MzTeachuh: Teaching Resources For Demonstrations Re: Michael ...

MzTeachuh: Teaching Resources For Demonstrations Re: Michael ...: Fifth Avenue Apple Store overtaken by protesters. http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/12/06/protestors-take-over-fifth-ave-apple-store-i...

Teaching Resources For Demonstrations Re: Michael Brown/Eric Garner/Tamir Rice, et al

Fifth Avenue Apple Store overtaken by protesters. http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/12/06/protestors-take-over-fifth-ave-apple-store-in-die-in-demonstration

A Brief History of Die-Ins, the Iconic Protests for Eric Garner and Michael Brown

http://www.nationaljournal.com/domesticpolicy/a-brief-history-of-die-ins-the-iconic-protests-for-eric-garner-and-michael-brown-20141204 

3 rabbis, teachers union boss arrested as New Yorkers protest police killings of Eric Garner, Akai Gurley, Michael Brown

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-students-ditch-class-protest-police-killings-article-1.2035222 

Useful Resources For Teaching About Eric Garner’s Death

 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2014/12/03/useful-resources-for-teaching-about-eric-garners-death/

The Best Resources On Ferguson For Use In The Classroom

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2014/11/25/the-best-resources-on-ferguson-for-use-in-the-classroom/ 

Teaching Ideas For #Ferguson #MichaelBrown

 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2014/11/25/teaching-ideas-for-ferguson-michaelbrown/

 More Resources On Ferguson

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2014/11/26/more-resources-on-ferguson/ 

Tamir Rice's family remember 12-year-old at Cleveland memorial — in pictures 

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2014/dec/03/tamir-rice-memorial-pictures 

Carletta Goodwin, Tamir Rice’s teacher, speaks at the funeral.

 

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Differentiating Instruction

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Differentiating Instruction: 1. Differentiating Instruction: Meeting Students Where They Are http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/di_meeting.ph...

Teaching Is Differentiating Instruction

1. Differentiating Instruction: Meeting Students Where They Are
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/di_meeting.phtml 

2. What Is Differentiated Instruction? 
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/263/ 

3. Differentiated Instruction and Implications for UDL Implementation

http://aim.cast.org/learn/historyarchive/backgroundpapers/differentiated_instruction_udl 

4. Differentiated Instruction

http://www.ascd.org/research-a-topic/differentiated-instruction-resources.aspx 

5. Differentiation Teaching, Learning, Instruction and Response to Intervention

  (RtI )

http://www.differentiatedinstruction.net/ 

6. Differentiating Instruction:
Rethinking Traditional Practices

http://www.bertiekingore.com/diffinstruct.htm 

7. differentiating instruction is...

http://caroltomlinson.com/ 

http://www.weareteachers.com/community/weareteachers-blog/blog-wat/2012/09/25/7-facts-about-differentiated-instruction

 

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: Christmas Music For Feeling Sorry For Yourself

MzTeachuh: Christmas Music For Feeling Sorry For Yourself: Oh boo hoo. NPR understands what I'm trying to say. Have Yourself A Sullen Little Christmas http://...

Christmas Music For Feeling Sorry For Yourself

Oh boo hoo.

NPR understands what I'm trying to say.

Have Yourself A Sullen Little Christmas

http://www.npr.org/2013/12/20/255550407/sad-christmas-songs-capture-slice-of-holiday-spirit

RIVER ~ JONI MITCHELL ~ (Lyrics)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpFudDAYqxY

Elvis Presley & Martina McBride - Blue Christmas 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KK6sMo8NBY 

Judy Garland - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yudgy30Dd68

Dean Martin - The Christmas Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX8-WY__WkM 

It's Christmas Baby Please Come Home World Premiere 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ8ahtAS8YQ 

These last two songs are pretty much rated R--but the Pogues' song is actually a masterpiece.

Fairytale of New York by the pogues lyrics 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv0hlbWpa1w 

Blink-182 - Won't Be Home For Christmas 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy9_JjLnmZI

MzTeachuh: Educational Links 12/6/14

MzTeachuh: Educational Links 12/6/14:   What’s Lost as Handwriting Fades http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?_r=2   Moving Beyon...

Educational Links 12/6/14

 

What’s Lost as Handwriting Fades

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?_r=2 

Moving Beyond the Textbook

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/moving-beyond-the-textbook-andrew-marcinek?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20EdutopiaNewContent%20%28Edutopia%29 

Brain representations of social thoughts accurately predict autism diagnosis

http://www.psypost.org/2014/12/brain-representations-social-thoughts-accurately-predict-autism-diagnosis-29878 

Is the U.S. Focusing Too Much on STEM?

