As a collective group, our inquiry class discussed some different classroom scenarios today. We went through what we think would be the best way to handle these different situations.

(1) A student’s grades in your class has dropped significantly compared to last year in this subject and to other classes this year. How would you react to this situation?

• talk to student’s other teachers and counsellor
  • is the student struggling in other classes as well?
  • is the course load for the student stressful?
  • speak with student’s former teachers and compare teaching methods; is the student not adapting to a new teacher or material?
    • would have to make class more engaging for the students if they are not interested in the subject material
• speak with the student
  • are there any changes going on at home?
  • check to see if the student needs any extra help or resources
  • do not confront the student about their bad grades; tell the student that you are concerned about the drastic change in their grades
  • tell the student that you are available if they need help
    • lending an ear to the student can already be a lot of help
    • ask the student if they have an adult who they can speak to
  • be accommodating, and see what can be done to help the student
  • do not assume the worst is happening, the student may just be stressed

(2) Jens comes into the room looking ‘down’. In the middle of class she is obviously upset and tears start to roll down her face. How would you handle the situation?

• quietly (be very gentle) ask her if she would like to step out (use open-ended questions)
  • transition the lesson into an activity of some sort so that the class has something to do while you step out with Jens
  • ask Jens if there is a close friend or someone else she would feel more comfortable confiding in
  • do not make her feel uncomfortable by stopping the class abruptly and asking if she is alright in front of the entire class
  • speak to Jens and make sure that she feels safe in the environment (i.e. there may have been something in the classroom that triggered her; remove her from the environment that is making her uncomfortable)
• somehow determine if she would rather speak with you, a peer or counsellor
  • do not be too direct; give some space
• never send the student out alone, always have someone accompany them (student may be ill or going through something stressful that may make the situation dangerous
  • student may be suicidal and needs attention immediately

(3) Aaron has been disrupting the class since he entered an hour ago. Once again he has just distracted the class when you are trying to get a key point across. What would you do?

• student may either just be a “class clown” or there is a reason behind by he likes the attention
• find an opportunity to approach Aaron and speak with him regarding his behaviour
  • reasoning is that he is distracting his peers
  • try to figure out why he has so much energy and possibly think of different methods to channel his energy
• give Aaron tasks to do and make him feel important
• “calling out” the student in front of the class may not be the best idea
  • student may either feed off the attention or feel like he is being put on the spot
  • sometimes, it is necessary to ask the students to tone down their disruptions during the class
    • ask to speak to him about his behaviour afterwards
• just stand quietly and wait for him to stop
• stand near the student and walk by him throughout the lesson to try and manage his disruptions
• is this ongoing behaviour? should have dealt with the issue earlier
• is this new behaviour? there would possibly have been something that triggered this sudden behaviour
• make sure that whatever method you’re using to manage the student, that it is not in front of the entire class, because it wastes the entire class’s time; it is not fair to the other students
  • work with the individual, not the entire class
• “You make me feel…” – do not confront the student or pick a fight
• if the situation does not improve, the student may need to be removed from the room if the lesson is not moving forward
  • however, still speak gently with the student and explain why he is being removed from the class

(4) Josephine is treating her lab partner in an unkind way, bordering on bullying. When you approach she is as sweet as pie but when you are not vigilant she goes back to her former behavior. How would you manage this case?

• you are “perceiving” this behaviour as bullying, and if you confront the pair about it, one or both may deny it
  • confronting this behaviour may cause the bully to become even more violent
  • if the incident is not actually bully, you can be in hot water
• safety is always the first priority, therefore you have to immediately separate the two students
  • however, Josephine may go on to bully another student
• not alway practical to keep in close proximity to the pair because there are other students in the lab
• speak with the two students separately
  • the bullied lab partner may not feel comfortable confrotning Josephine with her behaviour when Josephine is also present
  • find some sort of different topic to speak with the bullied student about, and see if she will  bring it up

(5) Johnny is on the basketball team and is an excellent player. He is ‘popular’ because of his ability in sports. He is also known to be arrogant at times. If he were to arrive late and, when asked why, answered disrespectfully and walked past you to take his seat, how would you respond?

• briefly ask him to see you after class, so that it does not cut into class time, but also demonstrates to the rest of the class that his behaviour is not acceptable
• speak to Johnny; do not reprimand him in front of the entire class because the situation only relates to him and not the entire class
  • be respectful and sincere when discussing the issue with him
• try to open up with the student and build a relationship with him
  • have a serious discussion with him, and let him know that basketball is important, but there are certain expectations for classrooms
• ask him to come back and make up for the time that he has missed
  • do this in a very gentle manner

What is the first course of action in all of these situations? communication

• watch your language and tone of voice
• make a point of reinforcing what you say during the situation, and follow up with the student afterwards 

It is important to be both strong and kind to manage a class of students