The student stands wordlessly, eyes averted, still smarting from yet another backslide as the earnest teacher softens the blows of the student’s many transgressions. Listing positive attributes, offering reassurances, buoying spirits, the teacher seeks the slightest spark of understanding, the slightest recognition indicating that … Read more
Effective classroom management requires you to hold difficult students accountable beyond just the four walls of your classroom. Washing your hands of misbehavior that “technically” doesn’t happen on your watch—at recess or with the art teacher, for example—sends the message that you don’t really … Read more
It’s not uncommon for teachers to give their most challenging students classroom jobs and other mild responsibilities. The reasoning is that it keeps them busy, feeling useful, and preoccupied with something other than misbehaving. There is nothing wrong with this strategy, and it can … Read more
There are students who have learned from an early age that if they misbehave enough, if they disrupt, interfere, and otherwise make life miserable for everyone around them, then they can get the adults in their life to give in and give them what … Read more
Difficult students behave the way they do because somewhere along the line the ball was dropped. Standards were lowered. Rules were ignored. Excuses were made. Relationships were broken—or were never developed to begin with. But fate has intervened. And it has been left to … Read more
So you have a new student this year who is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. It’s as if he (or she) has never been to school before. He is needy, highly emotional, and aggravating to other students. He misbehaves when you turn your back. … Read more
We had a large email response to a recent article called, How To Talk To Difficult Students. Most readers emailed to express how much easier dealing with difficult students had become after putting the suggestions to use. But others wanted specifics. They wanted to … Read more
Most teachers talk to difficult students too much, because somewhere along the line they’ve gotten the idea that the more attention they give them, the better teacher they’ll be. So they pull them aside for pep-talks, reminders, and lectures. They warn. They scold. They … Read more