I really wanted to share my experience of Behaviour Management throughout my time as a trainee teacher. In my last placement which I’m sure all third year students @PlymUni found challenging, I was lucky (or not so lucky) enough to be punched in the head by a year four pupil.
My first reaction was shock… I couldn’t believe I had actually been punched by a child and with such anger as well. How was I supposed to go about this? What punishment would be suitable enough for this child? Why did he do it? And that’s where I began looking at the bigger picture. What had I done for him to punch me?
The child was born with Alcohol Fetal Syndrome (For more information) He was of the lowest level in the class still working at p-levels. His behaviour was varied and he had no support which I did not agree with. Throughout my lessons and his own class teacher, he would constantly be distracting other children or just generally not paying attention. He would stare of into space, slap his own face and look around to see if anyone had noticed. In general, he was a very distracted young boy. I also found after studying him for the several weeks I was with him that he had no friendship group within the class. He was seen by other children as below them and because of his size as well as his behaviour, he was constantly ignored or bullied.
During the afternoon Science session I had been taking, he had been particularly naughty and so I sent him to the “Nurture Room”- a place for the children in the school with SEN where they could relax. During his time there, he had made Chocolate Rice Crispy cakes. When he bought these back to the class and showed them to me, I jokingly asked, “Are they for me?” When he replied, “No, they’re for my mum,” I said, “Aww, I would really like one. I think I might take one home with me!” To which I felt a thud in the head and heard a gasp come from my class.
Had I not thought about what I had done during the afternoon by taking him out of the class, I would have sent him to the head straight away. Instead, I asked him why he had done it. He simply shrugged his shoulders and smiled. This is when I took him out of the classroom to the SENCo (Special Education Needs Coordinator) and asked him to explain what he had done. Once he had finished explaining, I then explained what I had done/said. Taking these into consideration, she came to the conclusion that he should still be punished as no matter what, a pupil should NEVER hit a teacher/child/adult etc.
I felt so awful after this (he was given lunchtime detention every day for the week) but after serious consideration, if he had not have been punished for punching someone, what would he have done next or who would he have punched next? A child in the lower years?
As a student teacher I find it so hard to find the line in behaviour management. I feel I cope well when it comes to managing behaviour in the class when it is at its minimum. My confidence when dealing with much more serious issues however is not as high as I would like it to be.
How do other trainee teachers feel about this? Has anyone every come across a child like this?
Jennifer Butterworth
Year 3 BEd Music
Jenny, this sounds horrible. I was sworn at whilst in a rough Plym school and this shocked me to the point of being stunned, however being punched would leave me with no idea what to do.
Maybe this could have been avoided in hindsight with your resulting action to him bringing in what seems like (not that I agree with) a reward for being sent out. He had just got back from the nurture room, got away with disrupting your class by cooking and then finds out his teacher wants to have this present for his mum. He loses, he wins, and then he could potentially lose what he has won. Seems like a roller coaster for a unstable child, and in one sense I would have asked why the school allowed him to get away with disrupting your class.
Just my two pennies, and i’m well tired, but thats my initial view.
Henry
Hi Jennifer,
I’m a teacher and have experienced what you’ve just described to varying degrees. In fact in my last job I had a child that had kicked me, spat on me and punched me in the face so I know how you must have felt. This same child two terms later was quite different and much calmer, responsive, happier and to be honest very pleasant to work with… so there is hope!
There are several things that I love about this post. Your honesty for one but also the reflectiveness of it. You’ve obviously considered this child’s behaviour quite carefully and can see fairly clearly why he behaves the way he does and unfortunately behaviours like this are often dealt with in a way that makes it much easier for adults but not necessarily better for the child. Obviously on placement you are quite limited in what you can do however, I would say that your insight into the potential causes for the disruptions will benefit you very well when you have your own class. All the hostility and negativity can be made better for the child. Although, from personal experience it does take a lot of personal investment of time and patience. Obviously not every person is willing to invest this and nor should they as it often goes way beyond the realms of what we are employed to do. If you do have the time and passion though, the difference you can make is amazing and you will see these kids turn into something quite different.
Thanks for the post and the honesty.
Sarah
Hi Henry!!
I can totally understand where you’re coming from! The fact that I had sent him to the nurture room was at the time a wise idea. I forgot to mention that I had specifically said to the TA in there that he had misbehaved and that I’ve asked him to sit in with the group and watch what they’re doing etc but she took it into her own hands to reward him by letting him make something. I was so agitated by this but I didn’t say anything as I didn’t want them to think I was trying to take control of their own personal behaviour management. It’s just a shame they didn’t trust my judgement in the first place as it landed him in more trouble.
And Hi Sarah!
Thank you for your kind comment! They have been really insightful and I am so glad that I am not the only one that has been kicked/punched/spat on etc!!
Jenny