How to Teach Difficult Children

Let's face it--no collection of students in an average school classroom is without at least a few difficult kids. While teachers would love all their students to sit quietly, do their work efficiently, behave and interact appropriately with other children, that's not reality. In the real education environment, there are children who are difficult but who need to learn just as much as every other student, if not more. By implanting some effective strategies, teachers can maximize the learning potential of difficult children.

Things You'll Need

• Student records Visual displays of rules, rewards and consequences Appropriately challenging classwork

Instructions

Teaching the Difficult Child

1. Know your student. Get familiar with any information on file about the child. Does he have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)? Have strategies been determined and recorded for assisting the child? What types of past behavior problems have occurred? What are his past test scores?
   Talk to the child's parent(s). Find out if any significant life events--such as a family death, divorce or relocation--have recently occurred. Ask about the student's strengths and weaknesses.
   Talk to the child about his likes, dislikes, and challenges, and observe him to see what triggers the negative behaviors.

2. Set boundaries. Post class rules in a highly visible place in your classroom. Keep the list short and concise, possibly three to five major rules. Post rewards and consequences of following or choosing not to follow the rules. Discuss this system the first day of class, and refer back to it as often as necessary. Enforce your rules. This will create a better environment for the entire class, and it will provide much-needed structure for the difficult students.

3. Keep students busy, especially those known to be difficult. Boredom is a recipe for misbehavior. Make assignments appropriately challenging. Have standard procedures for routine activities so that the students don't have to guess what is expected of them.

4. Encourage self-evaluation. Make time for the difficult student. Discuss his recent work and behavior, and ask him to reflect on which parts were negative and which were positive. Enlist her to come up with strategies for improving behavior and performance. Allow the child to set personal goals, and discuss rewards for achieving those goals. Making the student a part of this process allows her to: (1) take personal responsibility; (2) feel a sense of ownership in his education; and (3) feel pride from accomplishments.

5. Demonstrate that you care. It's been said that students and people in general don't care what you know until they know that you care. Showing that you care will benefit all your students and may be one of the highest motivators for difficult students to show positive change. Be patient but firm. Support your students by going to activities like ballgames and performances. Be positive; give personal, encouraging feedback. Be genuine, and model respect for your students in the way that you treat them.