An investigation of teachers' intervention strategies for misbehaviour in primary schools

Ill ABSTRACT AN INVESTIGATION OF TEACHERS' INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR MISBEHAVIOUR IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS Ahmet ATCI M.A. Thesis, Department of Educational Sciences Supervisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Meral ATICI April 2004, 90 pages The purpose of this study was to investigate misbehaviour met faced by teachers at grade four and five classroom in primary school and to determine if those behaviour vary according to socioeconomic level of school, students' grades, teachers' years of experience and the number of students in classroom. This study also aimed to find out differences among intervention strategies used by teachers regarding their gender and experience and to examine if misbehaving students' gender and achievement status affect teachers' intervention. In addition, teachers opinions about the ways of asking help from school counselors to deal with misbehaviour were also determined. 16 teachers working in nine different schools at Seyhan and Yüreğir Districts in Adana participated the study. Data were collected by using a semi-structured observation and interview schedule that were developed by the researcher. 48 observations in classrooms were carried out and 16 teachers were observed in their classrooms for three different times and they were also interviewed. Data derived from observation and interview were analysed by using content analysis. Results showed that talking without taking turns, talking to person next to them, making noise, inattention to lesson, wandering around classroom, raising hand with calling out were frequently observed misbehaviour. Disturbing friends, damaging to friends' materials, not bringing materials were among misbehaviour rarely observed.IV Ordering, using signals such as hand signals and ignoring misbehavior are among methods mostly used by teachers to deal with misbehaviour. Calling students' name, making eye contact, reprimanding, asking question, criticizing, threatening, using proximity and humour are the frequently used methods by the teachers. It is concluded that, although there are some similarities between teachers' intervention strategies according to their gender and experience, there are some differences between their interventions as well. Keywords: Misbehavior, intervention strategies, classroom management.