When Is It Time to Involve Admin for Help with a Challenging Student?

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Show Notes:

Having challenging students is an inevitable part of our job. Teachers know that difficult behaviors are going to happen, but it’s when certain behaviors become too much that additional support is needed. When this happens, it’s time to involve administration. 

But how do you know when it’s time to enlist administration in managing your challenging students? I’ve heard this concern and question being frequently asked inside the Classroom Management Club, so I wanted to address it here on the podcast. In today’s episode, I’m going to break down the steps to take so you can confidently know what to do before reaching out to admin for help and signs for when they need to intervene right away.

Whether behaviors occurring within your classroom are consistent or occasional, or minor or major, documentation is important. In nearly each of the six steps, I share the importance of documenting the student’s positive and negative behaviors and when they occur, along with the types of strategies and approaches you’ve tried. This information is critical before involving administration. But once you take your concerns to administration, I discuss how to have the conversation, creating a plan, and specific questions to ask. 

Every student deserves our support, but that might look different for each student. So when challenging students and difficult behaviors get tough and become unmanageable, it can be hard to decide when to handle them on your own or if administration needs to get involved. If you’re at a point with students where you need additional help, take note of the steps you should do before it’s time to involve administration.

Inside this week's show, you'll learn:

• 6 steps to take to know when it’s time to involve administration with challenging students 
• The specific behaviors for when administration needs to intervene right away and why you shouldn’t wait to ask for help
• Why documentation is so important and how this information assists with admin support and parent communication
• How to evaluate the situation of a behavior and what patterns or triggers to pay attention to
• How to take into account your own mental health when dealing with challenging students and difficult behaviors

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode: 

• Free Masterclass - Your 5-Step Classroom Management Reset
• Follow Dr. Lori on Instagram
• Follow Dr. Lori on Facebook
• Follow Beginning Teacher Talk on TikTok

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare for your first, second, or third year of teaching. Until next time, remember, just because you're a beginning elementary teacher, there's no need for you to struggle like one.

💛 Lori

Dr. Lori Friesen | Beginning Teacher Mentor

Creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy and The Classroom Management Club, Dr. Lori Friesen has mentored thousands of beginning teachers across the country through her workshops and courses. Host of the popular podcast Beginning Teacher Talk and author of Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com.

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Related episodes you might enjoy:

• When 4 Students Constantly Disrupt Your Lesson
• New Teacher Training Series Part Four: 4 Ways to Prevent Challenging Behavior in Your Elementary Classroom
• Handling Challenging Behaviors with Confidence
• How to Handle Difficult Students in Your Classroom

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