A child in class screams at the top of her lungs.
Another child slams the door in a rage.
Yet another runs to the top of the slide and refuses to come inside until chased.
How we handle these situations matters. In the most difficult of times we must maintain our grace and dignity and respond in this order: Firm. Fair. Then friendly.
Children can understand what is and is not acceptable, and they can even manipulate those they know accept more than others when it comes to defiant behavior.
When teaching a large class of children it is important that all teachers in the room act as a united front. All have the same expectations and standards for the children, and all carry themselves with a calm and assertive demeanor. When we let the child’s behavior dictate our emotions and reactions, we lose.
