How to Help Difficult Students!

Written By Tyler Tarver

What up, wonderful educators!

I wanted you to have just one of the 10 lessons from the newest course: How to Help Difficult Students! A lil special free goodie for you for just being on the email list!! SO I PUT LESSON 2 VIDEO IN HERE FOR YOU FOR FREE!

I hope the video and supporting curriculum below helps you, and if you like dat, feel free to snag that whole course (9 more videos/curriculum like that)!

2 Ways to Access the FULL Course:

Okay okay, enough sales pitch, below is something I hope adds you value whether you join the Honor Roll or not!

Feel free to forward to any teachers this might help!

Building Rapport: Relationships as a Foundation

Relevant Resources

Key Concepts Breakdown

  • Rapport is Key: Strong teacher-student relationships are a foundational step in reaching challenging students.

  • Meet Students Where They Are: Simple gestures like greeting students at the door, knowing their interests, and connecting through shared language can make students feel seen and valued.

  • Look Beyond Behavior: Understanding the "why" behind a student’s behavior leads to effective support rather than just control.

  • Frequent Check-ins: One-on-one check-ins, even quick ones, help teachers gauge how students are doing and can diffuse potential conflicts.

  • Encourage Positive Gossip: Build a supportive classroom culture by speaking well of students to others, which can foster respect and rapport indirectly.

Age-Level Applications

  • Elementary (Grades K-5):
    Practical Application: "Star of the Week" Connection Activity
    Designate a “Star of the Week” where each student takes turns being highlighted. During this week, the class learns about their favorite things, pets, or hobbies, and other fun facts through drawings or show-and-tell. This allows the teacher to bond with each student personally and gives classmates a way to connect with each other.

  • Middle School (Grades 6-8):
    Practical Application: "Interest Boards"
    Set up a classroom board where students can post topics they enjoy or are passionate about (sports, video games, music, etc.). Teachers can refer to this board to drop in a reference or ask questions about students' interests. This board becomes a casual way for teachers to spark conversations, showing students that their interests matter.

  • High School (Grades 9-12):
    Practical Application: "Question of the Day" Warm-Ups
    Begin each class with a quick, fun question for students to answer on a board or through a digital poll. Examples include, "What’s your dream travel destination?" or "Which is better: tacos or pizza?" By tracking responses, teachers can follow up with students on their answers, making students feel known and valued.

Call to Action

Challenge: "Greet and Connect" Challenge
For the next week, commit to greeting each student at the door with a smile and a unique question. Keep track of the answers, then make it a goal to refer back to one of their responses in conversation. This habit can foster a sense of familiarity and trust, especially with harder-to-reach students.

Personal Application Questions

  1. "When I reflect on students who are challenging, how much do I truly know about their lives outside my classroom?"

  2. "How could learning one new fact about each student change the way I approach them?"

  3. "What are simple ways I can acknowledge students’ personalities and interests without taking too much time?"

Team/Group Discussion Questions

  1. "What strategies have you found effective in building rapport with difficult students?"

  2. "How can we use peer feedback and positive reinforcement to strengthen our rapport with students across classrooms?"

  3. "If rapport is the key to reducing behavior issues, what are some creative ways to build it?"

Boom!

There it is!

I hope that quick little lesson helped in some way!

If not, no worries!
If you liked it, you can get the other 9 lessons here!

NO PRESSURE THO!!

Love you!!
Tyler

HOW TO HELP DIFFICULT STUDENTS COURSE

LESSONS OVERVIEW

  • Welcome and Intro: How to Help Difficult Students

  • Understanding the Why: Decoding Student Behavior

  • Building Rapport: Relationships as a Foundation

  • Creative Classroom Management Techniques

  • Differentiating Instruction for Struggling Learners

  • Empathy in Action: Understanding and Practicing Patience in the Classroom

  • Turning Failures into Growth: The Power of Positive Reinforcement

  • Culturally Responsive Teaching: Connecting Through Diversity

  • Engagement First: Making Learning Relevant and Exciting

  • Proactive Communication with Parents and Guardians

  • Self-Care for Teachers: Staying Resilient in Tough Times

  • Exit Ticket and Certificate: Reflecting on Teacher Strategies for Challenging Students

Tyler Tarver
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