The Disruptive Child: How to Help and not Hurt Them
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How an instructor handles a disruptive student can reflect on his or her abilities as a teacher. If you are successful dealing with a student who exhibits bad behavior, it can be one of the most rewarding parts of being a teacher.
Disruptive behavior is any behavior that will prevent an instructor from teaching, thus preventing his or her students from learning as much as they need to in class. A child whose unacceptable behavior is repeated or continuous must be corrected, but with these particular children, it seems as though nothing works. However, there are the less common occasions when a teacher may have to deal with a student because of a single disruptive event. There is a significant difference between dealing with a disruptive child who is consistently disruptive, and dealing with a student who has displayed inappropriate and disruptive behavior only once.
There are always reasons underlying a student’s behavior. If a child has been disruptive once in class, it may be that something about that day upset the child emotionally, perhaps at home or on the playground etc., which caused a disruptive reaction. By the same token, if a child is always disruptive there is likely a more deep-seeded problem involved. For example: trouble at home, some sort of undiagnosed disorder, problems with not being accepted or being bullied by other students. Therefore, dealing with a disruptive student is going to have to be carefully executed.
As teachers, we must remember that even though it is incredibly frustrating to have a child continuously interfering with your lesson plans—it may be that that student is suffering just as much if not more than you or others who deal with the behavioral problems the child has. I cannot emphasize it enough; dealing with a disruptive student must be done with special care.
The typical forms of disruptive behavior are those such as a student monopolizing discussions, talking in class, trying to change the subject, coming to class late or leaving class early, sleeping in class, eating in class when not allowed, and passing notes etc. Correcting the behavior of a child who is an extrovert and seems to just be hungry for attention is different than dealing with a disruptive student who displays more introvert-like behaviors such as sleeping in class, coming late and leaving early—or just leaving class at random during the school day.
If you do not already, think of your students as little people, and their disruptive behavior as a sign of something wrong—like a fever or a cough would indicate some kind of illness.
Not to say that such a student should be without punishment. Sometimes the punishments need to be severe—if for no other reason than to continue class as planned. But this sort of severe punishment, i.e. expulsion, suspension, long hours of detention etc. should (and of course, on a case-by-case basis) be coupled with trying to get the child some help, if it seems as though there is an underlying issue at hand.
Many schools offer student counseling, and if this is not enough—you may want to meet with the parents. However, be very careful not to put the child’s parents on the defensive. Try to find out if the problem may be related to something at home, while at the same time speaking to them in a non-accusatory fashion—this can be tricky. As another staff member or the principal to sit in on the meeting, so that no false accusations against the teacher can be made. Sadly, this does occur.
Then there are the other kinds of misbehavior. When a disruptive student makes threats—whether they are made against a student, a faculty member or staff member, there is almost certainly a problem regarding violence in the student’s life, whether at home or in their social interactions. If a student is threatened that he or she might be beaten up, whether by bullies or by a parent or guardian—he or she is likely to imitate this type of behavior elsewhere. A child exposed to yelling and screaming and constant fighting at home, may have trouble not doing the same in a social situation—or these things can have a reverse effect, and the child will withdraw him or herself, not care about the work or the grades or anything else. So the “how to” is a big and difficult decision to make when dealing such students and every case is different.
On the upside, it is quite possible that a teacher can enable their troubled student to have a better overall life if this kind of problem is taken care of in a timely fashion, before the disruptive behavior is embedded in the child permanently. Thus, sometimes your actions will require the assistance some of the other faculty—especially a guidance counselor—or another type of social work professional (even from outside the school) to decide what is the best thing to do.
Despite the fact that dealing with a problem student is often dealing with a person who is legitimately troubled—there are, unfortunately by no fault of their own, very nasty behaviors that can come along with an unfair and unfortunate life.
For example: if you meet with a disruptive student to discuss his or her problems—you should probably have another person present. The reason for having more than one adult there when you are dealing with a disruptive student is partly that the student may become angry with you. The student may lie and say that you hurt or threatened him or her—which can escalate into a much more serious problem legally.
One warning, however, is that you seriously consider NOT having the parent, parents or guardian of the child be the third party in discussion, in case the problem does indeed stem from the home environment. If this is so—the child may freeze up and not say a word around with his parent(s) or guardian(s) present—leaving you concerned and giving you nothing to go on.
The most important thing to remember when first speaking with a troubled student is to approach them with kindness. They should not feel like the bad guy or be put on the defensive right away. Of course, we all know that a teacher must be firm but also kind. So you will have to be firm, of course, and use punishment as part of how you handle the situation. But even a punishment can be given with kindness, with understanding in your voice and with the insinuation that you have faith that the child can and will improve. Try to make the child feel as though he or she has not been “singled out” as much as you possibly can, and try to make the student feel as though he or she is just as special and important to you as the rest of the students in the class. The goal is that the child comes to the understanding that you can work together to correct the behavioral issues at hand, and that sometimes problems are nobody’s fault—but they are still problems and have to be dealt with.
How to handle a troubled student may very well be one of the most difficult challenges you will face as a teacher. But do not give up. All of your students need the support and love of the adults who take care of them—and that means you, directly, for about six hours out of the day five days a week.
The most important advice I can give you in regards to dealing with a disruptive student is—try not to get frustrated or upset. Be the adult. And set your goal to help the student as best you can.
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