School Values Start with Adults
Date: January 3rd, 2024
Ask Polly Bath: Too Rigid? Too Wishy Washy?
Date: December 31st, 2023
Polly answers the question: “I sometimes let kids walk all over me and when I see it happening, I immediately over-correct and set strict rules and expectations! What’s a good balance between being too rigid or too wishy washy?”
Talking Back But Still Complying?
Date: December 27th, 2023
It really bugs us when we give a child direction and they talk back, mumbling under their breath. But did they comply?
Ask Polly Bath: I Dread Calling Parents!
Date: December 23rd, 2023
Polly answers the question: “My school requires us to go through some steps with behavior before we involve administration. This makes sense but one of the requirements is calling the parents. I dread calling home!! Very often I feel like the parents blame me for their child’s behavior, and I’m tired of it. Do you have any ways to make this experience more pleasant?”
Don’t Force Kids into Social Situations
Date: December 20th, 2023
We can’t force kids to socialize with each other. But we can teach them the needed social skills so they are able to socialize if they want to.
Ask Polly Bath: Not Coming in After Recess?
Date: December 16th, 2023
Polly answers the question: “What can I do with ‘littles’ who won’t line up to come in from recess? They seem to think it’s a game but I’m not having any fun!”
Are You Making Behaviors Worse?
Date: December 13th, 2023
I’m often asked if there are responses to a behavior that can make the situation worse? Yes, absolutely!
Ask Polly Bath: Anticipating Escalation
Date: December 9th, 2023
Polly answers the question: “I have a kid who sometimes escalates during activities, or refuses to go to classes, or shuts down when presented with tasks. Why is this? Is it the teacher, the content, the environment, the kid’s life experiences? Logical consequences work sometimes. But is it possible to do something proactively that would actually decrease these behaviors?”
Kids Texting? Talking?
Date: December 6th, 2023
Remember when kids would pass notes? Now they text or just talk to each other. Here are some tips on how to handle these behaviors.
Ask Polly Bath: Turning Kids Against Me
Date: December 3rd, 2023
Polly answers the question: “I have done a fabulous job lately of not taking the bait and avoiding power struggles! I have one kid in my class who I used to go to battles with constantly. However, now that I’m managing him better, he is trying to get other kids to turn against me! Any thoughts about what may be the next steps with him?”
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