ATD, association for talent development

ATD Blog

Managing Challenging Classroom Behaviors By Swati Karve

By

Wed Feb 25 2015

Managing Challenging Classroom Behaviors By Swati Karve
Loading...

Content

In classes you’ve taught, have you come across any participants who:

In classes you’ve taught, have you come across any participants who:

  • Content

    routinely arrived more than five minutes late

    routinely arrived more than five minutes late

  • Content

    were constantly on their cell phones, laptops, or tablets

    were constantly on their cell phones, laptops, or tablets

  • Content

    complained all the time

    complained all the time

  • Content

    expressed negative emotions in an aggressive or passive aggressive manner?

    expressed negative emotions in an aggressive or passive aggressive manner?

Content

These are some of the challenging behaviors participants can exhibit. Such behaviors can disrupt training sessions, distracting the facilitators and other participants. They can affect the morale of the other participants, undermine the authority of the facilitator, and have an impact on learning outcomes. It is therefore critical to manage these behaviors in the classroom.

These are some of the challenging behaviors participants can exhibit. Such behaviors can disrupt training sessions, distracting the facilitators and other participants. They can affect the morale of the other participants, undermine the authority of the facilitator, and have an impact on learning outcomes. It is therefore critical to manage these behaviors in the classroom.

Content

To manage these behaviors effectively, it is necessary to understand why they occur. All behaviors are motivated. So what motivates these participants to behave in an undesirable manner?

To manage these behaviors effectively, it is necessary to understand why they occur. All behaviors are motivated. So what motivates these participants to behave in an undesirable manner?

Content

One reason is related to their personality. Individuals have different habits (arriving late, for example), or different ways to deal with frustrations (expressing negative emotions, for instance).

One reason is related to their personality. Individuals have different habits (arriving late, for example), or different ways to deal with frustrations (expressing negative emotions, for instance).

Content

Another reason could be related to their motivation within the session. Do they relate to the content? Do they find it meaningful? If not, they may be frustrated and disengaged.

Another reason could be related to their motivation within the session. Do they relate to the content? Do they find it meaningful? If not, they may be frustrated and disengaged.

Content

Yet another reason could be related to the facilitator’s skill and style. How can the facilitator engage the participants, using the appropriate classroom skills?

Yet another reason could be related to the facilitator’s skill and style. How can the facilitator engage the participants, using the appropriate classroom skills?

Content

Join the class Essentials of Managing Challenging Classroom Behaviors and learn ways to manage your challenging participants, be assertive, and facilitate effectively, so the program’s goals are met! You’ll discover the dos and don’ts of managing challenging behaviors, how to modify contents and designs on the go, and what type of facilitation effectively engages participants.

Join the class Essentials of Managing Challenging Classroom Behaviors and learn ways to manage your challenging participants, be assertive, and facilitate effectively, so the program’s goals are met! You’ll discover the dos and don’ts of managing challenging behaviors, how to modify contents and designs on the go, and what type of facilitation effectively engages participants.

You've Reached ATD Member-only Content

Become an ATD member to continue

Already a member?Sign In


Copyright © 2026 ATD

ASTD changed its name to ATD to meet the growing needs of a dynamic, global profession.

Terms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie Policy