writing assignment for disrespectful students

35 Writing Prompts about Respect

Respect is an important value to have and to experience. It means to consider other people and their feelings.

It means you care about the other person and what they believe in, the values they hold, and them as a human being. It means you will treat yourself and others kindly and without judgment.

We all want to be respected, and respecting others is part of receiving respect.

How to use these prompts:

There is no wrong way to use these writing prompts!

You can pick one at random and write until you feel you’ve answered the question, or you can go down the list and answer each prompt day by day.

Some find it helpful to set a timer and write for one prompt, but you can choose whichever way works best for you as a writer!

Just make sure to respect yourself and your writing techniques.

The prompts:

• Who do you respect the most? Why?
• Who do you respect the least? Why?
• What does respect mean to you?
• Tell about a time when you felt respected.
• Tell about a time when you felt disrespected. How did you respond?
• If respect were a person, what would they be like?
• If respect were an animal, what animal would it be and why?
• Write about a time when you witnessed someone being disrespectful. How did you respond, if you did?
• What do you think Aretha Franklin’s song “RESPECT” is about?
• How does being respectful make you feel?
• Do you automatically respect your elders? Why or why not?
• Do you automatically respect everyone you encounter in life? Why or why not?
• Where do you think the word respect comes from?
• How can you be more respectful in your everyday life?
• Do you think respect is an important value to uphold? Why or why not?
• What can you do if you see someone being disrespectful? Write out an example and what to do.
• How can you show your teacher or principal that you are a respectful student?
• Can you judge someone and still respect them?
• Do you respect your family members? Why or why not?
• Do you respect nature and the surrounding environment? How do you show it?
• How would you explain respect to someone who has never heard the term before?
• What do you do when you are feeling disrespected?
• Why do you think we need to respect rules at school or work?
• Do you believe in the golden rule: treat others how you wish to be treated? Why or why not?
• How do you learn how to be respectful?
• Do you have to agree with everything a person says just because you respect them? Why or why not?
• Why do we need to respect and abide by the law?
• What happens if you don’t respect the laws where you live?
• Do animals respect each other? Why or why not?
• How can you be respectful on a team? (ex: sports or debate team, working on a group project)
• What does it mean to respect someone’s boundaries? Give an example.
• Write a story about Ralphie the Respectful Raccoon and how he teaches other animals to be respectful.
• Would you rather be respected or loved? How are they similar? How are they different?
• Do all humans respect each other? Why or why not?
• Write a story about a student who doesn’t respect their teacher.

Looking for more?

We are always looking for new ideas and content for our writers of all ages. If you have any you’d like to share with us, or would like to ask a question, please feel free to reach out to us — we’d love to hear from you!

While you’re here, take a moment to check out our writing prompts about love , fear , regret , and… kindness .

It’s because of wonderful people like you that we can continue to offer unique and inspiring writing resources for our audiences.

Thank you. 🙂

See you again soon – our husband and wife team are making new resources available here everyday.

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Classroom Management , Mindset & Motivation , Podcast Articles   |   May 7, 2017

How to respond to rude, disrespectful student attitudes

By Angela Watson

Founder and Writer

I’ve written A LOT about behavior management: creating a strong, positive classroom culture and being proactive, as well as what to do about extreme student behaviors and how to undo your classroom management mistakes .

I’ve talked about how to avoid getting discouraged by these kinds of behaviors, and how to  not give up on apathetic kids.

But I haven’t addressed practical responses in the moment to student attitudes:

• How should you respond to the little things students do that are rude, disrespectful, or just annoying?
• What should you do for minor behaviors that don’t necessarily warrant some kind of consequence, but that you can’t let slide every time?
• Is there a way to keep kids from eye-rolling, teeth sucking, muttering under their breath, and so on?
• What do we do about bad attitudes?

I don’t want to settle for trite, rehashed info, so I reached out to Robyn Jackson , founder of Mindsteps Inc , because I knew she could take this conversation to a deeper level. Robyn was a National Board Certified English teacher in Maryland, just outside of Washington DC, and has since been an administrator, adjunct professor, consultant, and speaker. She’s been championing equity, access, and rigor for over 15 years.

Robyn is seriously one of my favorite experts in the education space, because she has a deeper understanding of human behavior and motivation than anyone else I know, and she always keeps it real. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing her speak in person a few times and I just hang on her every word–there’s so much good info there. She has this lovely way of uncovering the root problem and also calling you out on your own mess instead of allowing blame-shifting.

