Question:
Aren't some children born with real personality differences?
I have noticed that some students are more impulsive or
shy or aggressive than others. They're not playing out a
role. They don't seem to be aware that their behaviour is
not appropriate.
Answer:
You cannot excuse a child's behaviour on his upbringing,
genetic predisposition, or economic background. Students
can learn proper behaviour in the same way that they learn
multiplication tables; just as some students take longer
to learn their math facts, some students will take longer
to learn appropriate social behaviours.
Question:
What can you do if, despite your best efforts, a student
persists in playing out a role?
Answer:
Persevere. Don't take the student's resistance personally.
The youngster who continues to act out in a negative role
isn't necessarily out to "get you." He is also not acting
this way because "he was born that way." Chances are he's
clinging to a behaviour that is safe, successful and familiar.
He may need many repetitions of your words and your positive
attitude before he can begin to trust you or to trust himself
to experiment with new behaviours.
Behaviours are not adopted in a few days. These develop over time and consequently will not be changed in a few days no matter how much attention you pay to the behaviour or attitude. People behave in a manner that's comfortable and successful for them.
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Students tend to live up or down to their teachers' expectations. If you see them as faulty people who need to be fixed up and straightened out, they'll supply you with plenty of work. If instead you choose to look for whatever is positive and build on that, they'll work equally hard to justify your faith in them.