Behaviour problems in a classroom increase the stress levels for both the

participants mentioned that it’s not fair on other children. In summarizing this 
section teacher participants were asked to firstly talk about their perceptions of 
challenging behavior’s and secondly talk about how the challenging behavior of 
some students affects them as a teacher and the environment. The teacher 
participants revealed that students with challenging behavior’s place a huge stress 
on themselves because of the time and energy needed to continually deal with 
disruption and all agreed that was not fair on the other students within the 
classroom. They also indicated that constant disruption within the class by a 
student or few students makes it hard for other students to concentrate and 
sometimes can stop them from learning. So therefore, the effects of challenging 
behavior’s are huge in a classroom. 
Strategies for managing challenging behavior’s The eight teachers interviewed 
identified these two core aspects of teaching practice as very effective strategies 
to use to manage challenging behavior’s- 86 
•
Motivation of students 
•
Relationship between students and teachers Motivation of students Teachers 
spoke of being organized in classroom setting, planning and having the right 

---

22 
equipment. According to Arthur et al., 2003 being organized creates a framework 
for “classroom ecology” and suggests that physical settings and appropriate 
activities in a well organized classroom will enhance student motivation (Glynn, 
2005). Ericksen (1978) suggests that most students respond positively to a well- 
organized classroom led by an enthusiastic teacher who shows consistency in his 
or her dealings with students. This was highlighted by teacher participants as well 
in this research that keeping the students in their class engaged and motivated was 
the key to minimizing the chances of challenging behavior from occurring. The 
teacher participants use this as a preventive strategy rather than a strategy to be 
used after the behavior has taken place. Most of the teacher participants expressed 
that if students were engaged and motivated then they will not indulge in 
inappropriate behavior. Participant teachers interviewed, indicated that classroom 
environment has a lot to offer in terms of managing challenging behavior’s. This 
view of teacher participants is in line with the research by Edward, Mc Naughton, 
Plashin as according to them effective teachers create environments which enable 
all students the access to their preferred ways of learning at all times and where 
teachers work hard towards catering for all their student’s needs or preferred ways 
of learning. Encouraging students to learn by making them feel good about their 
learning is a source of motivation that the teacher participants have also spoken 
about. All participating teachers could remember an influential teacher in their 
past 87 who was encouraging and motivated them to learn and this also played a