I highly recommend using the audio player below to listen to the full interview,  but even if you’d rather read, grab a pad of paper because you’re going to want to take notes.

Want to listen instead of read?

Listen to season 5 episode 14 below, or subscribe in your podcast app., is it even possible to create a class culture in which kids don’t get an attitude or disrespect you over minor things (especially at the secondary level).

Absolutely. In fact, how depressing would it be if that weren’t possible? I don’t just believe it’s possible, I’ve seen it, and I’ve seen it with all kinds of kids.

I spend a lot of time in schools, and I’m in all kinds of schools — urban schools, suburban schools, rural schools, schools in the US, schools in other countries. I’ve seen it happen, but creating that kind of classroom culture is not easy. I don’t have anything like, “All you have to do is ___ and you can have that kind of culture.” There are a lot of things that go into it, including not just the personality of the students, but the personality of the teacher.

One of the things I shrink from whenever we talk classroom management issues is espousing a particular strategy because those strategies work if you have a particular personality. They don’t work with some personalities. We often don’t factor in who we are when we’re thinking about grabbing strategies and applying them. There is no key that says if you’re this kind of personality, this strategy will work, and if you’re that kind of personality, this strategy will work. It’s a lot of trial and error.

The teachers I’ve seen pull off this off created a classroom culture that is a good fit for their own personality and the personality of the kids involved. I think that both are really important, and I think it’s often a missing link that people have when they’re trying to figure out how to create that classroom.

They think there’s some magic bullet: “I must not be doing something right,” or “I saw another teacher,” or “I read something that this teacher said, and it worked for them. Why isn’t it working for me?” We don’t factor in who we are and how much of a difference that plays in whether or not a strategy will work.

What are appropriate consequences for kids who show disrespect?

I think we have to distinguish between disruptions and disrespect, because not every disruption is disrespectful. I don’t think teachers should tolerate disrespect, ever . That always has to be addressed. But a disruption may not be a sign of disrespect. I think we have to be really clear about the difference. I’m trying to think of a clean, easy distinction, but oftentimes there isn’t one. One person’s disruption is another person’s disrespect.

But typically I consider: Is the child trying to challenge my authority in the classroom? Is the child doing something in direct disregard for something that I’ve directly told them to do? That feels more like disrespect. Is a child being a teenager? Then that’s a disruption.

So disrespect I never ignore. Disruptions, I may or may not ignore them. I may not directly address them right away because I might be able to redirect that student, or I may be able to get that student re-engaged. I think that that’s the difference. We have to be really careful about how we interpret student behavior, because a lot of times in our frustration, we end up interpreting things as disrespect that were never intended to be disrespectful.

How do you keep yourself from taking students’ misbehavior personally?

I still struggle with not taking it personally, even though I know better. Somebody’s attitude rubs me the wrong way or does something that I feel is disrespectful when really there’s something else going on, and rather than taking the time to figure that out before I respond, I just react, and say, “Hold up. No. Wait a minute.”

Especially now, because a lot of times when I’m teaching or doing demonstration lessons, there’s a lot riding on that demonstration. I’m coming in and showing people how to do something, and I’m the supposed expert. And when somebody does something that’s a disruption or is blatantly disrespectful, it’s hard for me to step out of, “Wait a minute. You are challenging me. You are a 13-year-old. How dare you?” Or, “Wait a minute. I’ve got to show people that I know what I’m doing, so I can’t allow you to have any ground in my classroom.”

Those are short-term solutions. And you might be able to quash the rebellion in the moment, but you have lost the war, because classroom management/discipline is supposed to be about helping our students become better at managing the learning and managing themselves.

When we sacrifice that bigger goal for a temporary win, we create other problems down the line, and it doesn’t even feel good to us. It doesn’t. We think it’s going to solve that issue of that, “I feel disrespected,” and it doesn’t. It doesn’t solve either of the issues. It just quashes the rebellion at the moment.

How do you show the class you’re in control without escalating the situation?

When you make the wise decision to not escalate things in the middle of class and to address it later, it’s tough when the student tries to get the last word. There’s something inside of us that finds it hard to walk away from something like that. We immediately worry that our other students are going to think, “Oh no. Look, he got away with it.”

