Dealing with a problematic classroom: a trainee teacher’s experience.
 

Zuria Mahmud,
Salleh  Amat,
Noriah Ishak.
Faculty of Education,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
Bangi, Selangor

Date: 25 October 2001
Time: 4.30-5.00

This paper presents a qualitative study conducted to seek understanding of the experience of a trainee teacher in dealing with a problematic classroom. Three aspects of the teacher’s experience are identified: (i) the behavior of the students in the problematic classroom, (ii) the effect of the students on the teacher’s behavior and attitude, and (iii) the efforts of the teacher in dealing with the problematic students. Three methods of data collection are used in this study namely in-depth interviews, documentation, and observation. Results show that the teacher managed to establish good classroom interaction, hence improving students’ behavior.  The trainee teacher’s attitudes towards teaching also developed positively as a result of her success in dealing with the problematic students..