5 Tips on Dealing with Difficult Students

What threatens communication with these particular students is not what we say to them, but how we perceive them. Believe or not, our thoughts and perceptions can cause students to misbehave.

How Does this Work?

What Threatens Communication with Students

Imagine a student finally gets to study a subject s/he loves but is afraid of failure, or gets a grade without explanation. S/he may be afraid of always being wrong or can’t meet the requirements and therefore, won’t show what s/he knows. S/he stops coming to class or when s/he does come, he doesn’t participate and may disturb other students. These of course, are the signs… but what can we do as educators? What are the steps?

Start by Asking Yourself the REAL Questions

When responding to the student, consider the following questions:

·1.How much is s/he hurting the class?

2.Why might s/he be doing this?

3. Why might s/he want to stop this?

When you know the answers to these questions, then it’s possible to perceive the student in a more constructive and positive way.

Remake the Meaning – Focus on Content

Think of one situation where you can change the outcome by retelling the story. Remake your stories of how you decide to perceive a particular student. Decide to make a difference.

Dialogue with the Students

The first important step is to dialogue with the student and open the doors of communication. Here are a few ways:

· Apologize/Ask for clarity: “Please help me understand why you have been turning your work in late.”

· Contrast: “We discussed this the first two assignment but now I’m seeing a pattern begin.”

· Commit: “I really want to see you succeed and we need to come up with a plan…”

Ask for Support

We might not be able to reach all the students and even during challenging moments, it’s alright to report to a mentor and ask for intervention.

· Listen, research and expand what you know.

· Invite new people to participate or give input, like a teacher mentor.

Teach Students the Courage to Change

We are not perfect. As teachers, w need to let go of the past and start each new day with a clean slate. Always separate the students’ behavior from the student and put your energies on the class and not on the individual. And celebrate your successes for all! After all, you’re also there for your students.