The phrase “other people’s children” has become a familiar lament, haunting many parents when it comes to their own offspring. However, not everyone is the same, and not everyone obediently follows their parents’ wishes. There are students who are considered “challenging,” with stubborn, rebellious personalities, causing headaches for teachers and parents alike. So, how can we “conquer” these strong-willed individuals and help them develop holistically?
Understanding the Nature of Challenging Students
Defining Challenging Students
According to research by Professor Nguyen Van Minh from Hanoi National University of Education, challenging students are those who exhibit differences compared to the majority of students in their class in terms of personality, behavior, attitude, and academic performance. These manifestations can stem from various causes, ranging from family factors, social environment, personal psychology, to influences from friends and teachers.
Causes of Challenging Student Behavior
1. Family Factors:
- Lack of Family Attention and Education: Parents who are overly preoccupied with work and lack time for their children can lead to emotional deprivation, a lack of attention, and guidance.
- Unscientific Parenting Styles: Authoritarian parents who resort to violence or harsh words can cause children to feel hurt, lose trust, and become resistant.
- Dysfunctional Family: Parental divorce, domestic violence, family conflicts, etc., create an unstable environment that affects the child’s psychology and behavior.
2. Social Factors:
- Complex Social Environment: The influence of social vices, violent movies, negative information on the internet, etc., can easily lead students into deviant behaviors, resulting in challenging manifestations.
- Academic Pressure: Students face immense pressure from studies and exams, leading to stress, anxiety, irritability, impulsiveness, and a lack of self-control.
3. Personal Psychological Factors:
- Inferiority Complex: Students may feel inferior or have an inferiority complex due to their appearance, academic performance, family background, etc., leading to avoidance of communication, social isolation, and rebellion.
- Stubbornness and Rebelliousness: Some students possess stubborn personalities, prefer independence, want to do things their way, and resist advice.
- Lack of Communication Skills: Students lacking communication skills may find it difficult to integrate with peers, leading to isolation and susceptibility to negative peer influence.
Manifestations of Challenging Students
- Behavior: Skipping school, truancy, talking in class, fighting, vandalism, smoking, substance abuse, etc.
- Academic Performance: Disinterest in learning, laziness, poor academic performance, not doing homework, not paying attention in class, etc.
- Attitude: Indifference, apathy, disrespect for teachers and peers, non-compliance with school rules, etc.
- Personality: Stubborn, hot-tempered, selfish, lacking self-control, irritable, blaming others, etc.
Educational Methods for Challenging High School Students
1. Understand the Root Causes and the Individual
Story: “A young, enthusiastic teacher, fresh out of university, believed that good lectures alone would motivate students to learn. However, upon encountering a 10th-grade class with many challenging students, he realized that not everyone is easily taught. Some were bored and dozed off in class, some were addicted to video games and skipped school to play, and some were prone to fighting. The teacher decided to spend time understanding the causes and finding ways to help them change.”
Practical Experience:
- Teachers:
- Dedicate time to talk with challenging students, understand the root causes of their behavior.
- Assess the student’s strengths and weaknesses to tailor appropriate educational methods.
- Parents:
- Actively participate in their children’s education, communicate with teachers to coordinate educational efforts.
- Create a warm, loving, and respectful family environment, providing conditions for their children’s development.
2. Build Positive Relationships
Practical Experience:
- Teachers:
- Show challenging students care and understanding, create opportunities for them to participate in extracurricular activities and clubs so they feel respected and valued.
- Use appropriate communication language, demonstrating patience and tact to avoid negative reactions from students.
- Parents:
- Spend time talking with their children, sharing life experiences and meaningful stories to help them orient their life values.
3. Encourage and Motivate
Story: “A challenging student was frequently reprimanded by teachers for poor academic performance and fighting. One day, a teacher discovered the student’s beautiful drawings. The teacher encouraged and motivated the student to participate in the school’s drawing contest. As a result, the student won first prize and became more confident and enthusiastic about learning.”
Practical Experience:
- Teachers:
- Praise and encourage the positive aspects and efforts of challenging students, helping them gain confidence and spark their motivation to learn.
- Create opportunities for challenging students to showcase their abilities and talents in group activities and competitions.
4. Utilize Appropriate Educational Methods
Practical Experience:
- Teachers:
- Apply individualized and flexible educational methods tailored to the specific psychological characteristics and real-life situations of each student.
- Combine various teaching methods such as visual aids, games, group discussions, etc., to create interest and engage challenging students.
5. Build a Healthy Learning Environment
Story: “Challenging students are often ostracized and isolated by their peers. One day, the homeroom teacher organized a class picnic, creating an opportunity for challenging students to integrate with their classmates. After the picnic, the student made more friends and actively participated in class activities.”
Practical Experience:
- Teachers:
- Create a fun and comfortable learning environment, providing opportunities for challenging students to communicate and integrate with peers, and participate in group activities together.
- Parents:
- Create conditions for their children to participate in social activities and interact with friends, helping them expand their relationships and develop life skills.
6. Collaborate with Family and Society
Practical Experience:
- Teachers:
- Regularly communicate and exchange information with parents to agree on educational methods, creating consensus in educating challenging students.
- Collaborate with social organizations and functional agencies to support challenging students in difficult circumstances, helping them overcome challenges and strive in life.
Further Reading
- Methods of Educating Challenging Students by Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh (Hanoi National University of Education).
- Challenging Students – Challenges and Solutions by Professor Nguyen Van Minh (Hanoi National University of Education).
Conclusion
Educating challenging high school students is a difficult but meaningful process. By understanding the nature of challenging students, applying appropriate educational methods, building positive relationships, encouraging and motivating them, we can help them develop holistically and become valuable citizens of society.
Let’s join hands to create a better educational environment for students, helping them grow and succeed!
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