2-the aggressive student1

NovaQuest International School; 12 F.C.C. Maratab Ali Road, Lahore, Pakistan. Phone: 042-577-804, 807NovaQuest International School; 12 F.C.C. Maratab Ali Road, Lahore, Pakistan. Phone: 042-577-804, 807 11

Handling Difficult Students Handling Difficult Students in the Classroomin the ClassroomNovaQuest International SchoolNovaQuest International School

Teacher Training ProgramTeacher Training Program


Series on “Handling Series on “Handling Difficult Students in the Difficult Students in the

Classroom” Classroom” After conducting a survey of After conducting a survey of approximately 300 Schools approximately 300 Schools

and Teachers in these Schools, and Teachers in these Schools, a list was compiled to a list was compiled to

determine what behaviors determine what behaviors were causing anxiety to were causing anxiety to teachers and distracting teachers and distracting classroom teaching. The classroom teaching. The lecture covers one such lecture covers one such

behavior:behavior:


2. The “Aggressive 2. The “Aggressive Student”Student”

Aurangzeb BhattiAurangzeb BhattiNovaQuest International NovaQuest International

SchoolSchool


The “Aggressive The “Aggressive Student”Student”

In dealing with student aggression, i.e. In dealing with student aggression, i.e. with a student who is acting with a student who is acting aggressively toward his/her classmates, aggressively toward his/her classmates, you want to send a strong message that you want to send a strong message that aggressive behavior will not be tolerated aggressive behavior will not be tolerated in your classroom. in your classroom.

You want to help them (by teaching You want to help them (by teaching them) to develop more them) to develop more appropriateappropriate ways ways of settling disputes with their peers. of settling disputes with their peers.



Avoid giving them harsh punishment Avoid giving them harsh punishment or humiliation at all costs. or humiliation at all costs.

Harshly disciplining an aggressive Harshly disciplining an aggressive student might fuel their anger and student might fuel their anger and make them more determined to make them more determined to continue the aggressive behavior. continue the aggressive behavior.


WHAT YOU CAN DOWHAT YOU CAN DO

Tips for Managing Tips for Managing students who are students who are

“Aggressive” in the “Aggressive” in the Classroom.Classroom.


Managing “The Aggressive Managing “The Aggressive Student”Student”

Be assertive when breaking up Be assertive when breaking up fights. fights.

Aggressive students will 99% of the time end Aggressive students will 99% of the time end up in fights with others. If two elementary up in fights with others. If two elementary school students are engaged in a fight, use a school students are engaged in a fight, use a strong loud voice to stop it. strong loud voice to stop it.

If that doesn't work, you might say If that doesn't work, you might say something extraordinary and odd to divert something extraordinary and odd to divert their attention. (such as; "Look up! The their attention. (such as; "Look up! The ceiling is falling!")ceiling is falling!")



If they still don't stop and you can't separate them, send one of the If they still don't stop and you can't separate them, send one of the other student to the office to get an additional teacher to help you.other student to the office to get an additional teacher to help you.

If a crowd of children is gathering, get their attention first and then If a crowd of children is gathering, get their attention first and then insist that they move away or sit down (clap your hands to get insist that they move away or sit down (clap your hands to get their attention if necessary). their attention if necessary).



After the incident is over, meet with the combatants After the incident is over, meet with the combatants togethertogether..

Let them give you their versions of what happened but have them speak Let them give you their versions of what happened but have them speak only one at a time. only one at a time.

Tell them that you can help them resolve any lingering problems only if Tell them that you can help them resolve any lingering problems only if you are able to understand each one of their Point of View (“POV”). you are able to understand each one of their Point of View (“POV”).



Aggressive students can be Aggressive students can be loudloud. . Respond calmly but firmly to an Respond calmly but firmly to an aggressive student.aggressive student.

Speak in a firm, Speak in a firm, no-nonsenseno-nonsense manner to manner to stop a student's aggressive behavior.stop a student's aggressive behavior.

Use physical restraint only as a last resort. Use physical restraint only as a last resort. When responding to the student, pay When responding to the student, pay

attention to your attention to your verbal verbal as well as as well as non-non-verbalverbal language. language.



Even if he/she is yelling at you, it is very important that you Even if he/she is yelling at you, it is very important that you Stay CalmStay Calm. . Allow them to express what he/she is upset about without interrupting Allow them to express what he/she is upset about without interrupting

them and then them and then acknowledgeacknowledge their feelings. their feelings. Avoid Avoid crossing your armscrossing your arms, , pointing a fingerpointing a finger or or making threatsmaking threats; any of ; any of

those actions could intensity their anger and stiffen their resistance. those actions could intensity their anger and stiffen their resistance.



Consider giving the student a Consider giving the student a ‘time out’.‘time out’.

You might conclude that a student's You might conclude that a student's aggressive behavior warrants separating aggressive behavior warrants separating them from the rest of the class, either to them from the rest of the class, either to send them a strong message that what send them a strong message that what he/she did merits a serious consequence he/she did merits a serious consequence and/or to protect the other students. and/or to protect the other students.