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/12/is-the-us-focusing-too-much-on-stem/383353/  

This Is How to Create A Library in Google Scholar

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/12/this-is-how-to-create-library-in-google.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+educatorstechnology%2FpDkK+%28Educational+Technology+and+Mobile+Learning%29 

Brain Training Doesn’t Make You Smarter 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brain-training-doesn-t-make-you-smarter/

2014 Recap: 15 Top Resources On Digital Citizenship

http://www.edudemic.com/15-resources-digital-citizenship-2014/ 

Experiential Learning: Just Because It’s Hands-On Doesn’t Mean It’s Minds-On

http://www.teachthought.com/learning/experiential-learning-just-hands-doesnt-mean-minds/ 

Sensory Rooms Gaining In Popularity

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/12/05/sensory-rooms-popularity/19895/ 

 

MzTeachuh: [little tree]

MzTeachuh: [little tree]: [little tree] By E. E. Cummings   little tree little silent C...

[little tree]

By E. E. Cummings

 

little tree

little silent Christmas tree

you are so little

you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest

and were you very sorry to come away?

see          i will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark

and hug you safe and tight

just as your mother would,

only don't be afraid

look          the spangles

that sleep all the year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms

and i'll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they'll stare!

oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we'll dance and sing

"Noel Noel"

MzTeachuh: Clair De Lune (Full Moon on a December Night)

MzTeachuh: Clair De Lune (Full Moon on a December Night): Full Long Night Moon, starting at sunset December 5! https://www.google.com/search?q=earthsky+tonight&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq...

Clair De Lune (Full Moon on a December Night)

Full Long Night Moon, starting at sunset December 5!

https://www.google.com/search?q=earthsky+tonight&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb 

Clair de Lune

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvFH_6DNRCY

MzTeachuh: The Gift of Reading

MzTeachuh: The Gift of Reading: A Quick Guide to Selecting Great Informational Books for Young Children http://www.readingrockets.org/article/quick-guide-selecting-g...

The Gift of Reading

A Quick Guide to Selecting Great Informational Books for Young Children

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/quick-guide-selecting-great-informational-books-young-children 

Holiday Buying Guide 2014

 http://www.readingrockets.org/books/buying_guide/2014

Six Practical and Fun Ways to Encourage Kids to Read More in the Middle Grades 

http://www.middleweb.com/6518/get-kids-to-read-more/ 

Teaching Teens Who Struggle With Reading: What Can Help 

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/partnering-with-childs-school/instructional-strategies/teaching-teens-who-struggle-with-reading-what-can-help 

Ten Ways to Cultivate a Love of Reading in Students

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/cultivating-love-reading-students-elena-aguilar 

Why Does My Child Have Trouble Understanding or Remembering What He Reads? 

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/reading-issues/why-does-my-child-have-trouble-understanding-or-remembering-what-he-reads?utm_source=googleplus&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=understoodorg 

Why Don’t Teens Read For Pleasure Like They Used To?

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/05/why-dont-teens-read-for-pleasure-like-they-used-to/ 

Response: Using the "Fun Factor" To Encourage Student Reading at Home

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2013/10/response_using_the_fun_factor_to_encourage_student_reading_at_home.html 

 

MzTeachuh: Free Cool Ed Sites for Kids

MzTeachuh: Free Cool Ed Sites for Kids: Oh, where shall we begin? 10 Best Educational Websites for Kids (that are free!) http://www.parenting.com/blogs/mom-congres...

Free Cool Ed Sites for Kids

Oh, where shall we begin?

10 Best Educational Websites for Kids (that are free!)

http://www.parenting.com/blogs/mom-congress/melissa-taylor/10-best-educational-websites-kids-are-free

http://kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com/littlekids/

http://www.coolmath.com/

http://www.whyville.net/smmk/nice

http://www.spatulatta.com/

http://www.pottermore.com/

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

http://kids.yahoo.com/

http://pbskids.org/

http://wonderopolis.org/

http://www.nga.gov/kids/kids.htm

http://www.funbrain.com/

I just can't choose.

 

MzTeachuh: Run, Run Rudolph!

MzTeachuh: Run, Run Rudolph!:  Tell Santa he can take the freeway down.   " Run, Run Rudolph" Chuck Berry http://www.youtube.com/wa...

Run, Run Rudolph!

 Tell Santa he can take the freeway down.