This is a hard situation, and it’s hard to take the long view of things. Students won’t think that he got away with it if you are effective in that post-classroom conversation, and the next day he comes to class and he’s well-behaved. So you have to think about it from that perspective and remember: don’t sacrifice the war because you want to win a small skirmish. You’re fighting a bigger war.

I hate to use war language when we’re talking about dealing with children, and I say “children” but I mean teenagers. I taught secondary–I’m not talking about third-graders here. I’m talking about that 16-year-old who’s being a jerk in class and doing it for attention, and at that moment, he is being disrespectful, right? So how do you deal with that?

The first thing is that you have to keep in mind the longer game.  Is the goal of that exchange to prove to the other students that you’re in charge, especially when so many things can go wrong, or are there other ways to show students that you don’t tolerate that kind of behavior?

For me, I think that if you let it go right then and there, as bad as that feels, and you settle it when you talk with that student later on, and then that student comes to class the next day and is well-behaved and the students see that that student is being respectful to you — then what students are going to think is, “Whoa. She must have let him have it in that other conversation. She’s not somebody you mess with,” and they leave it alone.

If you don’t settle it in that follow-up conversation, then that’s when students start getting the idea that that behavior is tolerated. Students are always watching, yes, but you aren’t tolerating that behavior now. What you’re not doing is getting in the last word, and eventually that student looks ridiculous, especially if you remain calm and you remain in control of the classroom.

That’s the struggle: Remaining calm, because I know what that feels like in the moment. I’ve had those situations where you’re sitting there and you’re thinking, “Oh no. What are the kids going to say? Do I respond? Do I not respond?” And unfortunately, there’s no manual for this because kids come up with all kinds of things that we’re not prepared for. There’s no way to prepare for it other than this:

At all times, remain calm. At all times, remain in control. You don’t worry so much about what the other kids are going to think, because you are in control, even of that situation. It’s one thing if that student is doing something and you’re cowering in a corner. It’s another thing if students see you choosing to ignore that behavior. It’s not that you are tolerating or they can get away with it. What students will see is that you’ve made a choice to ignore that behavior.

How do you show students you are CHOOSING not to engage?

A long time ago I wrote a couple of blog posts, and the title of the series was, Are You a Discipline Problem? And it was directed at teachers. It wasn’t to blame teachers, but it was to make this point: A discipline problem is anything that disrupts instruction. Anything. Which means that a child can be a discipline problem, but it also means that a teacher can be a discipline problem.

When you choose not to escalate the situation as a teacher, you choose not to become a discipline problem, because the moment that you start getting in the last word with that student, you now are playing that student’s game. What you’re trying to do is get the student on your page, not get on the student’s page. If the teacher follows up with the student, gets that student back on track, then that’s what the class is going to see–that’s the permanent, lasting effect that students will notice.

You can make it clear to the other students that you are choosing not to engage . Even in how you ignore, you can look at the student sadly, shake your head, and then keep moving with what you’re doing and get everybody back on track. And that will look like you’re just, “Poor pitiful little thing. You have no idea what you’re in for when I talk to you after class.” You can do that, and that shows that you remain in control.

If the student’s trying to get you to react, and you do, then you’re playing his game. You just have to remember: W ho’s in charge? I am. That means you just let the “last word” stuff go, even though it feels horrible to do so. But you don’t have to just let it go and act as if it didn’t happen. You can acknowledge it without engaging in it.

You can look at it and shrug your shoulders and keep moving with what you’re doing. Then everybody knows you saw it, you’ve chosen to ignore it, and you’ve handled it without escalating it.

How do you find a “teacher look” that works consistently? 

Some teachers are tough teachers. I’m the kind of teacher that I could stop a kid in his tracks with a look. I’ve looked at kids before, a kid started getting smart with me, and I looked at her, and she immediately said, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” But that’s who I am, right?

There are some people who haven’t found their teacher look yet, or whose look isn’t as ferocious, and so they shouldn’t try the look. Because if kids don’t buy your look, if there’s no conviction behind it, then all students are going to do is say, “You can look at me all you want … ” That can escalate things.

So whatever you do, commit to it, but make it fit who you are. Some teachers look disappointed, some teachers look sad but not cowed. Some teachers look at them and say a certain word. “The look” can mean a lot of different things. It could be there’s just a look, or maybe it’s body language.

Or maybe you respond with humor. Some teachers might say, “Aw, do you need a hug?” and then the rest of the class laughs. So you have to figure out who you are, and that’s why it’s so important to do something that’s consistent with your personality, and not try to be the teacher with the look, if that’s not who you are. You have to find what works for you.

