Module 2 - THAT Student

We have ALL experienced that kid. You know the one, the one who gets on your nerves from the very beginning. The one who you are convinced is making it their mission in life to make your life hard. Sometimes, you get lucky and only have one of those for your whole career. Sometimes, you are cursed blessed with one every year. I would bet that sometimes that kid really is trying to make your life hard for no reason other than that it amuses him/her. But, more than likely, that student ISN'T doing it on purpose. Instead, there is some underlying reason for their behavior. That reason could be school related, could be friend related, could be something that is happening at home, or it could be something that you, the teacher, are doing during the course of your instruction. The only way to find the truth is to actually look for the truth. Start questioning your interactions with the students, not that you don't do that already (insomnia much?). Truly, start with yourself and work out from there. Get to the root of the problem. You may just find that that kid is having a hard time and the manifestations of that hard time are what gets on your nerves. And who knows, that kid, may just help you become a better teacher because he/she has taught you how to self reflect, and how to find the root of the problem. Because, while it may be you, it might not be you either. And if you can figure out the why behind the behavior, you can start replacing the behavior with something that will benefit the student, and hopefully not get on your nerves!