| Confronting new classroom situations is part of every | | | | issues you've been struggling with all |
| teacher's job. The challenge is of course, how to | | | | along.Sometimes, teachers get a bad mix of students |
| cope with the tension in the most effective way. | | | | who feed off each other negative energy.Don't |
| I received this email last week from a teacher who | | | | blame yourself for issues you felt you didn't succeed |
| feels stuck. | | | | with. Make up your mind to start fresh next year. |
| "I teach a combo 7th-8th grade elective and the | | | | 3. Control your thoughts and feelings.The way we |
| behavior is getting worse.There are a few students | | | | respond to difficult classroom management situations |
| who are disrespectful and they make disrespectful | | | | with our thoughts and feelings can determine our |
| comments in the most subtle ways. I have tried | | | | reality.Just smile and repeat the following mantra: "I |
| talking with kids, pointing out positives, but they still | | | | know I can do this... I know I can do this...". Read the |
| make their comments, working with students, and | | | | Law of Attraction by Esther Hicks for your summer |
| eliciting the help of the stronger performing kids with | | | | reading list. |
| the lower ones. I even had a kid hold a conference | | | | 4. Neutralize negative classroom management |
| with the AP back in March and he was given a choice | | | | situations. By that I mean, responding from a positive |
| of whether to stay or go. He stayed, yet he | | | | place. Negative students and their comments are not |
| continues to make comments about how he hates | | | | personal. Spend 3 minutes a day over a couple of |
| the class. Nothing has seemed to work." | | | | weeks speaking personally to the main trouble |
| Does this classroom management situation sound | | | | maker(s).Say anything positive you can think of such |
| similar to something you are experiencing or recently | | | | as, "Nice shoes" or "What's your favorite movie |
| experienced? | | | | book?" Comments like these show you are paying |
| A lot of teachers are experiencing burnout at this | | | | attention to the student. You'd be surprised at how it |
| time of year. Coping with negative situations is part | | | | magically creates a relationship and can change the |
| of this burnout. Here are a few things to help you | | | | dynamics. Try it! |
| toughen it out so you can end the school year with a | | | | 5. Do something good for yourself. Happier teachers |
| smile on your face. | | | | make more relaxed students. Do yoga, write your |
| 1. Listen to your students.Try these four creative | | | | novel, read a good book, get a massage, work in |
| classroom management steps to listening better and | | | | your garden - do anything that lifts your spirits and |
| see if you can have a better dialogue with your | | | | puts you in a calmer state of mind. This is not an |
| student. This really works! | | | | option but a requirement! |
| 2. Make up your mind to start fresh next year. | | | | Am I missing anything? |
| Perhaps it's too late in the school year to make any | | | | Remember, you can work it! |
| real significant influence with classroom management | | | | |