Taking the time early on to structure situations will help manage difficult behaviors in the long run. Change or new occurrences can be upsetting or confusing, so it’s best to be predicable. Set expectations and establish routines and stick to them. Make a daily schedule and give students time to process the information. Students will be most successful when they know what is expected of them when.

It is easier to manage difficult behavior when you have strong relationships with your students. One way to build these relationships is to build a positive self-image. Identify and recognize each student’s strengths and unique qualities. Provide opportunities to showcase their skills and talents through classroom jobs and responsibilities. When you develop your students’ self-image, they feel valued and seem themselves as valuable people.

We all know children are impressionable, so it’s important to remember your actions strongly influence students’ behavior. Be the person you want your students to be and model appropriate behavior. When you make rules and set standards for the classroom, you must demonstrate expectations and lead by example. By following rules and meeting standards in front of your students, they in turn will learn and adopt the proper behavior.