Will ignoring disruptive behavior just make it worse?

There’s a way to deal with the behavior without escalating it, without saying a word, that lets everybody know the student is going to be dealt with. He has not won, and everyone including him knows it–you’re just choosing to ignore it.

And if you make the choice to ignore it obvious, that’s the difference. It’s when we don’t make that “ignoring choice” obvious that there’s a problem. When kids aren’t sure: “Are you ignoring it or did he beat you into submission with his words? Which one is it?”

So I think it’s important that you have to make that choice obvious, however you choose to do that, but you don’t have to engage it or escalate it.

I think that’s the thing that they don’t teach us about deliberate ignoring:  you don’t ignore it as if you don’t see it . You’re just ignoring it as if, “I’m not going to deal with it at this time.” And is students see that choice, then you are still in control of your classroom.

What happens when you try to tell parents about a behavioral situation, and they think you should accept being treated like a doormat?

Oh, no, never, never, never. Not just because “no one deserves to be treated like a doormat,” I just think it’s hard for kids to learn in that kind of environment where they feel like they’re in control of the classroom. It just hurts you and it hurts the kids, so never accept being treated like a doormat. But what do you do instead?

As a teacher, I had parents cussing me out, I had parents slamming down the phone and hanging up on me saying, “You handle school, I’ll handle home. If you can’t do your job, why are we paying taxes for you?” I’ve had parents come up to the school and lay me out. I’ve had administrators who have capitulated to parents’ demands.

I’ve also had the other side of the coin as an administrator where parents are calling the school, and the child can do no wrong, and how dare you? I’ve had parents get off the phone with me, leave work, and drive up to the school in order to just yell at me in person.

I’ve learned over the years that there are a couple of things you can do to enlist parent support:

1. Be proactive. At the very beginning of the year, outline what the expectations are, and also explain how you’re going to support that student. 

That way the idea of handling it in-house is re-couched as, “When things get out of line,” or “If things get out of line, here’s how I’m going to help and support your child. And here are the ways that you can help me support your child,” so that you lay out the expectations: “When I give you a call, this is the script, this is how I expect you to handle it.”

You lay it out before things go badly, so that you have precedent there, and it’s not the first time parents are encountering your expectation for their support. You’ve laid out what that looks like to you, you’ve had that conversation with parents ahead of time. You can do that at back-to-school night or in other ways.

2. Get the story to the parent before the child does.

If something happened in school that day, make the call home. Email is not enough, because parents may not read their email before they talk to their child, so you really want to get to the parent. Whoever gets to the parent first controls the story.

3. If you can’t get to the parent first and s/he is angry, let the parent vent BEFORE you talk.

When parents are yelling at me like it’s my fault, I don’t interrupt. I let them vent, and when they are done yelling, then I will come in and talk. I’ve been yelled at by a lot of parents because I hold my kids at pretty high standards, and not all parents are supportive of that. So let them vent and hear them out, because in their complaints you’ll always find the way to their hearts.

I hated it when parents yelled at me and screamed at me. If parents are being disrespectful, they’re cussing you, they’re calling you outside of your name, you can stop the conversation until they can calm down, and then solicit some support.

But in most cases, they’re like, “I don’t know why you keep calling me. I feel like I’m doing my work at home. If you can’t handle it … ” If it’s that kind of thing, hear it out. In that is a plea for help.  Basically, that parent is saying, “I am having enough struggle controlling him at home. I don’t need more of this.”

4. E nlist parents as partners rather than tattling on their kids.

I think that’s the most important thing. Parents may be accustomed to the school calling home about their child, and it feels like you’re tattling, or it feels like you’re saying their kid’s not a good kid. So I try to talk about what I’m doing and why I’m doing it, and use the language of the goals that the parents have for their own children.

How do you convince parents that the consequence you chose was appropriate and get their support?

Once I had a situation with a father in which he didn’t believe the son should be suspended. I said, “I know this feels like punitive for your son and you don’t think he deserves it, but let me talk to you about what I’m hoping. Tell me what are your hopes for the kind of young man that you want your child to be.”

And he started talking to me about that, and then I said, “You know, I have some of those same hopes for him, and this is why I think it’s really important that he is suspended, because this isn’t punitive. I want him to learn a lesson, and I think we’ve gotten to the point where the only way he can learn this lesson is that he have a consequence that’s dire. And in giving him a consequence on this level, we save him from having to face an even more dire consequence later on. We have to get this behavior out of him.”

