Dealing with Discipline Problems

The best way for Sunday School teachers and children and youth workers in other Bible classes to deal with behavioral issues is to first determine the cause of the problem. Do not assume that the underlying cause is the same for each student. Following are some factors to consider:
 
-- Human Nature:

• Is the behavior willful defiance stemming from a hardened heart?
• Does the student have the foundation of a salvation experience ... a relationship with the Lord, the Holy Spirit living within ... to motivate and empower him/her to do right?

-- Basic Needs:

• Are physical needs such as sleep, nutrition, and warmth being met?
• Are emotional needs such as security, love, belonging, self-esteem, and personal achievement being met?

-- Developmental Characteristics:

• Has the student developed psychosocially at earlier stages or has he/she become fixated and maladjusted?
• Is the student being expected to do something beyond his abilities and thereby frustrated?
• Is the student being expected to work on something already mastered and thereby bored?

-- Home Background:

• Is the student living with parental addictions or violence in the home?
• Is the student suffering child abuse, neglect, rejection, or even overprotection?

-- Personality:

• What are the weaknesses of the student's personality?
• What natural bents predispose the student to certain reactions, etc.?

-- Current Life Events:

• Is the student grieving a loss?
• Are other changes happening in the student's life?
   
  

Once you have determined the cause of behavior problem, you are ready to effectively discipline. Begin by acknowledging what is behind the symptoms and work at resolving the real issues.

Click below for More on Discipline:

An Umbrella for Classroom Discipline
Ten Things Not to Say When Disciplining
Discipline Tip - (changes monthly)
 

 

Use this handbook as a reference providing tips for effectively handling classroom discipline problems. Along with general tips, you will find help in dealing with some specific behavioral issues.
 
Click Here for a sample discipline tip.
 
 
 
 

 

Use this workbook to learn how to line up classroom management with God's view of mankind and his way of disciplining. Be the kind of teacher who seeks to prevent discipline problems but one who also knows how to effectively deal with behavioral issues when they do occur.
 
 
 

Click Here for other online teacher training.
 
 
Click Here for other teacher training materials.