NODEA: A Structured Approach towards Successfully Addressing Student Classroom Misbehavior

WARM-UPAs you get settled, form groups of 3 or 4 and:

1. Share examples of disruptive, negative, or “rude” student behavior which you have encountered within the last year (or yesterday! )

2. Be prepared to share an example (or two) with all

Scott E. Sutherland, MS Ed. (TESOL)Manager of ESL Student Affairs

Summary of Examples

Potentially Disruptive Behaviors•L-1 Talk•Side conversations•Blurting out•Cell phone usage•Frequent tardiness•Non-Participation•Talking across class•Talking over others •Lack of turn taking•Unrelated Qs or comments

•Qs during test •Requests for make-up work•Not following directions•Arguing with teacher•Publically challenging teacher•Negotiations for grades, HW, absences, etc.•Other disrespect or rude behavior?

Various Corrective Methods

• Extra Patience• Reasoning• Personal Charm• Wittiness• Sarcasm• The gaze of scorn• Force of personality

• Verbal Warnings • Verbal Threats• Ignoring• Bribes• Begging• Asked to leave• Other Tricks??

BUT, what do we do if these methods aren’t working?

Results of Unresolved Issues• Teacher frustration• Class frustration• Growing classroom tension• Negative learning environment• Low teacher + student morale• Negative school reputation• Students leaving our program??

Letter from AdvisorOne of our students ___________ is having a hard time with her _________ classmates. Seems like they don't turn off or have their cell phones put away in the class and they are always ringing. They don't listen to their teachers, they always talk back to their teachers. They always interrupt the class. As a result, their classes are not delivered well. Most of the serious motivated students are complaining about their classmates. The student asked me to change to another class to somewhere in the same level. I said it was hard to change the class now though. The student said their attitude to the teachers is very rude. They don't respect them at all.The student feels very stressful all the time in the class. They complain when teachers give them homework. They start asking teachers why why why for 15-20 minutes. The student is very sick of this kind of stuff. This is more serious problem than cellphone issue, the student said. Maybe it is very hard to change their attitude to the teachers, but if this keeps going on, UCI might be losing motivated students in the future. This is from our student's story. I would like to share with you. Thank you. Advisor from Sponsoring Agency

Letter from SponsorOne of our students ___________ is having a hard time with her _________ classmates. Seems like they don't turn off or have their cell phones put away in the class and they are always ringing. They don't listen to their teachers, they always talk back to their teachers. They always interrupt the class. As a result, their classes are not delivered well. Most of the serious motivated students are complaining about their classmates. The student asked me to change to another class to somewhere in the same level. I said it was hard to change the class now though. The student said their attitude to the teachers is very rude. They don't respect them at all.The student feels very stressful all the time in the class. They complain when teachers give them homework. They start asking teachers why why why for 15-20 minutes. The student is very sick of this kind of stuff. This is more serious problem than cellphone issue, the student said. Maybe it is very hard to change their attitude to the teachers, but if this keeps going on, UCI might be losing motivated students in the future. This is from our student's story. I would like to share with you. Thank you. Advisor from Sponsoring Agency

Use of cell phonesNot following directionsTalking backInterrupting classAffecting lessonClass discordRude and disrespectfulStressed studentsFrustrationProgram reputation

UCI Student Code of Conduct

“Student conduct that substantially or repeatedly interferes with the ability of an instructor to teach, or the ability of other students to learn, is a violation of university policy.”

Office of Student Conduct

Conclusion

Finding (or developing) successful strategies to address repetitive student misbehavior

is not an option

and part of our responsibility (as faculty and administrators)

is to help establish and maintain a positive learning environmentin our classrooms and programs

7 points of Overall Advice1. Interpret disruptions as teaching opps, not “police” episodes

– Most offences are classroom behavioral issues, not personal attacks 2. Reconsider your attitude towards confrontation

– Care to Confront! Value confrontation as an act of caring3. Confront now, avoid later! Avoid now, pay later!

– Timely confrontations deal with frustrations before they deal with you4. Know that verbal admonishments solve some, not all problems

– Supported by fair consequences, verbal confrontations can solve “many” 5. Address only specific behavior

– Separate behavior from your perception of student’s worth or potential6. Address “present” behavior, NOT “the series” of episodes7. Understand your students, your school policy, your authority,

yourself, and your options– Individualize your approach, as needed

How do we begin?

