Journal 12

It's important to remember to remain calm when you are frustrated with a child that is having difficulty. When you're upset, they sense that, and then they get stressed. As stated in ch 12, "Behavior is a concern for all teachers. Whether you teach 5-year-olds in a kindergarten class or 17-year-olds in 11th-grade English, the environment you create in your classroom affects whether students' inappropriate behaviors escalate or improve, and your response to such behaviors significantly influences students' learning."

Some ways you can help prevent this are:

• communicate well with students
• use effective teaching methods
• foster positive student interactions

Schoolwide strategies stated in the book are:

• use a soft voice at all times
• ask for assistance is something is spilled or dropped
• remove all trays and dispose of all trash when you are finished eating.

I also believe a big thing for teachers is to let the students know that you want to help, that you're on their side. If they feel they have created that trust with you, it's easier for the two (or more) of you to find a solution to whatever problem is present.