Even the most challenging child in the classroom can be viewed positively

 As teachers, you are in a wonderful position to meet the managers, stars and leaders of the future. Some children in your class you'll like, some of them you'll take time to warm to, and some of them you would probably prefer hadn't crossed your path!

Those children who are a delight to teach and have in your class, you will probably remember for a long time to come. You may even hope that one day they will remember just how much you did for them all those years ago!

But what about those children you find a "challenge" to teach?

It is very common to find certain children a bigger challenge than others. The key though, is how you deal with this challenge. Initially it is helpful if you a have a sense of what it is that you find a challenge? Is it the child's:

• Personal appearance?
• Looks?
• Attitude?
• Mannerisms?
• Behaviour?
• Voice?
• Movements?
• Comments?
• Language?
• Reputation?
• Personality?

 Very often when you can break down the issue and pinpoint the actual thing that you find a challenge it is much easier to see it for what it is and do something positive about it.

It is a fact that if we all look closely enough we can find something that we don't like in every person that we know. But usually there is more in that person that we like, than we dislike, so we view him or her positively.

However, when it comes to children in a classroom environment, it is often easier and safer to categorise and label them for speed and convenience. (Although we may not always openly admit it). It is often easier to look to "control" a "challenging" child than to try to understand them when there are twenty-nine others to teach.

The reason for this is often FEAR - our own fear of not being in control if we suddenly started to focus on one child and one child's problems. Because we often ignore the problem that this child presents to us, the problem grows bigger and barriers are created between the teacher, the child and perhaps even the parents.

Any kind of conflict involves some type of power struggle and this is uncomfortable and can be unsettling for all those concerned. The way to erase the conflict and to improve relationships is to set about working towards understanding your and the child's personality, beliefs and prejudices. So, where do you start?

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