You're facing a challenge with a defiant student. How can you regain control in the classroom?

One guest speaker once told this to me when I was in Primary 6: "I had this student, always joking around, disturbing people and going into fights. One day, when asked who is the biggest 'joker', everyone pointed at him." Long story short, the student cried and justified that he felt everyone seemed to be sleepy. He fought because his friends got bullied. He didn't know why people cast him in such a bad light. While this might be a rare exception, the story continues to caution us to be patient to "understand why". Maybe, sometimes they had valid reasons, not not paired with the right behaviour. Without understanding why, we might lose students' trust and break down precious rapport built over time.

Dentro de los criterios del inicio de una accion formativa, tenemos el de las reglas. En una de las reglas, esta la actitud de aprender, donde en lo personal, por la experiencia que hemos tenido de no mas de tres veces, encontrarnos con un tipo de participante que le llaman trol, o desafiante, o en resumidas cuentas, el acabado, arrogante que entiende que se lo sabe todo. En ese criterio, me voy adelante, porque puede estar uno, y si estaba, me adelante, al describirlo. Es el que se lo sabe todo. Y resulta que aunque tiene conocimiento, sin humildad, es una persona indeseable. Es decir, preveer esa actitud me ha servido mucho para anticipar y neutralizar esa ACTITUD.

Enfrentarse a un estudiante desafiante requiere una comprensión profunda de la causa raíz de su comportamiento. Es esencial comenzar observando patrones y documentando incidentes para identificar posibles desencadenantes. Conversar en privado con el estudiante puede revelar problemas personales o académicos subyacentes. Establecer una relación de confianza es clave; mostrar empatía y respeto puede abrir canales de comunicación. Implementar estrategias como el refuerzo positivo para conductas adecuadas, y adaptar el entorno del aula para minimizar distracciones, también es útil. Colaborar con padres y otros profesionales puede ofrecer una visión más completa y soluciones efectivas.

When faced with defiance, stay calm. Your emotional response can influence the situation. Avoid using confrontational “You” statements. Instead, focus on the behavior itself. Recognize and reinforce even small steps toward cooperation and flexibility. Let students know you care about their feelings and well-being. At times, resistance arises due to hidden feelings or stress factors. Offer rewards or incentives for positive behavior. Ask for help; collaborate with other educators, counselors, or support staff.

Every learner in the classroom comes from unique family background and this background can have effect on their upbringing. I observed a continuous defiant behaviour in a learner in my class. I met her and got to know thoroughly her background and her emmidiate environment and other factors that contributed to that defiant behaviour. After 2 to 3 meetings and counseling, I regained control of the class and she is now involved in all activities of the class

Efectivamente, cuando surge, mantener la calma es importante, porque tambien en las reglas hablemos del respeto. De tomar y dejar y disentir con respeto. Si alguien de los participantes, asume una actitud de ignorar e irrespetar la autoridad, lo invito con toda la calma a salir del aula.

When faced with a defiant student, staying calm is crucial. It sets a positive tone and prevents the situation from escalating. By modeling composure, you promote a safe and respectful learning environment. Use a firm yet respectful voice to communicate expectations, avoiding power struggles. Remember, maintaining your own calmness allows you to effectively manage the behavior and guide the student towards positive choices.

Enfrentar a un estudiante desafiante requiere mantener la calma para recuperar el control del aula. Respira profundamente y evita reacciones impulsivas, ya que una respuesta serena puede desescalar la situación. Usa un tono de voz bajo y firme para comunicar instrucciones claras, mostrando que tienes el control. Por ejemplo, en lugar de alzar la voz, puedes acercarte al estudiante y hablarle en privado. Implementa técnicas de redirección, guiando al estudiante hacia comportamientos positivos. Refuerza las normas del aula con consistencia y empatía, demostrando que estás ahí para apoyar, no para castigar. Mantener la calma también sirve como modelo de autocontrol para el resto de la clase.

The teacher must be the leader in this situation, not only for the student in crisis, but the entire classroom. Using repeated choices for the disruptive student to change their behavior, separating the student from their peers, and using an even cadence have all been tested and effective methods to regain control of a defiant student.

Las reglas son un criterio obligatorio que el docente debe manejar y es establecer los limites desde el principio, como una relacion. Por eso, la importancia de manejar los criterios y por supuesto, con la experiencia de estos participantes se va creciendo en experiencia y habilidades. Siempre digo, que al momento de usted estar impartiendo una formacion, la autoridad es el docente, facilitador, profesor, y asi como el respeta a sus participantes, debe recibir respeto.

Revisiting rules with a defiant student can be done through a one-on-one discussion where you clarify expectations and consequences. For example, using a behavior reflection sheet allows the student to reflect on their actions and understand the impact on themselves and others. Consistency in enforcing these rules shows fairness and reinforces that boundaries are non-negotiable. 🚫

Setting up rules is imperative in bahaviour management. There are clear rules that guide the class when I'm delivering lessons. These are rules set in collaboration with the whole class and therefore, the class takes ownership and it is expected that everybody abides by them. An example of the rule set, 'Respect everyone's views' This in a way, has helped to check misbehaviour

Employing positive reinforcement with a defiant student involves highlighting moments when they display desired behavior, such as participating in class discussions or completing assignments on time. For instance, creating a “success chart” where the student earns stickers or points for positive actions can be motivating. Celebrating small victories encourages the student to continue making positive choices in the classroom. 🌟

Positive reinforcement in the learning process is highly important. It helps to check defiant behaviour among learners. I, once used this in my class when a defiant learner actively participated in the lesson. I praised her and drew the attention of others about her good behaviour.

Changing strategies may be essential during the defiant situation. Preparing for this possibility is essential. Consider communicating with previous teachers, parents, and administrators about what methods have and have not been successful with a particular student. During situations, you may need to employ these methods. Communication with fellow teachers and those experienced with this student before your encounters will be beneficial.

To avoid it: Prepare, prepare, prepare: Strong classroom management starts with preparation. Create a strong classroom environment that upholds rules, promotes respect, and reduces instances of defiance. Develop pre-selected consequences for defiant behavior with your students. Discuss and write them down together, emphasizing cause and effect. This approach helps students recognize the consequences of noncompliance and identify the necessary support.