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Ali Valcourt
Mrs. Harrell
English 4 Honors
13 November 2014
Many new teachers become very frustrated with student behavior problems.
Unfortunately, student behavior problems come with the job description. Even mature
professionals sometimes have trouble quieting talkative types, avoiding power struggles, and
redirecting overly demanding students. There are five different type of student personalities that
interrupt the classroom environment; the chatterbox, the boycotter, the debater, the sulker, and
the clinger. Teachers are trained about different methods when it comes to preventing and
responding to troubled behavior and it is necessary for them to use those strategies.
There is an entire strategic process for dealing with disruptive student behavior, based on
clinical and classroom experience. To begin, the teacher needs to clarify the problem, identify
critical elements, describe the context in which the behavior occurs, and analyze emotional and
behavioral responses to the behavior. Next, factors are reviewed that may contribute to disruptive
classroom behavior. Then, when the entire situation is understood fully, the final steps are to
choose a response and evaluate the effectiveness of the method. Carefully considering the
questions and options can help one to become more effective in dealing with disruptive student
behavior. When selecting coping strategies, be realistic in what one can accomplish as an
instructor (Kuhlenschmidt and Layne 45-57).
Children will sometimes have difficulty staying in charge of their behavior, because
their brains are still developing and they dont have the ability to control themselves the way that
adults do (Seven Positive Strategies). All faculty are confronted with students who engage in

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behaviors that are disruptive to the educational process. If the behavior is ignored, or handled
poorly, even a single act of incivility can have a long term impact on the classroom environment.
Misbehavior may escalate to intolerable or dangerous levels. Teachers are trained using various
methods to prevent such situations. When a student talks nonstop, then the teacher should try a
strategic pause. A pause communicates the expectation that students look toward you, listen,
and subsequently respond. (Five Persistent Behaviors). If a student simply refuses to do
his/her work, it pulls the teacher into a power struggle. Giving the student a choice, with
consequences attached is a good strategy. For example, If you choose not to do the work now,
you will need to do it during free time. Using the word "choose" or "choice" is important
because students need to understand that they have control over how they behave. Their behavior
is their responsibility (Five Persistent Behaviors). When children are acting rash, the different
methods should be used, so that the child cant disrupt the entire learning atmosphere.
Teachers are trained so that if necessary, they can prevent one student from interrupting
the entire classroom. Teachers are taught many different methods in case one of the strategies
doesnt work with that child. Because children have different personalities when it comes to
student behavior, there are different techniques for each persona. Teachers are instructed about
when it comes to preventing and responding to troubled behavior and it is necessary for them to
use those specific procedures.

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Works Cited
"Five Persistent Behavior Problems and How to Handle Them (Grades 6-8) | Scholastic.com."
Scholastic Teachers. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Kuhlenschmidt, Sally L., and Layne, Lois. "Strategies for Dealing with Difficult Behavior." New
Directions for Teaching and Learning 1999.77 (1999): 45-57. Web.
"Seven Positive Strategies for Managing Aggressive Behavior in Young Children." Kidpower
Teenpower Fullpower International. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.

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Ali Valcourt
Mrs. Harrell
English 4 Honors
11/10/14
Research Question: What methods do teachers use to keep the classroom under control?
Working Thesis Statement: There are many methods that teachers are trained about when it
comes to preventing and responding to troubled behavior.
Refined Thesis Statement: Teachers are trained about different methods when it comes to
preventing and responding to troubled behavior and it is necessary for them to use those
strategies.
Annotated Bibliography
"Five Persistent Behavior Problems and How to Handle Them (Grades 6-8) | Scholastic.com."
Scholastic Teachers. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
This article identified five especially tricky classroom personalities and devised strategies
for handling them. The five personalities are characterized as: the chatterbox, the boycotter, the
debater, the sulker, and the clinger. The article explains different ways to deal with these types
of children. It gives the strategies so one can maintain better control and establish a calmer, more
productive atmosphere for the classroom. The article explains that many newer teachers become
frustrated really easily because of these type of children, and sometimes its not even new
teachers but even older, more experienced teachers become frustrated with them. Even seasoned

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professionals sometimes have trouble quieting talkative types, avoiding power struggles, and
redirecting overly demanding students.
Kuhlenschmidt, Sally L., and Lois E. Layne. "Strategies for Dealing with Difficult Behavior."
New Directions for Teaching and Learning 1999.77 (1999): 45-57. Web.
The paper gives a problem-solving strategy for dealing with disruptive student behavior,
based on clinical and classroom experience. This article has a series of steps or questions
designed to provide perspective on the problem behavior and aid in generating responses. It
describes the entire process throughout the paper. Each step is analyzed in the article. The first
step is clarifying the problem, identifying critical elements, describing the context in which the
behavior occurs, and analyzing emotional and behavioral responses to the behavior. Then,
factors are reviewed that may contribute to disruptive classroom behavior. After, when the entire
situation is understood fully, the final steps are to choose a response and evaluate the
effectiveness of the method. There is also a checklist that can be used to make sure that process
is done correctly. This article helps my research paper by analyzing a process that helps teachers
deal with disruptive student behavior.
"Seven Positive Strategies for Managing Aggressive Behavior in Young Children." Kidpower
Teenpower Fullpower International. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
This article explains seven strategies to prevent meltdowns in the classroom. One of the
strategies was to be prepared for when a child has a tantrum, because childrens brains are still
developing and they dont have the ability to control themselves the way that adults do. Another
method is to reduce and identify any causes of any stress that causes the meltdown. Teaching
students how to recognize and manage the feelings and actions that are lead to unsafe outbursts
can help reduce troubled behavior in the classroom. One must be a powerful, respectful adult

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leader when taking charge of an out-of-control child, because if that person isnt then the child
will continue to be out of control and will continue to be a problem because they know they can
get away with it. This article will help my research process, because it shows different strategies
to prevent tantrums and disruptive behavior in classrooms.