Determining the Needs of Problem Students

It is crucial to identify problem students, who can be characterized by various behaviors:

  • Shyness or lack of confidence: These students do not have confidence in themselves.
  • Low self-esteem: They lack confidence and do not have a high opinion of themselves.
  • Excessive talkativeness: Their talkative nature disrupts the class.
  • Overconfidence: These students overestimate their abilities, potentially leading to management issues.
  • Aggression or violence: Their aggressive behavior can endanger other students.
  • Bullying: These students bully others, making their peers victims.
  • Psychological trauma: Students suffering from trauma can exhibit disruptive behaviors.
  • Learning difficulties: These can range from conditions like dyslexia and autism to general academic challenges.

Determining the Needs of Problem Students: The needs of problem students can be identified through:

  • Student profiles: Maintain detailed profiles for each student.
  • Behavior portfolios: Track behavior patterns systematically.
  • Keen observation: Monitor potential problem students closely.
  • Peer interactions: Observe how they interact with their peers.
  • Parental liaison: Maintain close relationships with parents.
  • School counselor liaison: Collaborate with school counselors to identify and address issues.

Attention to Problematic Students: These students require special attention, including:

  • Constant supervision
  • Specialized short- and long-term programs
  • Referrals to counselors
  • Close coordination among caregivers, peers, teachers, and school staff

Group Processes (Overt Management Approach)

Group processes are vital for managing classroom dynamics effectively. Teachers should instruct students on how to participate in group work to promote appropriate behavior and learning. Effective group interaction includes:

  • Teacher’s alertness: Monitor groups continuously.
  • Reasonable expectations: Set realistic goals for group work.
  • Sharing of leadership: Allow all students the opportunity to lead.
  • Group maintenance activities: Allocate time and define roles for group activities in advance to reduce chaos and enhance success.

Permissiveness (Overt Classroom Management Approach)

Permissiveness is generally considered a negative approach, characterized by maximum student freedom and minimal control, which can lead to:

  • Severe classroom management issues: Lack of discipline can prevent teachers from meeting their teaching targets.
  • Loss of teacher authority: Students may perceive the teacher as powerless, leading to further disruptions.

Covert Management Approaches

Covert management approaches are implicit strategies used to encourage desired behaviors within the school environment. These approaches should be integrated into:

  • School culture: Reflecting behavioral norms and values.
  • Curriculum: Embedding management strategies within lesson plans and school activities.

Covert Approaches Include:

  • Core values and norms
  • Traditions
  • Societal expectations

These elements should be part of the hidden curriculum, ensuring students internalize the desired behaviors and values.


Covert Management Strategies

Covert management strategies can be implemented in various school settings, such as:

  • School Assembly: Reinforce behaviors through stories and anecdotes.
  • Tutorials: Use teacher-student interactions to communicate desired behaviors.
  • Lesson Plans: Incorporate behavior reinforcement into academic content.
  • Sport Activities: Teach behavior patterns through practical application.
  • Extra-Curricular Activities: Promote awareness of behavior standards.
  • Behavioral interactions: Model appropriate behaviors in all interactions.
  • Out-of-school interactions: Ensure students uphold school values outside of school.
  • Stakeholder information: Communicate expected behaviors to all stakeholders.
  • Reinforcement: Consistently reinforce behavior patterns.
  • Assessment: Include behavior in student and teacher evaluations.

Multiple Choice Questions

Determining the Needs of Problem Students

  1. Which of the following is NOT considered a characteristic of a problem student?
    • A) Shyness or lack of confidence
    • B) Low self-esteem
    • C) High academic achievement
    • D) Aggressiveness

Answer: C) High academic achievement

  1. How can teachers determine the needs of problem students?
    • A) Ignoring their behavior
    • B) Only interacting with parents
    • C) Using student profiles and behavior portfolios
    • D) Assigning extra homework

Answer: C) Using student profiles and behavior portfolios

  1. What is an important step in addressing the needs of problem students?
    • A) Constant watch and specialized programs
    • B) Ignoring their needs
    • C) Providing minimal supervision
    • D) Letting them handle their issues independently

Answer: A) Constant watch and specialized programs

Group Processes (Overt Management Approach)

  1. Why is it important for teachers to instruct students on group processes?
    • A) To create confusion and chaos
    • B) To promote appropriate individual behavior and learning
    • C) To minimize learning material usage
    • D) To discourage group work

Answer: B) To promote appropriate individual behavior and learning

  1. Which of the following promotes effective group interaction?
    • A) Teacher’s alertness
    • B) Ignoring group dynamics
    • C) Setting unreasonable expectations
    • D) Discouraging leadership sharing

Answer: A) Teacher’s alertness

Permissiveness (Overt Classroom Management Approach)

  1. What is a potential danger of the permissiveness approach?
    • A) Improved classroom discipline
    • B) Enhanced teacher authority
    • C) Severe classroom management issues
    • D) Increased student responsibility

Answer: C) Severe classroom management issues

  1. In a permissive classroom, the teacher’s primary objective is to:
    • A) Maintain strict discipline
    • B) Deliver lectures and complete teaching targets
    • C) Engage in constant supervision
    • D) Foster a highly controlled environment

Answer: B) Deliver lectures and complete teaching targets

Covert Management Approaches

  1. Covert management approaches are used to:
    • A) Explicitly enforce rules
    • B) Implicitly encourage desired behaviors
    • C) Ignore behavior management
    • D) Punish students for misbehavior

Answer: B) Implicitly encourage desired behaviors

  1. Which of the following should be a part of covert management approaches?
    • A) School culture and curriculum
    • B) Strict disciplinary actions
    • C) Public punishments
    • D) Ignoring societal expectations

Answer: A) School culture and curriculum

Covert Management Strategies

  1. Which of the following is an example of a covert management strategy?
    • A) Directly scolding students in public
    • B) Reinforcing behaviors through stories during school assembly
    • C) Ignoring student interactions
    • D) Giving extra homework as punishment

Answer: B) Reinforcing behaviors through stories during school assembly

  1. Covert management strategies can be communicated through:
    • A) School assemblies and tutorials
    • B) Ignoring extracurricular activities
    • C) Solely focusing on academic content
    • D) Minimal student interaction

Answer: A) School assemblies and tutorials

  1. An important aspect of covert management strategies is:
    • A) Keeping behavior patterns separate from the curriculum
    • B) Integrating behavior reinforcement into all aspects of school life
    • C) Reducing the emphasis on behavior management
    • D) Solely focusing on punitive measures

Answer: B) Integrating behavior reinforcement into all aspects of school life