They’re booming, boisterous, bigger than life! A powerful voice can be appreciated at times and redirected at other times. Often a teacher’s reaction is to quash the behavior, but his power actually likes in determining when speaking loudly enhances a situation and when it detracts. Because the teacher’s goal is to help students appreciate themselves […]
People who love to talk come in all age groups. Sometimes teachers find their chattering students delightful. Perhaps, for example, you know a Megan: Effervescent, bubbly, and lively are words written on Megan’s report cards by the teacher after teacher. Megan possesses an abundance of charm to divert her teachers from the fact she just […]
An outsider taking over a class can bring out the worst in students. They forget or don’t consider the fact that substitute teachers are people with feelings. Students often treat substitutes as fair game to tease, trick, and torment. Even elementary school students, following the example of older students, will drop their books again and […]
Whether it’s known as name-calling, putting people down, mouthing off, or “dissing” or roasting, this skill is practiced and honed by students at middle schools and high schools across the country. These students don’t need knives to slash each other to ribbons; they do it with their tongues. For some students, disparaging others is a […]
Sometimes students dispense their put- downs to classmates they actually admire: “That girl can eat everything in sight but stays skinny as a rail.” This is likely intended as a compliment. But the fine line between funny and painful is easily crossed, leading to hurt feelings and even despair. Neither children nor adults do a […]
Some students pout because they are accustomed to getting their way and don’t know how to handle it when this doesn’t happen. Students who feel overcontrolled may pout as a mild protest (instead of more blatant forms of rebellion) when a teacher requires them to do something. If you scold, threaten, or humiliate a pouting […]
Research shows that when parents are involved, test scores improve, incidents of violence decrease, and vulnerability to drug or alcohol abuse lessen. Parent involvement is the key to creating a sense of belonging. When parents feel that they’re participants in their children’s school programs, they don’t seek to achieve that sense of belonging in inappropriate […]
Are parents the enemy or the ally? That question has hovered in the back of every teacher’s mind at one time or another. When you feel frustrated dealing with certain children’s behavior and their parents seem to be making things worse, it’s easy to focus on placing blame. Instead, see the situation as an opportunity […]
Many students use lunchtime to let go of responsibilities and to socialize intensively. It’s important for administrators and staff to acknowledge that students need a break from their routine, but it’s important that they learn to relax in ways that respect others. Behavior in the lunchroom is a good indicator of the school personnel’s style […]
At an early age, students learn how good it feels to receive attention. But sometimes students have the mistaken belief that they don’t count unless they are the center of attention at all times. Teachers can foster a sense of belonging and significance in the attention-hungry student by handling interruptions in ways that show respect […]
