Behavior Management Issues: Avoiding Power Struggles in the Classroom
Robert Walden
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Perhaps one of the most difficult behavior management issues a teacher faces is dealing with a power struggle in the classroom. Power struggles are difficult situations because in the end, no one really "wins". The teacher may see a short-term resolution by having the student removed from the classr 
oom, but this comes at the cost of losing valuable instruction time. The student usually is not gaining any new knowledge or skills by being removed from the classroom and send to a place such as the school office.
Learning to avoid the trap of the power struggle is a skill teachers must continually practice if they are to have a well-managed classroom. The first lesson in dodging this teaching pitfall is to think about disengaging from the situation. It is critical, that when faced with escalating student behavior, a teacher remain calm and in control. This means keeping your emotions in check! Showing frustration and anger or attempting to intimidate an oppositional student, during a power struggle, will probably only escalate the defiant behavior and make the situation worse. Teachers can make the choice not to participate in the conflict- it takes two to power struggle. (However, by choosing to remain calm, a teacher does not choose to ignore misbehavior. Remaining calm is only part of resolving the problem.)
Some things which can help you remain calm are:
Deep breathing: This will help you clear your mind with a fresh burst of oxygen and give you a moment to pause and think about how you will respond.
Use a "professional voice": Be sensitive to the tone and pitch of your voice when addressing a student - especially in a behavior management situation. If you speak calmly and professionally, you will be interpreted as feeling calm. This perception of calm indicates to students you are in control of the situation. Reacting in a manner which shows stress indicates you are in the same place as the student - about to lose control. If both you and the student lose control, the power over the classroom is "up for grabs", so presenting the perception calm helps you keep control of your domain.
Learning to avoid the trap of the power struggle is a skill teachers must continually practice if they are to have a well-managed classroom. The first lesson in dodging this teaching pitfall is to think about disengaging from the situation. It is critical, that when faced with escalating student behavior, a teacher remain calm and in control. This means keeping your emotions in check! Showing frustration and anger or attempting to intimidate an oppositional student, during a power struggle, will probably only escalate the defiant behavior and make the situation worse. Teachers can make the choice not to participate in the conflict- it takes two to power struggle. (However, by choosing to remain calm, a teacher does not choose to ignore misbehavior. Remaining calm is only part of resolving the problem.)
Some things which can help you remain calm are:
Deep breathing: This will help you clear your mind with a fresh burst of oxygen and give you a moment to pause and think about how you will respond.
Use a "professional voice": Be sensitive to the tone and pitch of your voice when addressing a student - especially in a behavior management situation. If you speak calmly and professionally, you will be interpreted as feeling calm. This perception of calm indicates to students you are in control of the situation. Reacting in a manner which shows stress indicates you are in the same place as the student - about to lose control. If both you and the student lose control, the power over the classroom is "up for grabs", so presenting the perception calm helps you keep control of your domain.