My gosh, how they’re bounced around like a ship in a storm. Rewarded one minute, lectured the next. “Caught being good” then counseled. Punished then praised. Scolded then appeased then forced into another humiliating behavior contract. Tighten and loosen, tighten and loosen. Difficult students … Read more
It’s popping up more and more in IEPs and 504s. Called Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), it’s marked by disobedient behavior toward authority. But what is it really? It’s a student who doesn’t want to be told what to do. They don’t want rules or … Read more
Extreme behavior. Impulsivity. Disrespect. Poor motivation. Attention issues. Hyperactivity. You name it, doesn’t matter. There is one strategy that works better than all others combined. It isn’t even close. Boasting maximum influence, this one thing renders every other effort to change behavior hardly worth … Read more
The most common approach to an especially difficult class is to lower the bar. It’s to let the minor stuff go. It’s to appease and tiptoe, pick your battles and keep a lid on the classroom. The idea is that if you show you’re … Read more
So what is brazen behavior? I define it as anything especially disruptive, silly, or defiant. Some examples: Running or chasing in the classroom. Yelling, bursting laughter, or falling on the floor. Roughhousing and practical jokes. Ignoring specific directions or commands. Throwing spitwads, erasers, or … Read more
So you have this student who seemingly at every break wants to share critical information with you. Sometimes it’s an observation. “The heater is making a strange clicking sound.” Sometimes it’s a suggestion. “I think you should line the class up in alphabetical order.” … Read more
You give and you give. You give your patience and humor. You give your positivity and respect. You give your heart and hope for their future. And they discard it. They crumble it up and toss it in the trash. They meet your smile, … Read more
You can encourage them. You can empathize with them. You can coax and cajole them. You can gently ask if there is anything bothering them or keeping them from trying. You can lighten their load, bribe them with incentives, or offer choices, accommodations, and … Read more