N-O-D-E-A PROCESS CHART

Schedule Private

Meeting

The Personal Meeting

In my experience and research, a personal teacher/student meeting,

though sometimes difficult, can provide the best environment

to address individual repetitive misbehavior

Let’s Talk aboutCONFRONTATION

• “to meet face-to-face” http://www.thefreedictionary.com/confront

• Merriam/Webster http://www.merriam-webster.com/

– Our first idea- “to oppose or challenge (someone) especially in a direct and forceful way”

– A better definition- “to deal with (something) in an honest and direct way”

HINTS 4 - the Personal Meeting

– Check your initial emotional reaction to the event– Allow yourself time to consider the best approach– When asking for a meeting, be respectful but firm– Make the meeting important– Make the meeting private– Once meeting is set, prepare yourself

Suggested Procedure for Personal MeetingsN-O-D-E-A

– Note specific inappropriate behavior with reasons – Outline boundaries of acceptable behavior within

the student’s need– Detail consequences for repeated behavior– Ensure understanding by having student explain– Affirm your commitment to the student’s and the

class’ best interest

N-O-D-E-A PROCESS CHART

Schedule Private Meeting

Note specific inappropriate behavior with

reasons

Outline boundaries of acceptable

behavior within the student’s need

Detail consequences for repeated behavior

Ensure understanding by

having the student explain

Affirm your commitment to the student’s and the class’ best interest

“Volunteer” Role-Play Example

• ______ is a student in Scott’s class. Though Scott informed all students that there is a policy against it, ______ had his cell phone out in class. Scott quietly asked him to put it away, and the next day reinforced to the entire class the policy.

• Shockingly, this week, Scott noticed ______ texting under the table in class. Scott wants to address this behavior.

• The following ensues. . .

Role-Play Review : N-O-D-E-A

• How were the following addressed?– Note specific inappropriate behavior with reasons – Outline boundaries of acceptable behavior within the

student’s need– Detail consequences for repeated behavior– Ensure understanding by having student explain– Affirm your commitment to the student’s and the class’

best interest

Role Play Group Set-up

• Work in groups of 3. – Two members role play – teacher and student – One observer

• After role play, Observer makes comments on the teacher’s dealing with the issue.– Were all the steps done?– Did it seem effective?– Any other suggestion/comments?

Role Play Practice #1• Student Speed E. Racer repeatedly comes late to class and

returns late after class breaks. Though you have marked him late and/or absent for these occurrences, and have talked to him about this several times, his chronic tardiness is distracting you and other students. Speed E. appears not to notice or not to care much about his behavior. Talk to him about the situation.

– Note inappropriate behavior – Outline acceptable behavior – Detail consequences – Ensure understanding– Affirm your commitment

OBSERVER1) Were the steps done?2) Did it seem effective?3) Other suggestion/comments?

Role Play Practice #2• Student Jackie Sparrow repeatedly interrupts your

lectures or class discussions by blurting out comments or questions which are unrelated to the topic. She rarely raises her hand before doing so. She also talks over people without turn taking.– Note inappropriate behavior – Outline acceptable behavior – Detail consequences – Ensure understanding– Affirm your commitment

OBSERVER1) Were the steps done?2) Did it seem effective?3) Other suggestion/comments?

Role Play Practice #3• Student Tom Slick is the class joker. He speaks in his

L1 frequently, makes side comments when you lecture, and challenged you in class when you asked him to stop. Speak with him about these things. – Note inappropriate behavior – Outline acceptable behavior – Detail consequences – Ensure understanding– Affirm your commitment

OBSERVER1) Were the steps done?2) Did it seem effective?3) Other suggestion/comments?

N-O-D-E-A PROCESS CHART

Schedule Private Meeting

Note specific inappropriate behavior with

reasons

Outline boundaries of acceptable

behavior within the student’s need

Detail consequences for repeated behavior

Ensure understanding by

having the student explain

Affirm your commitment to the student’s and the class’ best interest

Questions / Comments

Thanks for your participation!Flyers available for PPT or other contact