you have no school system in place, then as a department, you can work as a team to move the difficult pupils around during lesson.

Answer 6

Be proactive. Post a list of 5 requirements for success in your classroom. Be sure each one is stated in a positive manner, that it is measurable, students will know what it looks like. For example:
1) Be in your seat when the bell rings
2) Raise your hand and wait to be called on before speaking
3) Follow instructions the first time given
4) Do your best work
5) One voice at a time. If I'm teaching, your mouth is quiet.
Spend time at the very beginning of the year going over the strategies for success in your classroom. Give examples and non-examples. Let them know what good comes from following them. You may want to list activities the class can earn by following the guidelines. Make sure you catch them following them and if they are earning points, be sure to give them when earned. Also talk about the negative consequences for not following them. List them, make sure you can live with them and that the students understand. Caution. Never use a bazooka when a squirt gun will do the job. We want the kids to succeed and learn. It's up to us to motivate them and make it fun or at least interesting and tolerable.

Answer 7

I'm not a secondary sch teacher, but I've taught teenagers. Humiliation - the one thing they are still scared of! Do this by means of extreme sarcasm, being quicker and sharper than them, and showing them up in front of their friends (ONLY if they are obviously very confident generally and you know they can withstand it without being actually upset!). If that has no effect and they are being obstructive and wilfully difficult to the point where the lesson can't progress, send them out to the Deputy Head I guess? Good luck!

Answer 8

Never threaten to punish someone and then don't!!! They must understand that you will do what you say. Set clear but realistic boundaries. Find out what the school's code of discipline is. Do NOT EVER be sarcastic. You are above them and must lead by example. Send any really bad pupils to the appropriate Vice Principal, Principal, with a note and make sure it gets signed, if they are to be returned to class. Being a bit over the top at first will pay dividends later. Do not try to be popular, that is not your job, pupils need boundaries and will respect them and you but only if you enforce them.

Answer 9

your either a trainee teacher writing essay or a real teacher ready to snap. Why worry about them, they won't mount to anything, best they will achieve is job in tescos. you don't say what the prob is, lack of interest, behaviour, thickaspigshit? the school will have guidelines as to how far you can punish them just take a no nonsense approach from the start and rule with an iron fist, you're there to educate them not be their friend.

Answer 10

I was one of those difficult kids that would of drove you mad, I was naughty but if i liked a teacher i would respect them, if you try to relate to the bad kids and talk to them like they are grown up (even though they are not) they will respect you more and like you. You need to be liked but not a push over, have a bit of a laugh with them but let them know where the line is.