This PowerPoint has been developed from information gained on the website. It contains excellent advice on dealing with over 117 ways students find to divert teacher management away from their primary concern of teaching and learning.

Behaviour: Specific attitudes and actions of this child at home and/or at school. Always has something to tell about someone. Carries stories about classmates, teachers, administrators, and parents. Even talks about his/her best friend. Unfortunately, usually conveys bad news. Turns any conversation to stories he/she has to tell. Not concerned about the whole truth-or whether the gossip will hurt someone. Seeks attention; must have it. If he/she doesn't get it in positive ways, will get it by gossiping. Disloyal. Honestly doesn't know how to be loyal. Worse, seeks out information to relate. Therefore, his/her mind is constantly occupied with news to tell others. Likes to be with people. Avid talker. Tells stories about him/herself.

Effects : How behaviour affects teachers, classmates, and parents in the school learning environment and the home family situation. affected by the stories. Learning climate may deteriorate. Protecting rather than sharing can become the classroom condition. Distrust prevails. Fights between students result. Friendships are broken up. Exclusion is increased. Classmates often "use" the gossip to relay bad news.

Action: Identify causes of misbehaviour. Pinpoint student needs being revealed. Employ specific methods, procedures, and techniques at school and at home for getting the child to modify or change his/her behaviour. Primary Causes of Misbehaviour –Attention This student feels that if he/she can relate a story to a teacher or student who listens, he/she gains attention.Attention –Power Being able to relate exclusive stories is a form of power.Power –Self-Confidence This student may attempt to enhance his/her self-concept by being "in the know" about others.Self-Confidence Primary Needs Being Revealed –Sexuality The behaviour of the gossip is an attempt to gain attention and establish relationships with others.Sexuality Secondary Needs Being Revealed –Gregariousness This person wants to belong, but doesn't know how to approach this need positively.Gregariousness –Aggression This person needs to assert him/herself through classroom activities and other responsibilities.Aggression –Power The gossip sees him/herself as having a certain amount of power. But he/she does not understand where loyalty fits into friendship and, too often, "uses up" people by discarding them when their usefulness is over.Power

More Action Look for the hidden message this student is sending you. It is usually the need to be center- stage, reveal importance, or take pressure off him/herself. Always consider and try to meet the needs of the gossip rather than put him/her down. For instance, this student has a strong need to belong to a group, be affiliated with you, or acquire power or status with classmates or adults. There are countless tasks you can give him/her in the classroom to fill these needs. Seat this student where he/she is close to you-or at least easily accessible. Be aware that the rest of the class will be watching how you work with the gossip. It's important for classmates to see how you relate to and manage the gossip because your behaviour will serve as a guide for their actions. Don't use the gossip. Rather, stop this behaviour when it begins. Don't wait to hear the story, then reprimand. This is treating the problem after the "horse is out of the barn." Remember, until you stop this behaviour before the fact, he/she will continue to gossip. As a last resort, bring this student face to face with the person he/she is talking about and have him/her repeat the story Always talk privately to this student. In the private conference explain the hurt that gossip may cause other persons. Also explain that your position is to help the gossip and others in the class, and that you will not allow others to be hurt. In a caring way, confront specific situations in which his/her gossip has caused hurt or violated a confidence. However, never generalize, and always talk about his/her strengths as well as weaknesses in any discussion. Give this student tips for sharing information in a constructive way. For instance, tell the student to tell everyone his/her heart desires about good news, but to resolve not to say a word about the negative. Regard each incident as an excellent opportunity to teach responsibility.

Teacher Mistakes: Common misjudgments and errors in managing the child which may perpetuate or intensify the problem. Deciding that it's not worth spending valuable class time dealing with this problem. Missing the significance of the gossip's behaviour. Rejecting this student or choosing to deal with gossip stories in front of other students. Feeling the gossip got what he/she deserved if classmates have reacted physically against him/her. Being nice in order to get information, and then scolding after we get it. Failing to see the student privately. Failing to call parents. Forgetting there is always a victim. Failing to realize the power this person has for disruption in the classroom and/or school.