Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tips #36-40

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #36

USE BLOWDARTS INSTEAD OF BAZOOKAS

If you can get negative behavior to stop by using a look (blow dart), there is no reason to yell at a kid to stop (bazooka).

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #37

PUT YOUR STUDENTS SECOND

Put yourself first. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take great care of anyone else.

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #38

ONLY SOLVE YOUR OWN PROBLEMS

Imagine how much time you would save if you only solved your own problems! Solving kids’ problems for them hurts kids. Kids who believe that their problems are someone else’s to solve are horribly annoying and will turn into terrible people. Instead of solving kids’ problems, just empathize first and then ask them what they are going to do. **Only solve a kid’s problem when his safety is in serious jeopardy.

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #39

MODEL SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT YOU CAUSE

While you don’t want to solve kids’ problems, you need to make a big show of solving problems that YOU cause so that your students will mimic this behavior. When you cause a problem, turn into a subservient butler. For instance, when I accidentally leave my coffee or a lesson plan book on a kid’s desk, I am all apologies. When I leave a window open in the winter and the kids are cold, I stop everything and close the window while apologizing profusely.

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #40

HUG KIDS

Of course, whether or not to do this will depend on several factors such as the age of the kids, school policies, and so on, but do this whenever possible. Hugging can “break the spell” of a kid having a difficult day and sometimes a difficult life. Don’t do this immediately after a negative behavior has been exhibited. Hit them with this BEFORE things go south.