You and your biggest challenges.

I read this article regarding some of the biggest challenges that new teachers face and this is what I found:

New teachers can often be overwhelmed by having to deal with recursive problem behavior. It is a challenge that inevitably occurs for new teachers and can cause one to second guess their decision to become a teacher. However, by better understanding the root of student behavior a teacher is better equipped to manage a class. A teacher must manage issues when they first occur but it is important to implement long term change as well. Being clear when setting expectations, consequences, choice, and consistency in every day positive responses are a vital start. Long term change is about building strong relationships with difficult students and this takes time to develop. By then investigating the child’s behaviors based on their actions, and understanding what they mean for the child a teacher can be able to gain an understanding to support change. Although the curriculum has created an emphasis on personalized learning, it is more about tracking their ability to meet curriculum targets as opposed to valuing their personal and diverse abilities. Individuals that might be labeled as having ‘behavior problems’ in school are able to later cultivate creative or entrepreneurial skills in later years, underlining the idea that there is no one-size-fits-all format for dealing with behavioral issues. Moreover, by shifting to solution-focused thinking, one can get to the root of a student’s issues eradicating the behavioral disruption. Asking questions about why they are feeling something and offering a solution is an example of this. It is important as a teacher to understand that the expectations of a school do not always make sense for all students.    

Roffey, S. (2011). You and your biggest challenges. In The new teacher’s survival guide to behaviour (pp. 91-126). London: SAGE Publications Ltd doi: 10.4135/9781446252000.n7