Week 4 Discussion - What Now?

Based on this scenario, it is unclear if this behavior is typical of this teacher or not, and it is also unclear whether or not the teacher has reached out previously to express a need for support with this student. Regardless, I would begin to address his or her concern and defuse the situation by asking the teacher to explain the what has occurred to elicit this demand. Giving the teacher time to describe the situation and express his or her feelings is important, so I can learn more about the teacher’s perspective, make sure they feel heard, and gain understanding of the situation at hand.

After the teacher finishes talking, I would ask him or her about any strategies that have been used with this student to address behavioral concerns, ones that have been successful and ones that have not. I would also ask about communication with the student’s family about the teacher’s concerns. From here, I would suggest some strategies, including creating a behavior plan, that can be put into place to support this student in the classroom. I would connect the teacher with other faculty members that can support him or her such as the guidance counselor, school psychologist, teammates with strengths in handling similar situations, or even the district behavior specialist. If the concerns expressed by the teacher warrant it, I would also let the teacher know that I will meet with the student to seek his or her insight and address any issues that have been identified.

  I would remind the teacher that he or she is not alone in this, but I would not give in to the teacher’s demands of removing the student from the class. It is unlikely that the student’s behaviors will be fixed by moving them to a different classroom. The root causes of the behaviors must be identified and addressed. Before ending the meeting with the teacher, I would make sure that we are both in agreement about our plans for moving forward such as working with me, the guidance counselor, or psychologist to gather behavioral data and create a behavior plan, as well as communicating this plan with the parents and explaining how they can help support these efforts at home. I would also let the teacher know that when I am doing instructional rounds and visiting classrooms, I will keep an eye on this student’s behavior. After the meeting, I would make a note in my calendar to check back with this teacher in a week or two to see how the plan is working.