Minimizing Disruption

Prevention is the key ingredient in classroom management. The more preventative maintenance that can be done through proactive strategies, the less likely teachers will encounter problem behavior. That said,even the best classrooms experience crisis. For harder classrooms, behavior problems will be a common occurrence that results from a growing “culture of disrespect” that has infiltrated our schools. For others, discipline problems may be rare, occurring only in unusual circumstances.

When challenging behavior does occur, teachers must be equipped with the necessary tools to handle such challenges in a way that still holds offending students accountable while minimizing disruption. This is a delicate matter, but it can be achieved in all but the most extreme circumstances through the use of the proactive strategies taught in this course.

In all cases, an optimal response to misbehavior begins before the first disruption has occurred.Teachers must commit to dealing with behavior problems by first recognizing the nature or threat of the behavior to student learning and responding appropriately. Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional. With prompt attention paid to emergent misbehavior through early intervention strategies, up to 90 percent of minor behavior problems can be eliminated in the classroom.