Types of Students and Teacher Discipline by Marian Jeanette G. Laxa, MA (July, 2006)

Teachers, in order to be effective, should be knowledgeable not just in the subject matter they teach, but also in handling students of different types. The students, especially those we call problem types, can be handled in a way that would be most beneficial for the class.

Student Problem Types Based on Teachers'
Description


Failure Syndrome- The students are convinced that they cannot do the work. They expect to fail, even after succeeding. Signs: easily frustrated, gives up easily, says "I can't do it."

Perfectionist- The students are unduly anxious about making mistakes. They are never satisfied with their work than they should be. Signs: often anxious, fearful or frustrated about quality of work.

Under Achiever- The students do the minimum to "get by." They do not value schoolwork. Signs: indifferent to schoolwork, minimum work output.

Low Achiever- The students have difficulty, even though they may be willing to work. Their problem is low potential rather than poor motivation. Signs: difficulty in following directions, difficulty in completing work, poor retention, progresses slowly.

Hostile Aggressive- The students express hostility through direct, intense behaviors. They are not easily controlled. Signs: intimidates and threatens, damages property, antagonizes.

Passive Aggressive- the students express opposition and resistance to the teachers, but indirectly. Signs: subtly oppositional and stubborn, tries to control, mars property rather than damages, disrupts surreptitiously, drags feet.

Defiant- The students resist authority and carry on a power struggle with the teacher. Signs: Resists verbally with statements such as "You can't make me..."; deliberately does what the teacher says not to do.

Hyperactive- the students show excessive and almost constant movement, even when sitting. Signs: squirms, giggles, jiggles, scratches, energetic but poorly directed, excessively touches objects or people.

Strategies for Managing Students with Problems

Accept the students as they are, but build on and accentuate their positive values.

Be yourself, since these students can recognize phoniness and take offense at such deceit.

Be confident, take charge of the situation, and don't give up in front of the students.

Provide structure, since many of these students lack inner control and are restless and impulsive.

Explain your rules and routines so students will understand them. Be sure your explanations are brief, otherwise you lose your effectiveness and you appear to be defensive or preaching.

Communicate positive expectations that you expect the students to learn and require academic work.

Rely on motivation, and not on your own prowess to maintain order, an interesting lesson can keep the students on task.

Be a firm friend, but maintain a psychological and physical distance so your students know you are still the teacher.

Keep calm, and keep your students calm, especially when conditions become tense or upsetting. It may be necessary to delay action until after class, when emotions have been reduced.

Size up the situation and be aware of undercurrents of behavior, since these students are sizing you up and are knowing manipulations of their environment.

from Strategies of Teaching by BOICER