And so I talked to the father not just as, “Your child did this, and therefore he’s having this consequence,” but also shared the thinking behind the consequence. I’m not asking him to handle something, which I think puts a lot of parents on a defensive kind of posture. I’m saying, “Here’s what I’m doing in support of the type of child that I think we’re both hoping that your son becomes, and here’s what’s behind it.” And every time I’ve done that — and I’ve had to do it quite a bit — I’ve secured the support of the parent.

When you don’t have the support of the parent, when it seems like they feel their child can do no wrong, you need to talk about the discipline not as a punishment. You connect it to the goals that the parent has for the child, to the challenges the parent may be having with the child. When you show the parents that this is not a punishment (that’s what they’re protecting their child from, punishment), you’re teaching them that this is another learning opportunity.

And when you do that sincerely, it’s really hard for parents to resist someone who cares so much about their child that they’re taking the time to apply the discipline, even when the parent doesn’t agree.

What happens when your approach totally backfires — how do you figure out what you should have done differently?

One of the things that I find really challenging is that people will bring situations to me and they’ll say, “What should I have done?” And the truth is, I don’t know. I wasn’t there.

And quite frankly, things happen so quickly in the classroom, it’s hard to do a postmortem. It’s hard to say, “You handled this correctly,” or “You did it incorrectly.” There are just so many moving parts.

When I see teachers out there who are sincerely trying to support students, I wish that I had a tactic, a magic word, something that I could give them that works every time, but I’ve not found it.

When I can’t find the magic thing that works every single time, I always fall back on the principle that I should change my perspective and look to discipline as another learning opportunity. It’s something that I would treat with the same rigor that I use when planning any other lesson.

When I’m planning my consequences and my responses, I plan it with the same intention that I would plan a learning activity. I think about what I want the child to ultimately learn from engaging in this disciplinary activity with me or working with this child to manage behavior.  It relieves me of some of the natural, human feelings around how the child is behaving at that moment.

And it’s a hard thing to hold onto. I’m not perfect at it. But every time I’ve done it that way, I have found a way to reach the child. And every time that I haven’t done it that way, I look back with regret on how I handled things.

No time to finish reading now? Download the audio and listen later on the go!

How do you respond when nearly half the class is talking over you.

I stop. I mean, what’s funny is, it’s not just kids. It happens to me when I train teachers, too. I stop. I just stop. Sometimes it may take four or five minutes, depending on the class. If I’m walking in cold, I might not do this … but I’ll tell you what I don’t do.

I don’t say, “I’m not going to talk as long as you’re talking,” because then they’re like, “Fine. We don’t want to hear from you anyway, thank you.” So I don’t set myself up for that response, but I stop and I talk about why .

I try to make a case for why what I’m saying is more important, and try to secure their respect. But I don’t talk over kids. I don’t just keep going, especially when it’s half the class. And I don’t try to say anything smart either because that’s just a setup. I just stop. And when people get quiet, I start talking again.

How do you respond to profanity — when kids are just casually conversing with each other and you hear a curse word?

Oh, no. I’m old-fashioned. People have to work on their own tolerance. Nowadays the language is so profane, but my kids know how I am about this from the beginning. A lot of times I don’t have to say anything. A lot of times it’s just a part of how they speak, and they catch themselves, and they’re like, “Oops.”

When I was younger, when I first became a teacher, I was trying to charge 10 cents every time somebody cursed, but that creates a lot of problems, so don’t do that!

What I try to do now is just set an atmosphere in the classroom where kids know that’s not appropriate, and then when it happens, I just stop, and I say, “Can you rephrase that using the language of the classroom?” And kids do, and they apologize, because they know that that’s not something that I really like in the classroom.

What do you do when a student refuses to comply with a really simple request, like “put your phone away” or “sit down”?

When a student refuses to comply with a simple request, most of the time there’s a bigger issue at stake. It’s not just about the request–there’s something else going on. And a lot of times it doesn’t have anything to do with you on that particular day. They’re going through something else.

So if they refuse to comply with a simple request, I’m not going to stop instruction until I force them into submission. I’m going to get instruction going and then check in with the kid, because if not, that’s how you get those blow-ups . That’s how you get the kids who just go off.

