Conflict and behavior challenges
About these videos
Here are three videos that deal with three different behavior challenges: some students doing less work than others on group projects; one potentially disruptive student in a group situation; and dealing with a fight that happened at recess. Note how each of these situations is handled in a way that strengthens rather than harms building of care and community in the classroom.
Mishael Hittie deals with behavior challenges
This video starts with Mishael Hittie engaging in a discussion with her class regarding some student doing more and others less than their share. Note how she takes a suggestion of one of the students. Note the respectful way this conversation occurs.
Halina and Jerome
This is a very short video. Jerome (not his real name) often causes problems in the classroom. Note how he is standing and moving around a lot. But Halina gives him space while talking with him in a very respectful way. Her allowing him opportunity to move, which he needs, assures his attention. The problem behavior does not grow. What does this tell you about one way of dealing with student behavior challenges?
Teacher Sue Grady facilitating a discussion about a playground fight
Some kids got into a fight at playground time. Rather than implementing punishments Sue got the kids together in a circle and they discussed what happened and what could be done. One of the children said “I felt left out”. “Let’s stop right there. Two kids are running and one felt left out. What could have been done then? What could have happened had you used an ‘I’ message?” Pay close attention. Look at the kids. They are totally engrossed in the discussion. They are literally learning a key process in building community - solving differences and hurt feelings. Note that Sue asks two the two kids who were involved in the fight to come up with activities for the entire class that will prevent fights in the future. Pay close attention to the rest of the video. What are the children learning?