Today, many educators are having a tough time dealing with behaviors. However, if we consider behavior a form of communication, does that change how we evaluate behavior?
Behavior is another form of communication. Babies only communicate by behavior. If the baby is hungry, it cries. The baby often has different cries to express what they needs or feel. Then the baby starts talking, and we stop viewing behaviors as a form of communication. Why did we stop analyzing behaviors to also include in understanding what the person is saying?
Many people search the web for how to land their dream job. The job seeker understands that to land the dream job, he/she needs to be aware of nonverbal communication. The smart job seekers also search non-verbal communication to land their dream job. People communicate more through non-verbal communication, especially with behavior.
What is the employee saying when he/she is always or often late for work? What are they saying about their job, the organization or their boss? We all use behaviors to communicate. Why is it different in schools when we don’t consider behaviors to understand the whole picture?
In schools, we do not view negative behaviors as another form of communication. Teachers and administrators view negative behaviors as problems. However, negative behaviors are just communicating something the child has a difficulty verbally saying. When a child does not comply with what the educator is asking, the child is considered noncompliant. If the child does not follow directions, the child is disrupting the classroom. Educators need to stop and analyze what the child is saying by his behavior. Not all negative behaviors are malicious.
Stop and view what the behavior is communicating.
If a child refuses to do something, it does not mean the child is in defiance. It means the child is interested in something else. We as educators need to investigate the situation. For example, if a child does not want to transition to another subject and gets disrupted. Investigation find that the child wants more time to finish. That is behavior communicating to us. Many gifted and talented students have difficulties transitioning to other topics. They see so many connections and ideas that are related to that topic and do not want to stop thinking about the idea.
Analyze what the behaviors are saying.
In the field of education, there are many misconceptions about behaviors. One belief is that the child’s behavior is done on purpose. The child is not listening because he/she does not want to listen. Behavior is a way the child communicates so much more than they do with words. If a child is not listening, the teacher needs to determine why he/she is not listening. The child could be hungry, tired, or frustrated. Many children get hangry. It was difficult in school when he was hangry. I explained to the schools that many children get hangry. Ask the parents to send in extra snacks for the child. That small behavior change can change the whole classroom environment.
Children do not wake up and say I am going to make poor behavior choices and make teachers angry today. Just the opposite. Most children want to have positive behaviors. Many times, children’s own behavior confuses them. So, as adults, we need to help the child to understand his or her behavior. We need to detect what the behavior is telling us.
Start thinking about behavior as another way children communicate with us. Think about how the children in your classroom are communicating with you. Finds ways to interpret what they are saying but their behavior which is mostly non- verbal communication.
Email drlynnehartman@gmail.com for any comments or questions
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