25 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make and How to Avoid Them

Teacher Confessions of Worst Treatment of a Child
suggests that she was ill prepared to work with dyslexic children and blamed
the child and the mother, to avoid accepting that she, the teacher, may be the
source of the problem. Inclusion is probably here to stay. Teachers can avoid
feelings of inadequacy by getting additional training for working with
special-needs children and by seeking the help of an experienced teacher.
Mistake 22: Unethical Behavior
Teacher # 38
A Scenario of a Teacher’s Worst Treatment of a Student
The student was continuously acting out in class. He would do anything to get the
attention of his peers, including making fun of and mocking me in front of the entire
class. I was in my third month of teaching, and I was already fed up. One day, after
he mocked me in front of the class, I gave him the middle finger. He noticed, and
announced that I had done it. No one else saw it, so I convinced him that he must
have been seeing things.
Motive Probe
38.1. Describe the problem and your specific role in it.
I gave a student the middle finger.
38.2. Why did you do what you did?
I was fed up.
38.3. What emotions or feelings were you experiencing at the time?
Extreme frustration.
38.4. Was your behavior justified? If so, why?
No.
38.5. Do you regret your action(s)?
Yes.
38.6. Do you ever think about this incident? If yes, approximately how
often since the occurrence(s)?
Yes, about eight times per year for 4 years.
38.7. If faced with the same or a similar situation, what would you do?
I have much better classroom management skills now and I would have
put a stop to his behavior before it escalated. However, if it continued, and
I was in the exact same situation, I would not do this again.
233