 " Run, Run Rudolph" Chuck Berry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB1n3XGViOM 

  Sing along! 

Out of all the reindeers you know you're the mastermind
Run, run Rudolph, Randalph ain't too far behind
Run, run Rudolph, Santa's got to make it to town
Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
Run, run Rudolph 'cause I'm reeling like a merry-go-round

Said Santa to a boy child "What have you been longing for? "All I want for Christmas is a Rock and Roll electric guitar? And then away went Rudolph a whizzing like a shooting star
Run, run Rudolph, Santa's got to make it to town, come on
Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
Run, run Rudolph, reeling like a merry-go-round

Said Santa to a girl child "What would please you most to get?"A little baby doll that can cry, sleep, and wet And then away went Rudolph a whizzing like a Saber jet
Run, run Rudolph, Santa's got to make it to town
Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
Run, run Rudolph 'cause I'm reeling like a merry-go-round

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 12/5/14

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 12/5/14: What has four legs, a red nose and flies?   Rudolf the Red-Nosed Roadkill. Cheesy Jokes and Serious Thoughts About Christmas http://m...

MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 12/5/14

What has four legs, a red nose and flies?   Rudolf the Red-Nosed Roadkill.

Cheesy Jokes and Serious Thoughts About Christmas

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/cheesy-jokes-and-serious-thoughts-about_28.html 

Current Special Education Topics 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/12/current-special-education-topics.html 

Best Articles for Educators 11/30/14 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/best-articles-for-educators-113014.html 

What Is Up With That Kid? 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/what-is-up-with-that-kid.html?spref=bl 

Educational Links 12/2/14 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/12/educational-links-12214.html

Read! Classic Adventure, Romance, Mystery

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/read-classic-adventure-romance-mystery.html 

Differentiating Instruction 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/differentiating-instruction.html 

Hot Button Teacher Topics 

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/12/hot-button-teacher-topics.html?spref=bl

Interesting Arts and Crafts for Diverse Winter Holidays 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/12/interesting-arts-and-crafts-for-diverse.html

 

Thank you to my international readers--it is a privilege to serve you.

USA, France, Ukraine, Germany, Russia, China, Canada, Poland, UK, Bulgaria.

 

 

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Reading Instruction--In All Subjects

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Reading Instruction--In All Subjects: 1. How Important is Teaching Literacy in All Content Areas? http://www.edutopia.org/blog/literacy-instruction-across-cur...

Teaching Is Reading Instruction--In All Subjects

1. How Important is Teaching Literacy in All Content Areas?

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/literacy-instruction-across-curriculum-importance

2. ABCs of Teaching Reading

http://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/ 

3.  The Best Ways to Teach Kids to Read

http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/The-Best-Ways-to-Teach-Kids-to-Read

http://www.weareteachers.com/hot-topics/topics-in-education/we-all-teach-reading-and-writing

3. Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehension

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/3479/ 

4. Teaching Reading Strategies

http://teachingreadingstrategies.com/ 

Decoding Strategies Lay the Foundation for Reading Success

http://www.readinghorizons.com/reading-strategies/what-is-decoding.aspx 

6. How to Teach Syllabication: The Syllable Rules

http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-to-teach-syllabication-the-syllable-rules/ 

7.  Is Reading Comprehension A Must-Teach For All Educators?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/17/is-reading-comprehension-_n_837266.html 

MzTeachuh: Educational Links 12/4/14

MzTeachuh: Educational Links 12/4/14: Why Arts Integration is Essential… and Easier Than You Think   https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2014/12/03/why-arts-integration-is-...

Educational Links 12/4/14

Why Arts Integration is Essential… and Easier Than You Think

 https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2014/12/03/why-arts-integration-is-essential/?utm_content=buffer52206&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

"Where's Your Proof?" Teaching Students to Use Evidence 

https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2012/09/10/14-ways-to-cultivate-classroom-chemistry/?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=post09101201&utm_campaign=fbt 

Initiative Aims to Have Teachers Lead Common-Core PD in California

 http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2014/12/teachers-hope-to-lead-common-core-pd-in-california.html?cmp=soc-edit-fb

On Dysgraphia: Writing About the Inability to Write 

http://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/personal-stories/stories-by-kids/on-dysgraphia-writing-about-the-inability-to-write?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=understoodorg 

Useful Resources For Teaching About Eric Garner’s Death

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2014/12/03/useful-resources-for-teaching-about-eric-garners-death/ 

Debunking Homework Myths

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/debunking-homework-myths-ben-johnson?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-debunking-homework-myths-questions-image 

Redesigning School to Graduate Capable, Confident Learners

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/05/redesigning-school-to-graduate-capable-confident-learners-deeper-learning/ 

 

 

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Giving Grades

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Giving Grades: 1. Abolish Grades? I Don't Think So  http://www.youreducationmatters.com/College/abolishgrades.htm   2. Why Do W...

