How Best To Hold Students Accountable

Why does it pain teachers to hold students accountable?

Why are some so quick to ignore misbehavior, look the other way, or make excuses for it?

Accountability is important, right? So what’s the problem?

I have a few ideas.

Teachers are slow to hold students accountable because…

• It can be stressful and at times seem more trouble than it’s worth.

• They fear that strict accountability could make students resentful and therefore increase bad behavior.

• Holding students accountable hasn’t worked well for them in the past; the same students break the same rules over and over again.

• Ignoring misbehavior can seem like a better, less stressful option.

• They have deep compassion for students with tough home lives and can be reluctant to hold them accountable.

• They don’t want students to think they’re mean.

I understand these concerns. They’re valid and can feel too big to overcome. But it’s possible to hold students accountable for every incident of misbehavior while eliminating these concerns.

Here’s how.

Accountability Is An Attitude

Effective accountability requires a particular attitude on the part of the teacher. It is a way of thinking that produces (in the teacher) behaviors that eliminate the concerns associated with holding students accountable.

Acquire the attitude, and accountability will work the way it’s supposed to.

This accountability attitude is easier to remember if condensed into a single strategy. I call it the it’s-not-me-it’s-you strategy.

It’s Not Me, It’s You

The it’s-not-me-it’s-you strategy is a personal reminder that student misbehavior is not about you. It’s about them.

You’re not the one who misbehaved. You didn’t decide to play around and be silly during literature circles. You didn’t make fun of another student. You didn’t leave your seat without permission. They did.

So why should you carry the burden or suffer any consequence, angst, stress, fear, or guilt for doing so?

The it’s-not-me-it’s-you strategy says that:

1. Breaking classroom rules is a choice students make.

2. The responsibility for making such choices lies solely with them.

3. You are bound by your classroom management plan and therefore have but one choice when a student misbehaves: enforce a consequence.

4. In holding students accountable, you’re doing what is best for them.

Once your students understand the first three points, accountability will become much more effective. Number four is a reminder for you that you’re doing the right thing despite how difficult some students have it outside the walls of your classroom.

Rest assured, holding your students accountable is an act of compassion.

Carefree Thinking

According to the it’s-not-me-it’s-you strategy, when a student breaks a rule, your thinking should go something like this:

Oh man, Joey. You didn’t raise your hand. And that’s your second time today. That’s too bad, dude. What does the classroom management plan say? We better look at it.

Oh, no. You’re going to have to go to time-out. Gosh, sorry you have to miss a part of the cool science experiment. That’s a shame. Oh well… next time follow the rules and this won’t happen to you.

You might not actually speak this way to your students. But your attitude will. Sending students to time-out is something they decide, not you. You’re merely doing your job: following the plan you agreed to in the beginning of the school year.

And here’s what is so cool about this:

Your students will adopt the same attitude. They will mentally separate the consequence (which they’ve earned of their own accord) from the enforcer (which is you).

Suffering a consequence is a disappointment for students to be sure, but there is no reason for them to harbor ill feelings toward you. Instead, we want them to look inward, take a critical look at themselves, and consider the cost of their poor choices.

But they won’t do this if (A) they are angry with you or (B) you don’t actually hold them accountable.

Stand Apart

There are scores of teachers willing to lighten the load on their students by ignoring poor behavior, looking the other way, or giving second chances. And by doing so, they are harming their chances for success.

Ironically, these are usually the same teachers who resort to hurtful methods in order to control behavior.

Don’t be one of them.

Stand apart from the crowd. Really mean what you say. Really do what you say you will do. And stop taking on—mentally or otherwise—what are your students’ burdens and responsibilities.

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Related posts:

1. Why You Shouldn’t Care If Your Students Misbehave
2. How To Strengthen Accountability By Getting Less Involved
3. How To Stop Wasting Time And Attention On Difficult Students
4. How To Get Students To Stay Seated And Quiet In Time-Out
5. How To Handle Talkative Students

Tagged as: accountability, effective classroom management, rules and consequences, student accountability, Time-Out