Classroom fighting: what really works

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Classroom Management Chatboard

Classroom fighting: what really works

by Brandi

Mar 17, 2011

Hello,

I am in grad school for an MAT and right now we are studying classroom management. While reading the chapter on the topic, something said in the 'fighting' segment confused me. The book instructs that if students begin to engage in fighting the teacher should not physically intervene, sternly command the students to stop while relating consequences for their actions and ask another student to go and alert another adult. My question is do any of these strategies really work? They don't sound effective. I remember in grade school fights were usually broken up by students so...I don't see how teachers can be effective following these rules. Like, what would be the point of asking a student to get another teacher if that teacher is also unable to physically intervene or do anything but what the original teacher has already done? I was just wondering, do these strategies really work or do teachers resort to other methods to break up fights? Thank you

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you're right! On 3/17/11, Brandi wrote: > Hello, > > I am in grad school for an MAT and right now we are studying > classroom management. While reading the chapter on the > topic, something said in the 'fighting' segment confused me. > The book instructs that if students begin to engage in > fighting the teacher should not physically interve...See More

Mar 18, 2011

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Donna Kosloff Brandi,

You always want another adult present as a witness since children can say the things that may not have happened. Also, with the presence of another adult possibly the students will stop fighting feeling overpowered without any physical intervention on the part of the teacher.

On 3/17/11, Brandi wrote: > Hello, > &g...See More

Mar 19, 2011

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Prof. Howard Seeman On 3/17/11, Brandi wrote: > Hello, > > I am in grad school for an MAT and right now we are studying > classroom management. While reading the chapter on the > topic, something said in the 'fighting' segment confused me. > The book instructs that if students begin to engage in > fighting the teacher should not physically interve...See MoreOn 3/17/11, Brandi wrote: > Hello, > > I am in grad school for an MAT and right now we are studying > classroom management. While reading the chapter on the > topic, something said in the 'fighting' segment confused me. > The book instructs that if students begin to engage in > fighting the teacher should not physically intervene, > sternly command the students to stop while relating > consequences for their actions and ask another student to go > and alert another adult. My question is do any of these > strategies really work? They don't sound effective. I > remember in grade school fights were usually broken up by > students so...I don't see how teachers can be effective > following these rules. Like, what would be the point of > asking a student to get another teacher if that teacher is > also unable to physically intervene or do anything but what > the original teacher has already done? I was just wondering, > do these strategies really work or do teachers resort to > other methods to break up fights? > Thank you

Best to not try to stop a fight by yourself. If you can get another teacher to help, each of you separate each fighter. It is not worth much to try to get to the bottom of who started the fight. The "cause" may go back many days/weeks, and the simmering to fight is often ambiguous. Best to have warnings and consequences for both in the fight, regardless of trying to figure out who "started" it. Of course, you can also teach conflict resloution. It is hard to explain more on just email about this. I have written a whole book and made a training video on these problems: The book and Training Video: PREVENTING Classroom Discipline Problems

If you can get this book and video: [they are in some libraries, so you don't have to buy them] email me and I can refer you to the sections of the book and video [that demonstrates the effective vs. the ineffective teacher] that can help you.

If your library does not have them, you can get them at:

[link removed]

that are also used in my online course: [link removed]

where I also offer individual tutorials on these issues. See: Reviews at: [link removed]

If you cannot get the book or video, email me anyway, and I will try to help more.

Best regards,

Howard

Howard Seeman, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, City Univ. of New York

Prof. Seeman [email removed]

Mar 19, 2011

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Nik On 3/17/11, Brandi wrote: > Hello, > > I am in grad school for an MAT and right now we are studying > classroom management. While reading the chapter on the > topic, something said in the 'fighting' segment confused me. > The book instructs that if students begin to engage in > fighting the teacher should not physically interve...See More

Mar 30, 2011

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