working with students who challenge us: two-minute intervention

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson - See more at: http://www.movemequotes.com/top-15-power-of-positive-thinking-quotes/#sthash.U1cufOPt.dpuf

 Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson - See more at: http://www.movemequotes.com/top-15-power-of-positive-thinking-quotes/#sthash.U1cufOPt.dpuf

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson - See more at: http://www.movemequotes.com/top-15-power-of-positive-thinking-quotes/#sthash.U1cufOPt.dpuf

Now that the school year is into October, 4-6 weeks in, we have begun to settle into routines. We've gotten to know our students, and we know which students challenge us the most. Something I plan to focus on this year a lot on the blog are management technique suggestions for teachers, something new teachers often say they need to support them.

Previous posts on classroom management can be found here. Today, the focus is on a proactive management technique focused on building relationships with students who are challenging - the two-minute intervention (Mendler, 2012). The two-minute intervention is simple - spend two minutes each day for 10 consecutive days trying to build your relationship with that one student that is most challenging. It may be difficult at first - the student may be reluctant to talk, but it's important to keep at it trying not to get too discouraged. Staying committed to two minutes, for 10 days can make a remarkable difference in your relationship with this student. Plan to connect with the student while others are working independently on something, so it can be woven into your lesson plan, and not seen as something that will take away from instruction.

So what can you do for these 2 minutes? If you've done an interest inventory, now is the perfect time to revisit that information. Find something that the student is passionate about outside of school and begin there. Notice if the student is wearing a team jersey or talks with friends about a particular game or activity, and begin with these ideas. Start small. Even 30 seconds of positive conversation can begin to shift your relationship with a student.

Have you tried this intervention? Share suggestions with other teachers below!