How to Address Student Problems

Talking to the Parent/Guardian

REMINDER: Always praise in public, correct in private.  When you are complimenting, you can compliment for others to hear.  When you are correcting or addressing difficult behavior this needs to be done quietly and out of earshot of others.  This is true with parents/guardians and also in the classroom.

Always use a Compliment Sandwich (great for students as well!)

Compliment first, what needs to be worked on, different compliment last

Compliment Examples

Joe is so kind and friendly to his classmates.

Joe does such a great job coloring neatly.

Joe does a great job drawing softly.

We love having Joe in class with us.

Fact Based Observations and Reason it is Problematic

Avoid using exaggerations or words with strong negative connotations.

Joe called out 3 times today which was distracting to the other students.

vs.

Joe was causing a lot of problems today.  He continued to cause distractions for the other students by screaming across the room.

Fact Based Action

To work on it we reminded him the first time, skipped his art step and reminded him the second time, and moved his seat the third time.  For future classes, we will continue to do this and check in with you.

Helpful Suggestions

Could you please remind him before class next week that we want to work on this.  We will also gently remind him and review expectations before he comes into class.

Putting the Sandwich Together

(Compliment) 

We love having Joe in class with us.  

(Fact Based Observations and Reason it is Problematic) 

Today he called out 3 times which was distracting to the other students.  

(Fact Based Action) 

To work on it, we reminded Joe the first time to wait patiently, we skipped his art step and reminded him the second time, and the third time we moved his seat.  For future classes, we will continue to do this and check in with you.  

(Helpful Suggestions) 

Could you please remind him before class next week that we want to work on this.  We will also gently remind him and review expectations before he comes into the class.  

(Compliment) 

We really look forward to seeing him next week, he is improving so much at coloring neatly!