Dealing with the most challenging

In measuring the distance between first and second year, I reflect on how I deal with my most challenging students. In the classroom next to me, I am so fortunate to have a truly superlative teacher: watching very carefully the way in which she deals with her most challenging students gives me wisdom. I have lost count of the times I have marched luckless students into my colleague’s room next door. With the youngest she has them nodding along. I get another heavy weight at the school to deal with the older ones. They answer her questions in a matter of seconds before she ends the grilling with a quip or, better still, a nod to their family or friends that she knows from outside of school. This always makes them good-natured and repentant.

I am always grateful to these colleagues for their support straightening my wayward students, albeit makes me feel despondent sometimes!