Teaching Is Giving Grades

1. Abolish Grades? I Don't Think So 
http://www.youreducationmatters.com/College/abolishgrades.htm 

2. Why Do We Give Grades?

http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/7146-why-do-we-give-grades 

3. What to do when grading seems unfair

http://www.greatschools.org/improvement/quality-teaching/1370-what-do-you-do-when-grading-seems-unfair.gs

4.  No F's or D's Allowed?
What Does the Law Say About Passing Grades?

http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/ltrs/fape.passing.grades.htm 

5. Can Grades Be Helpful and Fair?

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/dec97/vol55/num04/Can-Grades-Be-Helpful-and-Fair%C2%A2.aspx 

6.  Evaluating and Grading Student Work

http://cet.usc.edu/resources/teaching_learning/docs/teaching_nuggets_docs/4.4_Evaluating_and_Grading_Students.pdf

7. STRATEGIES FOR FAIR AND CONFLICT-FREE GRADING 

http://ctl.stanford.edu/handbook/strategies-for-fair-and-conflict-free-grading.html 

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: A Charlie Brown Christmas: the Music

MzTeachuh: A Charlie Brown Christmas: the Music: This is such a timeless story for kids and adults. The choice of music by the creators of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' cap...

A Charlie Brown Christmas: the Music

This is such a timeless story for kids and adults. The choice of music by the creators of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' captures the precious elements of melancholy, winter beauty and childhood insight involved with Christmas. I appreciate that Schulz chose to include the Gospel of Luke in the midst of burgeoning secularism. Happy to hear it year after year. Vince Guaraldi's original compositions capture the joy of childhood with such poignancy. My students always express delight when I play this album the weeks before the winter break--even the big, tough highschoolers.

 Being an incurable teacher, here is background for the traditional carols. Just for fun.

Good ole Charlie Brown chooses a scrawny little tree--he always did have a big, empathetic heart. 

This is a traditional, German song which means O Christmas Tree. The custom of Christmas trees started in Germany, and became popular in Great Britain and the US when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert married. Albert, being German, brought the tree custom with him.

A Charlie Brown Christmas - O Tannenbaum 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye8kOaKpYfI 

'What Child Is This' is a traditional English carol set to the older tune of 'Greensleeves.'

A Charlie Brown Christmas - What Child Is This 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPur6qFCB0g 

'The Little Drummer Boy' is an American carol written in 1941, made famous by the Von Trapp Family Singers.

A Charlie Brown Christmas "My Little Drum" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmLulpYHsfI

'Hark! the Herald Angels Sing' is another English song written by Charles Wesley and perked up by George Whitefield in 1739, which was during the time of the Great Awakening in the US.

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTu00FCLgPs 

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) was actually written on a hot July day by singer Mel Torme. 

a charlie brown christmas-the christmas song 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHed8v1RJ6A 

 Schroeder, Charlie Brown's friend, loves to play Beethoven, but is badgered by Lucy, who has a crush on him, to play 'Jingle Bells.' The irony is that Beethoven composed 'Fur Elise' for a girl that didn't return the attention, but in this story Schroeder does not return Lucy's attention. And that 'Jingle Bells' was written in 1857 for the holiday of Thanksgiving by an American.

a charlie brown christmas-fur elise 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHKBXDp4JpI 

 

Schroeder - Jingle Bells 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcsFcQJeycM

 

MzTeachuh: Do Behavior Support Plans Work?

MzTeachuh: Do Behavior Support Plans Work?: I don't know how many BSPs I have written, probably an average of five a year for fifteen years. The This is a pretty way to pictur...

Do Behavior Support Plans Work?

I don't know how many BSPs I have written, probably an average of five a year for fifteen years. The

This is a pretty way to picture it.

effectiveness of the BSP lays mostly on the adults involved and actually less on the students. Here are very general guidelines beginning with the most complicated student needs.

1. My experience in Special Education included directing a Non-Public School (that's a separate facility for kids with extreme behavior problems due to behavior dysfunctions or emotional disturbance who have been expelled from their home public school.) At the small school I directed, we had students who had been expelled from the larger non-public schools. It follows that the Behavior Support Plans added to the IEPs (Individualized Educational Programs)  for these students were written with input from medical doctors, educational psychologists, counselors, and frequently psychiatrists as well as District personnel and myself as the case carrier.

