Encouraging good classroom behavior

TEACHERS play such an influential and important role in the life a child. The l ast thing a teacher wants, but so often gets, is a rude child. Teachers will usually try to address the behavior themselves, but they need the support of those at home to help create a lasting change.

I f your child i s rude to his teachers, there are things that you can do to help put a stop to it. You just need to be willing to tackle the problem once and for all.

The last thing any parent wants is for their child to be the “bad kid” in class. You may notice that your child acts one way at home but you are told his behavior in the classroom is completely different.

As a parent, it is important to encourage your child to have good classroom behavior and to view teachers as the authority figure they truly are.

Whether your child has come home from school with a note about unacceptable behavior or his teacher has called to tell you about bad behavior, most parents know that sometimes behavior incidents occur. Discuss these incidents with your elementary-aged child and his teacher to ensure you are doing all you can to nip bad behavior in the bud.

Why there are children classified as “rude” in school? Some mothers called to principal office for having kids that caused altercations at school would explain that their “learning disabled” children are loud, impulsive and have high-emotional responses that stem from their Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

ADHD kids would also misinterpret social cues and interactions. They would respond to life situations whether in school or outside based on their emotions. They might get refinement from school, when good behavior is encouraged by teachers, thus their words would start to include, “Excuse me,” or “Would it be okay if..?” Kids with ADHD also develop refinement, but they haphazardly use their social graces, which escape them especially in frustrating situations. When they feel threatened, kids with

ADHD tend to react poorly. Social judgment eludes them. Hearing their names coupled with bad comments so frequently may lead some to develop an “I’ll get you before you get me” response pattern.

In this day and age, everybody is stressed and nobody’s got time. Parents are working harder than ever, and teachers have larger classrooms and more responsibilities. Believe me, if everybody had time and more resources, there would be a lot less friction between parents and schools. But that is not the case, so we just have to live with that and figure out how to manage it the best we can.

After all, we have the common goal of wanting our kids to behave responsibly and get an education. Schools have a legitimate interest in kids being compliant and respectful. Parents have a legitimate interest i n kids gett i ng an educat i on and l earning how to become independent. Parents and teachers should be on the same team. I think parents and teachers should work hard at being on the same team. I think the parent’s role is really, “How can we help the teacher do their job? What can we do at home?” And the teacher’s stance has to be, “In what areas do I need the parents’ support and what is my responsibility? How can we work together in keeping this child on track?” ( Paid article)