![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/1.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cGo and sit on the thinking chair right now\u201d.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n This is a strategy that I used time and time again when I taught in the younger grades. Students who had become agitated, frustrated, angry, or physically abusive were directed to a small chair facing my desk.<\/span><\/p>\n I would give them approximately five minutes of thinking time, while I got the other students back on task. I would quietly tell the student sitting on the thinking chair that I wanted to know what was going on and why, and that I would be back to them soon for an explanation.<\/span><\/p>\n My aim was firstly to diffuse the situation by taking them and other students out of harms way and secondly to give them time to think about what had just happened and why.<\/span><\/p>\n As a teacher I learned very quickly to ask myself\u2026 not\u2026 What is that child doing, but why is that child doing it? The answers I got from students sitting on that chair over the years varied greatly but included;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLauren keeps making grunting noises and touching all my stuff and it’s making me mad.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m tired. My baby sister won\u2019t stop crying. She cries all night.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy dad slaps my mum across the face all the time and I didn\u2019t know it was wrong to slap Kate.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m mad because my dad is an a@#%^hole. He\u2019s left my mum for his girlfriend and they\u2019re living in our beach house.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI hit him because he called me a black bast@#d.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI did it because I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m supposed to do. I can\u2019t remember what you said.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n “I can\u2019t do my work. I keep asking Mr Smith what to do, but he doesn\u2019t explain it properly. I just don\u2019t get it.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Once you know the real reason for a child\u2019s poor behaviour it is much easier to solve the problem.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Over the years I followed these three steps.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Teenagers are much more complex.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Their motivation for poor behaviour can be more varied and the way it plays out in your classroom can be completely different and more confrontational, but essentially you employ the same technique.<\/span><\/p>\n An angry teen can fight us for control of our classroom, threaten our sense of authority and will fear looking weak in front of their peers. So the way you react in a moment of classroom madness is very important. Just as important as knowing the subject you are teaching, is the skill of staying calm, in control and knowing what strategies to employ to resolve a situation quickly. Here are some tips.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are situations and examples of methods you can apply.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Scenario one<\/strong><\/span> Scenario three<\/strong><\/span> Scenario four<\/strong><\/span> Scenario five<\/strong><\/span> Children of all ages act out and misbehave in class when they are feeling upset and threatened and teachers are often on the receiving end. The children of today have all sorts of issues going on at home and in their lives. Teachers today are not just teachers; they are mentors, counsellors and confidantes. Ask students who their favourite teachers are and why and they will know the answer. Quite often it is all about respectful and constructive communication. Students know which teachers really care.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cGo and sit on the thinking chair right now\u201d. This is a strategy that I used time and time again when I taught in the younger grades. Students who had become agitated, frustrated, angry, or physically abusive were directed to a small chair facing my desk. I would give them... ![\"photo_1292_20060313\"](\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/photo_1292_20060313.jpg\")
\u201cMy mom and dad moved all the furniture around in my house yesterday and I don\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
![\"woman-975339_1920\"](\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/woman-975339_1920.jpg\")
Don\u2019t\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n
\nStudent:<\/strong><\/span>Tells teacher to \u201cF@#% off\u201d<\/span><\/em>
\nTeacher:<\/strong><\/span> \u201cI am disappointed that you have used that language in my class. You must be feeling very angry. We need to find a better way for you to communicate this to me. Right now is not the time because I am very annoyed with you. We will talk later when we are both feeling calmer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n![\"photo_32728_20140712\"](\"https:\/\/www.dyslexiadaily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/photo_32728_20140712.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/em>Scenario two<\/strong><\/span>
\nTwo students begin name calling and then one hits another and it becomes heated.<\/span><\/em>
\nTeacher:<\/span><\/strong> \u201cYou both have every right to defend yourself against verbal insults, but hitting is not acceptable. We all need to have a talk together to work out what is going on and why you are so annoyed with each other. For now, separate please and we will have a chat after class.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nStudent:<\/strong><\/span>\u201cI hate this subject.\u201d<\/span><\/em>
\nTeacher:<\/span><\/strong> \u201cAnd yet here you are\u2026. so I thank you for coming. Let\u2019s find a way to make this class more enjoyable for you. No doubt you\u2019ve got some good ideas. Let\u2019s have a chat before the end of the class once people are working.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nStudent:<\/strong><\/span> “You\u2019re not the boss of me. I\u2019m not doing that.\u201d<\/em><\/span>
\nTeacher:<\/span><\/strong> \u201cThat is a great refusal\u2026 remember that if your drunk mate wants you to get in their car. Let\u2019s move on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nStudent:<\/strong> \u201cI am not reading aloud in class.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\nTeacher:<\/span><\/strong> \u201cNo problems Anthony, public speaking makes most people nervous. Let chat after class and maybe we can find a way to make you feel more comfortable next time you are asked.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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