You can separate them from the rest of You can separate them from the rest of the class by giving them a ‘time out’ in the class by giving them a ‘time out’ in class or by sending them to the class or by sending them to the principal’s office. principal’s office.

In the classroom, the ‘time-out area’ In the classroom, the ‘time-out area’ could be a chair facing a blank wall. Have could be a chair facing a blank wall. Have them sit in a chair and instruct them to them sit in a chair and instruct them to remain quiet. Let them know that they remain quiet. Let them know that they can return to the class activity after a can return to the class activity after a predetermined number of minutes. predetermined number of minutes.



If he/she leaves the chair or acts in a If he/she leaves the chair or acts in a disruptive manner, reset the timer to zero. disruptive manner, reset the timer to zero.

After the aggressive student cools down, After the aggressive student cools down, talk with him/her privately. talk with him/her privately.

Although he/she might expect you to Although he/she might expect you to react punitively, surprise them by reacting react punitively, surprise them by reacting supportively. Tell them that you are there supportively. Tell them that you are there to help them get over their problem.to help them get over their problem.



Express your confidence that they can resolve Express your confidence that they can resolve problems without being hurtful to his peers.problems without being hurtful to his peers.

Tell them that you think they must be upset about something to lose control Tell them that you think they must be upset about something to lose control as they did and you want to understand what might be bothering them. as they did and you want to understand what might be bothering them.

If they do not open up to you, listen attentively without interrupting. If they do not open up to you, listen attentively without interrupting.



Speaking in a calm voice, tell them Speaking in a calm voice, tell them that you understand why they are that you understand why they are upset, but stress that they have to upset, but stress that they have to find a way to express their anger find a way to express their anger with words rather than with his with words rather than with his hands.hands.



Have the student apologize. Have the student apologize. You don't want to force an aggressive You don't want to force an aggressive

student to say they are ‘sorry’ because that student to say they are ‘sorry’ because that might fuel their anger further, however, you might fuel their anger further, however, you do want to strongly encourage him/her to do want to strongly encourage him/her to make amends with the student they hit. make amends with the student they hit.

Explain to the student that is willing to make Explain to the student that is willing to make amends with the student in conflict, it will amends with the student in conflict, it will help soothe hurt feelings and avoid future help soothe hurt feelings and avoid future conflicts.conflicts.



Have students who were Have students who were involved in a conflict fill out a involved in a conflict fill out a ‘incident and behavior form’. ‘incident and behavior form’.

After the fighting students have calmed After the fighting students have calmed down, have them complete a “incident down, have them complete a “incident and behavior form” describing (a) what and behavior form” describing (a) what triggered the conflict, (b) how they triggered the conflict, (b) how they behaved, and (c) how they could have behaved, and (c) how they could have handled the situation differently. handled the situation differently.



Meet with both students to discuss their Meet with both students to discuss their responses. responses.

The “incident and behavior form” The “incident and behavior form” provides a record of the incident that provides a record of the incident that you can use when meeting with parents you can use when meeting with parents and/or administrators, and it most and/or administrators, and it most importantly, it helps students learn to importantly, it helps students learn to reflect upon and modify their behavior. reflect upon and modify their behavior.



MAKE SURE TO NOTIFY THEIR MAKE SURE TO NOTIFY THEIR PARENTS OF THE INCIDENT. PARENTS OF THE INCIDENT.

If the child is angry at school, they most If the child is angry at school, they most likely are also angry at home with others likely are also angry at home with others – so notify the parents and have the – so notify the parents and have the parents get involved.parents get involved.

Parents have to get involved to help Parents have to get involved to help their child with the child’s “Anger their child with the child’s “Anger Problem”.Problem”.


Preventing Student Preventing Student AggressionAggression



Aggressive students present a significant challenge Aggressive students present a significant challenge for teachers. for teachers.

An aggressive child can engender a climate of fear An aggressive child can engender a climate of fear in the classroom, creating anxiety among other in the classroom, creating anxiety among other students and distracting them from their students and distracting them from their schoolwork. schoolwork.

The student who is the cause of that fear also The student who is the cause of that fear also warrants your concern. warrants your concern.

His/her aggressive behavior might signal that His/her aggressive behavior might signal that he/she is a troubled child and/or cause him/her to he/she is a troubled child and/or cause him/her to be shunned by their peersbe shunned by their peers

It also might be a harbinger of problems they will It also might be a harbinger of problems they will display as an adolescent and adult.display as an adolescent and adult.


WHAT YOU CAN DOWHAT YOU CAN DO

Tips for Managing Tips for Managing students who are students who are

“Aggressive” in the “Aggressive” in the Classroom.Classroom.


Make it clear to students that aggressive Make it clear to students that aggressive behavior is unacceptable. behavior is unacceptable.

When discussing class rules at the beginning of When discussing class rules at the beginning of the year, inform students that they are not the year, inform students that they are not allowed to hit or push under any circumstances. allowed to hit or push under any circumstances.

You also might let them know the You also might let them know the consequences for aggressive behavior in your consequences for aggressive behavior in your classroom. classroom.



