Getting Mad in the Classroom

Sometimes things just don’t go right in the classroom. If you find that you becoming more and more angry and you need to express it, consider the following strategies.*

• Do not use a lot of emotional language.


• Do not throw things.


• Do not make exaggerations about the situation.


• Do not be rude or condescending.


• Do describe how student behavior affects you and what it causes you to do and to think.


• Propose some alternatives


• Identify student behaviors that are more appropriate and let them know.


• If possible, let the intense wave of emotions pass before you respond.


• Control your emotions rather than let them control you.
  

* McPherson, M.B., Kearney, P., and Plax, T.G. (2003). "The Dark Side of Instruction: Teacher Anger as Classroom Norm Violations." Journal of Applied Communication Research, 31 (1), 76-90.