Ask Polly Bath: Only Teacher Enforcing Dress Code?

Date: February 25th, 2024

Polly answers the question: “I had a kid say to me today: ‘Other kids are wearing the same thing I am but you’re the only teacher who’s got a problem with it!’ No one is enforcing the dress code but me! Help!”

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Surviving Substitute Teaching!

Date: January 31st, 2024

Here are a few survival tips for substitute teachers.

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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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Ask Polly Bath: Telling a Kid to Stop Immediately

Date: November 4th, 2023

Polly answers the question: “What do you do when you tell a child to ‘stop immediately’ and they say ‘I wasn’t doing anything’?”

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Back Talk? Or Power Struggle?

Date: November 1st, 2023

When a kid talks back, they could be trying to get you into a power struggle.

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Behavior? Stop and Think!

Date: October 4th, 2023

When dealing with behaviors, don’t respond right away. Instead stop, think, and process the situation.

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Safety Issues at Recess?

Date: September 13th, 2023

When a kid won’t come in after recess, or they run off the playground, this is a safety issue.

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Ask Polly Bath: Cell Phones and Power Struggles?

Date: September 3rd, 2023

Polly answers the question: “I have a high school kid who will not turn over her cell phone when I ask for it! It’s my policy and all the kids know it. I know her life is not that positive, and there isn’t a lot of room for learning in her brain right now, but I feel like I need to hold her accountable. It’s always a huge power struggle that results in administrative referral. How can I chip away at her refusal without it costing me our relationship?”

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Behaviors and Teacher’s Emotions

Date: July 19th, 2023

We all have an automatic thought when a kid gives us behaviors. But we have to make sure to catch the emotions that go with our automatic thought!

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Are You Causing a Power Struggle?

Date: June 21st, 2023

Asking questions like, “Is that the way you walk into a room?” will lead to a power struggle.

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