Review and reinforce the rule as necessary Review and reinforce the rule as necessary throughout the year. throughout the year.

Encourage students to tell you immediately Encourage students to tell you immediately if they observe physical conflicts. if they observe physical conflicts.

When you become aware of such physical When you become aware of such physical conflict, take immediate action to stop it. conflict, take immediate action to stop it. That sends a message to students that you That sends a message to students that you will do whatever is necessary to ensure that will do whatever is necessary to ensure that your classroom is a safe haven.your classroom is a safe haven.



Try to identify when and where a student is Try to identify when and where a student is aggressive. aggressive.

Look for a pattern in the incidents so you can Look for a pattern in the incidents so you can anticipate their occurrence and take steps to anticipate their occurrence and take steps to avoid them. avoid them.

When aggressive incidents occur, you might want When aggressive incidents occur, you might want to make a note of when they occurred, what was to make a note of when they occurred, what was going on at the time, who was the target of the going on at the time, who was the target of the aggression, what happened right before and right aggression, what happened right before and right after the incident, and how others responded. after the incident, and how others responded.



This kind of ‘Behavioral This kind of ‘Behavioral Assessment’ might help you Assessment’ might help you determine:determine: What triggers the behaviorWhat triggers the behavior What reinforces itWhat reinforces it What to do about it. What to do about it.



Teach students conflict-resolution skills.Teach students conflict-resolution skills. Children Children might resort to aggression because they lack the words or might resort to aggression because they lack the words or skills to solve problems non-physically. skills to solve problems non-physically.

Help them learn to resolve conflicts without acting Help them learn to resolve conflicts without acting aggressively by teaching them the basics of talking things aggressively by teaching them the basics of talking things out: staying calm; allowing each person to have his or her out: staying calm; allowing each person to have his or her say without being interrupted, blamed or put-down; using "I say without being interrupted, blamed or put-down; using "I messages" to convey feelings; and considering another's messages" to convey feelings; and considering another's point of view. point of view.

Designate an area of your classroom as a "peace corner," a Designate an area of your classroom as a "peace corner," a place where students can go to settle conflicts and decide place where students can go to settle conflicts and decide on a resolution. After they have spent time in the peace on a resolution. After they have spent time in the peace corner, students should inform you of their decisions.corner, students should inform you of their decisions.



Have a student who is prone to Have a student who is prone to aggression engage in activities that aggression engage in activities that make aggressive behavior less likely.make aggressive behavior less likely.

When he/she appears tense, suggest such When he/she appears tense, suggest such tasks as drawing a picture, working with clay, tasks as drawing a picture, working with clay, taking a walk, writing in a journal or squeezing taking a walk, writing in a journal or squeezing a ball to help him/her release their frustration. a ball to help him/her release their frustration.

You might want to give the student an item to You might want to give the student an item to carry or suggest that he/she put their hands in carry or suggest that he/she put their hands in their pockets at those times when they seem their pockets at those times when they seem prone to using their hands inappropriately or prone to using their hands inappropriately or seem to be on the verge of an outburst.seem to be on the verge of an outburst.



Connect with the aggressive Connect with the aggressive student.student. An aggressive student might An aggressive student might distrust teachers and view them as distrust teachers and view them as adversaries. adversaries.

Try to gain the student's trust by listening Try to gain the student's trust by listening attentively to what they say and showing attentively to what they say and showing respect for their thoughts and concerns. respect for their thoughts and concerns.

Find a few minutes every so often to talk with Find a few minutes every so often to talk with them about their interests and hobbies. them about their interests and hobbies.



Help them start the day out on a positive Help them start the day out on a positive note by giving them making an upbeat note by giving them making an upbeat comment when they walk in the door. comment when they walk in the door.

Troubled Children make better choices if Troubled Children make better choices if they feel supported and accepted by the they feel supported and accepted by the teacher.teacher.




Obtain in-school counseling for an Obtain in-school counseling for an aggressive student.aggressive student. You should ask for You should ask for help and guidance counseling from the help and guidance counseling from the school’s administration and/or a psychologist school’s administration and/or a psychologist working with the school to counsel them. working with the school to counsel them.

The student might need guidance about The student might need guidance about resolving peer conflicts and finding resolving peer conflicts and finding alternative ways of behaving. alternative ways of behaving.

They also might need help interpreting the They also might need help interpreting the behavior of their peers if they tend to behavior of their peers if they tend to perceive hostile intent when none is perceive hostile intent when none is intended.intended.



After the fighting students have After the fighting students have calmed down, have them complete calmed down, have them complete a “Incident and Behavior Form” a “Incident and Behavior Form” describing (a) What triggered the describing (a) What triggered the conflict, (b) How they behaved, conflict, (b) How they behaved, and (c) How they could have and (c) How they could have handled the situation differently. handled the situation differently. This helps students learn to reflect This helps students learn to reflect upon and modify their behavior. upon and modify their behavior.


Thank YouThank You

Aurangzeb BhattiAurangzeb BhattiNovaQuest International NovaQuest International

SchoolSchool

2-the aggressive student1

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