When Student Behaviors Leave You Fresh-Out of Patience: A Toolkit for Teachers
Somehow, summer ended and we are now full-on in the swing of things. Now’s the time when we are getting our systems and routines in place so that the rest of the year can feel like a cake-walk. Only in a perfect world. But seriously, the time and effort we put in now does have a major impact on the entire year. And the more we keep up with those systems and routines we’ve started, the more magical moments we see. Of course, all the effort and consistency in the world won’t stop those I-want-to-bang-my-head-against-a-wall moments from arising; you know, those times when you think to yourself, “SERIOUSLY, why is this behavior happening!?” It’ll creep in after the honeymoon phase settles, and you’ll be flabbergasted as to why your students are demonstrating these behaviors which go against everything you’ve taught them. Or, at least, you thought you taught them. A few years ago, I kept having those “are you kidding me?” moments. I felt like I kept seeing behaviors that didn’...
