Mike Myatt (2012) warns managers
"Don't Fear
Conflict--Embrace it-it's your job". Teachers must adopt
the mindset that conflict is natural and healthy part of your job. Rather than
perceive conflict as a impediment for teaching it should be viewed as an
opportunity to develop your practice and for all to grow. Perhaps then
conflict would be confronted in a much more productive way and become in itself
a teachable moment where all stakeholders can benefit.
Myatt (2012) also
shared with managers 5 keys of dealing with workplace conflict which I will
restate with a teaching lens
1). Define Acceptable Behavior:
Teachers need to make PUBLICLY clear what their expectations are and what
is acceptable behavior. Myatt notes that manager can not assume that
people understand what is acceptable and should establish a framework.
Teachers likewise will also benefit from having clearly posted guidelines
and expectations defined and simplified. Expectations can be sent home
and signed by parents and students.
2) Hit Conflict Head On:
Teachers just like managers need to seek out areas of potential conflict and
devise strategies to intervene and circumvent disruptive behavior. An
ounce of behavior is worth a pound of cure. Remember the younger the student the less likely they are to have strategies to resolve conflict appropriately. Take a copy of my Sentence Starters for helping students articulate their ideas.
3). Understanding the WIIF Factor: The
WIIF factor is "Whats in it for me" is important for teachers to
consider when managing disruptive classroom behavior. Rather than
approach a situation from the lens of I can't do my job because you are being
disruptive, approach the student from the stance of what the benefit is
for the student. If students see the value in what they are doing and how
it will help them then they will be motivated to do the task.
4). The Importance Factor: Timing
is everything and when we respond to conflicts in the moment this may cause us
to act out of character or out of emotion. Determining when to pull a
student aside to discuss an issue is critical, but also teachers need to think
critically about whether a potential conflict can be ignored. If students are
constantly being redirected for behavior they can not control this can cause an
uncomfortable dynamic in your personal relationships. Having ten minutes set aside for students to work independently and for you to speak to students individually is critical.
5) View Conflict as Opportunity: This
is especially true for teachers as conflict in the classroom reveal areas for
growth and ways we can support our students in being successful not only in the
classroom but throughout their life.
Preservice teachers can certainly
benefit from addressing potential conflicts they will face as new teachers in
the classroom.
In this Voicethread post
I challenge my students to respond to these 3 situations in a way that is
proactive and seeks solutions that develop students' capacity to manage their
own behavior.
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