Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tips #121-125

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip Number 121

DON’T FORGET THE “FORGETTABLE” STUDENTS

Of course I don’t mean that these students are literally forgettable, but many teachers spend a lot of time working with high achievers and correcting poorly behaved kids. The kids who are neither are often not given enough attention. For some, it’s easier to start acting out than to achieve at a higher level, so not giving those well-behaved “kids in the middle” attention often turns them towards negative behaviors. Simply peppering the classroom with 8-10 noticings per day of proper behavior from these “middlers” can be enough to make these kids feel acknowledged and show the class that doing the right things works for kids. An occasional teacher outburst about how wonderful one of these kids is can have the same effect.

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip Number 122

SPEAK IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE

If a kid tries to manipulate via the use of an argument, you can make this behavior non-functional by simply speaking in a language that the student does not speak! It is most effective if you smile like a  big weirdo and simultaneously walk away or start talking to another student immediately afterwards.
Kid: I don’t want to do this stupid assignment. This is BORING!!!!
You: Donde esta Juan? Juan esta en la biblioteca! Yo tengo una lapiz! 
Argument over.

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip Number 123

SMILE WHEN ANGRY

Difficult kids know they are winning when they see you get angry. That is why if you smile when you get angry, those tough kids will be less likely to keep pushing your buttons. It takes a while to get good at this. I have become great at it over time. My self-training method is to simply think of it as acting totally loopy, because I know that acting this way is easier for me than smiling when I’m angry, and I know that looking this way shows kids that they can’t control me. It stops them in their tracks. 

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip Number 124

IGNORING EXPLAINED, PART I: WHEN TO IGNORE

Teachers often are given the suggestion to ignore negative behaviors. Depending on the situation, this advice can range from excellent to criminal. When a kid’s negative behaviors are only causing a problem for him, this is good advice. When they are only mildly annoying for others, or extremely annoying for a very short period of time, they can be ignored for as long as the teacher feels like ignoring them. When these behaviors cause any type of problem for others, interventions and consequences must be used, even if the behavior is attention-seeking. The extreme examples of when ignoring is a terrible idea is when the behavior of a student puts other students in danger emotionally or physically. 

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip Number 125

IGNORING EXPLAINED, PART II: IGNORE WITH YOUR BODY

As long as you know that a student is not in a position to physically injure someone with his movements, feel free to keep your back to him while he is exhibiting an attention-seeking behavior. Be intentional about paying a lot of attention to positive behaviors.