15 Teacher Skills to Grow in 2025, Day 13

I was an ADHD kid...I'll leave it at that. Our children often tell us about their trauma and what their physical, social, and emotional needs are through their actions in class. Still others will struggle to regulate and (lacking language and experience) could try to escape the situation, possibly hurting themselves and/or others in the process. Recent studies of adolescent brain development are shedding light on the "why" of a wide variety of classroom actions I may have labeled "disrespect" in earlier versions of myself as a teacher. Remember...I'm talking about my journey--I'm still learning so much--mostly from my students. Do I still have frustrating moments in the classroom? Of course. Am I suggesting that no children have the capacity for disrespectful actions? Of course not. I'm suggesting that it's not the default. Children have the same range of feelings that we do, and less experience coping with them. Going forward, I resolve to err on "the benefit of the doubt" side, and will try to continue to ask better questions.

Happy snacking!

Charles

Head chef