Teaching made easier

If you are going on a driving trip to somewhere new, and you are like me, you start by entering your destination. The GPS then tracks your current location and gives you directions.  Now, if you make a wrong turn, it's not a big deal. The GPS does not say - "You are a complete failure. You are never going to get there. Can you believe you missed that turn." The GPS just recalculates your route. As long as the GPS knows where you currently are, where you are going and has service, it is going to get you to your destination.  What if your ideal classroom was like that? So, this is my challenge to myself. I thought, if my classroom is like GPS, where am I really right now. And where is my final destination? If you want to read my details, they are here. Of, you could just look at the highlighted section below.  Final destination for my Spanish classroom:  I meet kids outside in the hallway and they are smiling, excited to come to Spanish and ready to hear my ...

Let's say you have a child. He is chronically causing problems in class. He shouts out. He walks around when he shouldn't be doing so. He hardly does any work. He yells at you. He says you are unfair. He walks out of the classroom without permission. You have tried everything. Everything. You have tried ignoring the bad behavior. You have tried rewards and punishments. You have tried bribes. You have tried being really consistent. You have tried behavior check-in / check-out. You have referred him to the student intervention team. You are out of ideas because nothing really seems to work. Nothing. What if there was something that would help the child? No it is not going to stop the behavior in it's tracks. But over time, momentum will move towards more and more cooperative behavior. You need a repair conversation. Here is how to do a repair conversation. Let's say the child throws and epic tantrum or walks out of class or does something major...