When things go wrong in the classroom

Sometimes things go wrong in the gospel class room — even if you’re Seminary Mom!

Read the following to find out how Seminary Mom learned from a mistake without beating herself up:

Well, today pointed out to me why I don’t usually use competitive team games in my classroom. I had divided the class into two teams, Team A and Team B.

There are a couple of students who find things a bit more slowly. What evolved as we played the game was individuals calling out things like, “Well, that’s why WE’RE winning is because _______ is NOT on our team.” Other comments in similar fashion were also said.

I stopped the game and said, “This is precisely why we will no longer be playing games like this. It is because of comments like that the spirit of contention is introduced into our classroom.” I wanted something which would capture their attention and this did.

The kids quieted down. I reminded them we were simply reviewing for Scripture Mastery Day at the stake center for the end of the year, and that these kinds of games and activities were simply meant to be fun and enjoyable moments. Unkind comments, although perhaps lightly said and without any ill intent, do not have any place in a classroom meant to be full of joy and the spirit.

I honestly think that most times, students never mean any harm by comments that are unkind; instead, I think they just haven’t thought things all the way through. Teens are sweet down at their core; they are kind, and excited about life, . . . AND impulsive. So I just smiled and we simply went on.

I try to keep things upbeat and lighthearted as I teach. But I also have noticed that if you don’t nip things like this “in the bud,” they can spiral out of control.

A teacher does not need to “drop the hammer” in a situation like this, but if the teacher does NOT address what is happening, it is as if he or she gives tacit approval to negative comments or other unpleasant things.

Truly, the teacher sets the tone in the classroom by what they allow. The teacher can (and should) turn the tide around. So I quickly varied the game so that it was no longer one team against the other. All this became a rather pointed reminder to myself why I do not usually use competitive games in my classroom!

I’ve changed this from how we played this today, in addition to adding new fun. I think this approach will do much better for my students in the future!

What have you found to be effective way to change the flow when something goes wrong when you’re teaching?