I think her problems start at the very beginning of class. I don’t run an authoritarian classroom, but I do try to establish on the first day Who Is in Charge and that You Are Expected to Work in Here. I am very friendly about it, but after I shake their hand at the door, I tell em where to sit and give em an assignment to start working on.

As the days go by I try very hard to avoid having bored kids in the room. I think it heads off disruptive behavior before it starts.

Of course problems flare up even when I try to keep all that in place. I’m not perfect and kids have bad days. I try to avoid being confrontational with a student in front of the class. No good can come of that. I’m a big fan of the before or after class Private Discussion. I think you get farther relating as human beings and without an audience.