Module 8: Using Positive Confrontation with Students

Positive Confrontation can help individuals connect with others around them, and it can also teach them how to work out problems or conflicts rather than avoiding and interalizing them (Pachter & Magee, 2001).Throughout this course, you've reviewed a gamut of strategies that empower self-responsible behavior in your students. In this final module you will review and practice the technique of "Positive Student Confrontation."

Positive Student Confrontation is a private, developmental dialogue between a teacher and a student in which the teacher uses assertive methods to encourage improved behavior. The goal is to challenge the student to achieve desirable behavior, not to punish the student or make the student feel guilty.

The process of Positive Student Confrontation is used as a strategy of last resort. It is used only when a student has continued a negative pattern of behavior. You would consider Positive Student Confrontation only after you exhausted the other techniques presented in this course (4-E Model, Personal Power Strategies, Teacher Talk, and Mental Models Strategies).

In this module you’ll learn the steps and skills for conducting a Positive Student Confrontation:

1. Opening a meeting with a student.
2. Delivering a Confrontation Message that states your needs.
3. Discussing the situation and handling a student’s defensiveness using Confirmatory Paraphrases.
4. Agreeing on a solution and closing the meeting.

 

Activity Checklist

Open the Learning Activity Checklist (pdf).

Module Eight Objectives

At the completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Reflect on and continuously evaluate personal practice, adjust accordingly, and actively seek out opportunities to grow professionally using the knowledge and skills of this course. 
• Work Collaboratively to share knowledge, skills, and experiences, refine understanding of content, give and receive feedback, and improve expertise.