Managing the Most Difficult Students

I have taken a dozen of classroom management workshops in my 31 years as a public educator. They have been sometimes more or less useless. The problem seems to always be a disconnect, between what is supposed to happen in the mind of the author, and what happens in real life. Often the educational theory involves a system of rewards and unpleasant consequences for student behavior. The theory is that given a choice students will choose the rewards and avoid the unpleasant consequences. This is often true and valid theory. However, sometimes this method doesn't work. A few noncompliant students become chronic offenders who sit out of class and social times for many hours a week. No amount of punishment seems to get their cooperation. If you visit any elementary or middle school in the United States, you will most likely see these "frequent flyers" lounging around the main office.