6 Classroom Staff Challenges and How to Solve Them

We feel like we say this over and over, but maybe the right people aren't hearing us. We need to be teaching educators and service providers how to work alongside other adults. Period.

We hear it from so many people: "It's not the kids, it's the adults." That rings true for a lot of us. Managing and training my staff when I taught was one of the hardest things I have had to do and one of the most common things people come to me wanting help with to this day. 

Because this is such a common question, we have come up with a list of common challenges when it comes to working with staff and our advice for tackling them. As we go through the list, you will probably start to see a common theme - see if you can pick up on what it is.

1. They act like they don't care

If you are an educator, chances are you were either born to love or developing the love for teaching over the years. Some of us are just naturals at it. This doesn't mean everyone in the education system is though. We have worked with plenty of people who seem much more concerned with the latest sale at Nordstrom than helping the student successfully complete his addition task. Don't get me wrong. We love a good sale, but there is a time and a place. Honestly, there are some days where my mind is elsewhere. We are only human. Our advice when it comes to this is to sit down with the staff member one-on-one and check in with them. Since hopefully you have spent the time getting to know them, ask them about how their kids are doing or how their significant other's job is going. Talk about how they are liking their own job and if they have any questions so far. If you ask questions that dictate a one-word answer, you aren't likely to get very far. Kindly probing could give you some insight as to what really may be going on without sending the message that, "Hey, your attitude sucks." 

2. They won't follow my instructions

This can be a frustrating one. It might seem like they are doing the complete opposite of what you asked them to do or not doing anything close to what you asked of them. The main reason we find that staff are not engaging in the behaviors you want to engage in (such as running a small group, collecting data, actively supervising) is because they don't fully know how. You may be thinking, "That's a load of baloney. I have told them multiple times." Just like our students, we know that telling someone something isn't always enough to get them to do it. You may have even showed them how to do it and they still aren't doing it. The two missing pieces are the gradual release and the feedback. Giving a staff an instruction and modeling it for them is only half of it! After we show them how we want it done, take the time to watch them do it. You will then be able to know exactly which parts they have down pat and which parts they are tripping over. Then you can give them informed feedback. You may need to have them watch you multiple times and go through these steps more than once - that's okay! We would rather know we did our due diligence in really teaching my staff how to do what I want them to do. Then, if they STILL aren't doing it, it may actually be a motivation issue. 

3. They come in late and leave early

We all have those days were we absolutely cannot start work unless we stop for coffee or our own kids are dragging their feet out the door. But, if your staff is consistently coming in late and leaving early, it's time to explore the why. First, pull them aside and in a calm, non-confrontational way, ask them. Make sure you are sitting and don't have your phone or laptop out. Give them your full attention and be present. You can phrase it something like this: "Hey, I just wanted to check in and make sure everything is alright. I noticed you don't always get here on time and leave before the other staff." See what they say. They might actually have a valid excuse so be ready for that. If that's the case, follow it up with a discussion around the duties that need to happen so that your students are set up for a successful day. That means you will need their help as a valued team member to set up and re-set the classroom each day. If they are constantly coming up with a different excuse every time, tell them that you would like their help coming up with a list of duties for BOTH you and them. Include yourself and give the rational as to why you need all team members present before and after school. Stay calm and just be honest. They are likely to be more responsive than if you get defensive and frustrated with them. 

4. All they do it reprimand the students!

First, provide the rationale behind the use of positive reinforcement and praise. Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective ways to change behaviors, and we need to be using it! Bring up that golden 5:1 ratio, and back it up with a little discussion about the effects of constant reprimands. If you are only getting on them for their misbehavior and inconsistently forgetting to point out what they are doing well, they will learn that 1) Misbehaving gets your complete attention; 2) They must not be doing anything well because you don't give them attention for inappropriate behaviors. We want to flip that switch! Model for your staff how to give behavior specific praise and come up with a way to set goals for each other. See which staff member can give the most behavior specific praise or access to reinforcement! Make it fun, but always back up your statements with a rational. You need to get them to buy into the fact that yea, maybe reprimands aren't the best way to go. But, you need to teach them what else to do instead. 

5. They are constantly chatting or scrolling through their phones when they should be helping me teach...

Set some healthy boundaries. Explain to them that you understand the urge to get on your phone, but that they can do that on their duty-free lunch break. Make it a best practice rule for ALL staff who come into your room or school. You can even put up a "No Phone Zone" sign. It's great that they want to catch up and talk, but again, tell them when and where they can do this. Make sure they know exactly what they should be doing at all times of the day. We are big proponents of having staff schedules so there are no questions about what they should be doing at any given point in the day. Finally, keep them busy! Their job is to help you run the classroom, teach, implement behavior plans, take data and more. There is PLENTY they can be doing. Give them additional tasks to take over if they really are bored!

6. They always disappear when I need them

This may seem silly, but take data! Are they always gone at the same time during the day or does it seem random? Of course, do a private check in to make sure everything is okay. I'm not saying fake it, but sincerely make sure they are okay - we don't yet know why they go missing so don't jump to judgement just yet. Similar to #5, make sure you have a staff schedule with assigned duties. It is important to be understanding of things out of their control, but accountability is also important, and we are first and foremost accountable for the success of our students - they are a large part of that. 

A word of advice: DO NOT go to your admin for every single little thing. You don't want to cry wolf...There are certain things we are expected to do as leaders of a classroom or team and we need to be able to navigate and problem solve these ourselves much of the time (don't worry, that's what we are here to help you with!)

If you have done the following things over and over again and STILL your staff aren't doing what you need them to be doing, problem solving with your administrators may be next:

• You have provided consistent (meaning daily or weekly) training in the problem areas
  • You have modeled 
  • You have watched them do it
  • You have provided feedback, both positive and corrective
  • You have re-trained and faded your support when appropriate
• You have set up private 1:1 meetings to discuss your needs and the needs of the students as they relate to the issue
  • You have discussed the challenge
  • You actively listened to their perspective
  • You have come up with short term and long term goals
  • You have agreed upon a plan to reach those goals
• You have been consistently providing 4:1 ratio of positive feedback for staff behaviors you want to see more of 
  • You aren't always coming at them with negative or corrective feedback
  • You are finding little things, even if it's tough, to praise them for
• You are NOT talking behind his or her back to other co-workers 
  • Word travels fast. If staff find out you are speaking poorly about them, they will get resentful, avoid you, and be less likely to do what you say
• You have kept data on all of the above!

Many times there is more we could be doing, but there are in fact times when we need the support of someone else and that's okay! Just make sure you are taking on the responsibility to put in the work yourself at first, so when and if you do need your admin to step in, they see that you are attempting to be a leader and not just leaning on them for every little thing.