Ask Polly Bath: Prompts to Get Kids to Listen?

Date: March 3rd, 2024

Polly answers the question: “In my classroom I use prompts to get everyone’s attention, like, ‘Put your hand on your head if you are using whole body listening.’ This worked for a long time. But now they put their hands on their heads and keep right on talking! What am I doing wrong here?”

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Ask Polly Bath: Kids Hanging in the Bathroom?

Date: February 4th, 2024

Polly answers the question: “Is there anything we can do about bathroom behavior in our middle/high school? It is getting worse and worse!”

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Nothing Working? Do This!

Date: January 10th, 2024

If you’ve got a child who keeps disrupting class, and interventions aren’t working… try this…

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Ask Polly Bath: Running In School Suspension

Date: November 19th, 2023

Polly answers the question: “I have been assigned to run an In School Suspension room. I’m having so many problems with this! The kids dismiss me, the staff walk in whenever they want to reprimand kids in my care, and the kids think the whole thing is a joke. Any advice?”

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Deliberately Annoying Behavior?

Date: October 25th, 2023

Ever have that kid who deliberately annoys other kids? How do you handle it?

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Ask Polly Bath: Out of Control Behavior?

Date: September 10th, 2023

Polly answers the question: “When a kid gets so upset that they smash a window, are they aware of how out of control they are? And what’s a logical consequence?”

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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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Ask Polly Bath: Are Timers Helpful or Stressful?

Date: July 9th, 2023

Polly answers the question: “I like to use timers to get the kids to move and get things done. Do you think this is helping or is it stressful?”

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Don’t Just Accommodate Anxiety, Teach Skills!

Date: March 29th, 2023

Accommodations are important, but they’re not enough. They need to be accompanied with skills and techniques so a kid knows what to do when they’re feeling a certain way.

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Non-Directive Cues Work!

Date: February 15th, 2023

Sometimes the best intervention is a non-directive cue. Don’t make the mistake of talking too much.

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