Living Love & Logic Tip #75

There's nothing more frustrating than students who just won't listen and follow instructions! In every classroom, there seems to be at least one or two. To make matters worse, their selective hearing impairment seems contagious.

How do successful teachers…and parents…train kids to listen? Listed below are some suggestions:

Build special relationships with your most resistant students.

Great teachers know that tough students are far more likely to listen to teachers they love.

Set limits only for things over which you have total control.

Unsuccessful teachers and parents are famous for attempting to set limits on things they could never control in a million years. Successful teachers use Enforceable Statements to set limits.

Great teachers say things like, "I give full credit to papers handed in on time." Less successful teachers say, "Hand your papers in on time."

Enforce limits without repeated warnings and reminders.

Effective parents and teachers remember that kids will always come to need at least the same number of warnings and reminders they are given.

For additional ideas on building cooperative teacher-student relationships, applying Enforceable Statements in the classroom, and managing behavior as you teach, listen to our CD, Quick and Easy Classroom Interventions.

Thanks for reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible. If this is a benefit, forward it to a friend.

Dr. Charles Fay
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