Chew Gum In The Classroom

Our text discusses the principle of least intervention to aid in effective classroom behavioral management in the simplest and least disruptive way. There are ways to manage classroom misbehaviors with students that would be effective and promote positive relationships with students as well. In the specific instances mentioned above, for students chewing gum, doodling, reading comic books, not staying in their seat, I would address each of these differently.

With gum chewing, I would ask the student if they are aware that we do not chew gum in the classroom. Once they answer and tell me the rule, I would then ask them to spit it out and let them know the next time there would be a point deduction or a loss of privilege. Gum can be a sticky thing in a preschool classroom, and typically it will not stay in the preschooler's mouth, thus it is something …show more content…
They are not doing things on purpose, per say, and if they are they are testing their limits. There will be times of frustration, but it will be important to reinforce with the student that you are still there for them. I would talk with students and put a plan in place to help with preventing or dissolving the behavior as quickly as possible when it comes up. I would give students reminders, praise, and I would apply the same consequences that other students face for that student.

What is important to remember is to treat each student and their behavior individually, and be sure that students still feel safe, cared for, and accepted in the classroom. It will be important to support the positive behaviors of these students in the same way that you do with other students, but to not compare one student's behavior to another. There are ways to engage students in the classroom that will help to squash troublesome behaviors, as it begins to make them feel like they have a