These were precision directives, much like a medical prescription or a protocol for physical therapy. There was nothing haphazard about this. With a carefully administrated system of positive reinforcement, interesting curriculum, and above all, parent buy-in, we saw progress. This was the elite level of teaching. Only the few, the proud and the thoroughly trained can maintain.

2. Behavior Support Plans are also written for students in other areas of Special Education. Many students on a public school are classified as Moderately Handicapped, and mostly learn in one classroom separate from general education. The handicaps are not the same, and could include OHI (Other Health Impaired), autistic, SLD (Specific Learning Disability) or a variety of disabilities identified as Moderate by special testing done by the District psychologist. In our state, for many years this was called Special Day Class requiring more specialized instruction for the students to succeed. There are separate Special Day Classes for Emotional Disturbed students because the regimen required is differently structured than other classes. The BSPs for these students are similar to the ones in a non-public school, addressing specific behaviors that can be modified by positive intervention.

Finger pointing is not considered a positive support.

In a typical SDC (Special Day Class)  the students could mainstream for a class or two, lunch and breaks. If a student in such a class exhibits disruptive behavior out of the norm, then a BSP will be added to the existing IEP. The Special Education teacher schedules an addendum IEP meeting to discuss the Behavior Support Plan, and following discussion and collaboration from parents, the teaching team, administration and District Psychologist, the BSP is added to the IEP. Generally, the BSP includes the homeroom teacher (case carrier)  noting improvement, and a tangible reward will be offered. The consequences for inappropriate behavior are noted in the BSP, can be mild and administered in the classroom unless it has a larger scope and needs a school consequence from an administrator. If all the adults are consistent, this works well.

3.  A student identified as  Mildly Handicapped may also need a BSP. Students in this category may have only one class taught by a Special Education teacher, mainstreaming the remainder of the day. If a student exhibits behavior that merits certain discipline interventions from administration, then the Special Education teacher schedules an addendum IEP meeting, prepares a BSP to support the student to begin showing positive improvement. The whole IEP team includes the student, the parents, all teachers, administration and District Psychologist. This is the team that will help the student replace the inappropriate behavior with appropriate behavior. Again, the BSP is only as effective as the adults administering it. And this is a challenge.

IEP meetings are really, really important.

4. Most Districts have a district level expert (maybe called Behavior Analyst or Positive Behavior Intervention Specialist) who helps administer a program such as this when the students are having a tougher time. Or when the Special Education teacher bothers to ask for help. I have found these professionals to be supremely helpful and awesome experts. They may do a student study called a Functional Behavior Analysis that takes the guesswork out of why the student is behaving this way and what can be done to help. Kids are complicated and may need medical, psychiatric evaluation or more simple interventions like counseling. This input is crucial.

If you are reading this, you are an educator, a parent, or a concerned friend. Maybe you're the student. If you have a concern, check with a professional more trained than yourself to answer questions about your child or student's behavior.

I would also check out (and this advice is for teachers, too) to see how organized the school site is--are the rules consistent? Is the work appropriate for your child's developmental stage? (For example, is there recess? Does your child or class have creative opportunities? Are bullies under control? Is there enough supervision?) Teachers and administrators need to constantly self-evaluate the soundness of a school's program--the entire school. When kids' needs are met, there is less disruptive behavior.

But sometimes there are other forces in a child's experience. That's when a parent or teacher checks out what a psychologist or doctor has to say.

Here are some resources on the topic of  Behavior Support Plans.

1. Behavior Support Plans

What is a Behavior Support Plan (BSP)?  http://www.pent.ca.gov/beh/bsp/bsp.htm

2. Behavior Assessment, Plans, and Positive Supports

 http://nichcy.org/schoolage/behavior/behavassess

3. What to Do When Challenging Behavior Persists

http://www.pbs.org/parents/inclusivecommunities/challenging_behavior5.html 

4. Write Your Own Behavior Plan

 http://specialchildren.about.com/od/specialeducation/qt/behaviorplan.htm

This last link is for teachers. Don't forget to check with families, other teachers, administration, and/or a Special Education teacher if a student it giving you a tough time. Maybe you don't know the whole story!    

Here's another platitude that may also help: This, too, shall pass.

 5. Keep Your Cool: Tips for Handling Difficult Students

http://busyteacher.org/6064-keep-your-cool-tips-handling-difficult-students.html