Teaching the Hard-to-Handle Student

The school year started and yet again, you can easily pinpoint that student who is going to disrupt your classroom.  You dread the thought of this student.  You just want to get him or her out of your classroom.  Teaching is too hard when he or she is around. You are constantly battling this student about one thing or another.  Eventually you just give up and start sending the student out of your room.   So much easier than having to deal with such a negative impact on your classroom.  But, have you thought about the message you are sending to this student? 

After teaching behavior disordered students for most of my ten year teaching career, I do know a thing or two about classroom management.  I also know a thing or two about only finding the negative in a child.  I know that constantly sending them out of the room can have a negative impact on that student. also.   What student wants to come to your classroom when all you do is find things wrong with them?  What student wants to behave in your class when he or she gets the feeling you don't like them because you are constantly sending them to the principals office?  What student wants to learn in that environment?  Not many, and honestly the student that feels this way is going to act up more in that classroom.  The student will start believing that there is no point in behaving because the teacher is going to find something wrong with him or her anyway.   What is the point?

There are so many ways to turn a negative management situation into a positive.  Or to just start your classroom management out on a positive note, especially with the challenging student.  I will pinpoint three important ways to make your classroom more of a positive place to be for this type of student.