Dixon could not complete this conversation. Review what she can do differently.
Conversation Goals
Goal 1: Keep the class engaged and focused
Dixon earned a yellow check minus. When faced with a student using biased language, Ms. Dixon’s first instinct was to ignore the behavior, which made her students feel confused and unsafe.
Goal 2: Communicate Acceptable Behavior
Dixon earned a yellow check minus. She did not immediately condemn Victoria’s biased language or remind the class about their community agreement. Acting more quickly to communicate what behavior is unacceptable will send a stronger message to your students.
Effective Techniques
These are things to remember when dealing with this incident:
Setting Limits: It’s important to clearly and quickly show the class that you won’t tolerate biased language. Even a quick, but clear, response will convey the message to all your students.
Stating Classroom Rules: Dixon should remember to review the community agreements by having a student read them out loud. This will reinforce her standards for behavior and encourage them to take an active role in opposing bias.
Common Pitfalls
For this type of incident, be sure to avoid:
Ignoring or Minimizing: “Keep reading, Gabriel.”
Never ignore biased language or bullying behavior. It sends a message to every student in your classroom that you accept and approve that behavior.
Putting Aggressor on the Spot: In an opportunity to review the community agreements of your class, ask any student to read them aloud but don’t put the aggressor on the spot.
Getting Confrontational: Clearly and immediately address biased language, but don’t get confrontational with the aggressor.
Putting Target on the Spot: Dixon did a good job. She chose not to put Gabriel on the spot, which helped him recover more quickly.
Recommendations
When dealing with incidents like this in real life, the key to an effective response is to:
Respond immediately: Address the incident in that moment.
Have clear standards: Use a community agreement or strong, specific statements to make clear that biased language is unacceptable.
Do not involve the target: Keep your focus on stopping the aggressor, don’t call additional attention to the target.
Engage bystanders: Whenever possible, call on other students to speak out against aggressive behavior.