If it’s a simple request like “put your phone away”, and they don’t do it, I move on. I say, “OK, I’ll deal with you in a second.” I get everybody else moving so that the learning in the classroom doesn’t stop, and then I deal with that student.

The exception is if it’s become a big disruption (like if they’re loudly playing a game on their phone, and it’s interrupting everybody else’s learning), because then I’m going to have to deal with it right away. They’ve created a bigger issue. But if it’s just simply, “My phone’s out. I’m not putting it away right now, and you can’t make me,” then let me get everybody else started so I as the teacher don’t become the discipline problem. And then once I’ve got everybody moving where they need to go, then I’m going to go deal with that student, and at that point, it’s not about the phone.

One of the things I learned from Cynthia Tobias, who has this great book on strong-willed children , is when strong-willed kids don’t comply with a simple request, ask the question, “How come?”

So I say, “Put your phone away,” and then the student just doesn’t do it or says no, and then I say, “How come?” calmly. And a lot of times that gets them talking so I can find out what else is going on. They’ll say, “I’m talking to my mother — my grandmother is sick,” or “I don’t feel like it.” “OK, why not?” You get them engaged in conversations that can help you figure out what’s going on and help you deal with the real issue, and not make the phone the issue.

How do you respond to kids who are volatile and belligerent when they’re spoken to about their behavior — those who can’t accept correction?

Oftentimes I’ll say, “We can’t continue to do this. I have a job, and you’ve got a job. And a lot of times you’re reacting in ways that, to me, feel out of proportion for what I’m asking you to do. So I need to know what’s going on with you, and we’re going to have to figure out something else that you can do instead, because that particular reaction doesn’t work. You’re allowed to have a reaction, but let’s find one that will work in the classroom. ”

Then we figure out something that works. With some students, I’ve had to do “antiseptic bounces.”  So I might say, “OK. Our arrangement is that if you’re getting to the point where you feel like you can’t behave in this classroom, then you can go sit in the back of Ms. So-and-So’s classroom and finish your work there, and Ms. So-and-So knows you’re coming.” The student goes in her room, and sits in the back. I’ve found that that works with some of the really volatile students.

Others have a safe word that they say when they feel like they’re about to go off. And when I hear that word (it’s something that’s just between me and the student), I say, “OK,” and I back off. The student then gets himself together and we address the issue when he’s calmer.

I have to work it out with the student so that we have an agreement. Then once you have that agreement, you can hold them accountable to the agreement , even when you can’t hold them accountable to the behavior   and to the behavioral expectations of the classroom.

What’s the most important thing you try to remember about student behavior, attitudes, and disrespect?

You have a bigger end game than that moment when you feel disrespected. And you’re not just teaching that student: every student who witnesses it learns something, too.

So, you have to be very careful about how you respond to student behavior and address it. Because in that moment, whether you realize it or not, you are teaching. You want to make sure that you’re teaching the right lessons in every interaction. It’s not just that student: everybody’s watching, and everybody’s learning.

I think when you take that principled approach, you cut down on a lot of the disciplinary issues that happen in the classroom so they never even come to the surface. You never even have to deal with them when you set up a classroom in that way.

Want to learn more from Robyn Jackson? Visit  mindstepsinc.com , or check out her (amazing!) book, Never Work Harder Than Your Students and Other Principles of Great Teaching .

This post is based on an episode from my weekly podcast, Angela Watson’s Truth for Teachers . A podcast is like a free talk radio show you can listen to online, or download and take with you wherever you go. I release a new 15-20 minute episode each Sunday and feature it here on the blog to help you get energized and motivated for the week ahead. 

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Angela Watson

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I was curious as to if Robyn ever came to schools to do trainings or presentations with school personnel?

Respect is not just a vague concept. This is an important life skill and the sooner kids will learn it, the sooner they will learn to build successful relationships. So, I admire the work you have done here teaching parents the importance of respecting their children and nurturing these skills in their kids. I am really grateful for the parenting tips you have collected here. Can add just a little bit? I have this article about teaching respect as well. And the activities that your kids will have fun with. Care to take a look here https://aliciaortego.com/teach-kids-respect-activities/ ?

Loved this! I listened in June ’23 after a really difficult year. I’m a specialty teacher that sees all the kids in the school but not every day. Discipline for me depends on so much! But, I love the idea of not becoming a discipline problem…which I’ve felt but not understood how to put into words. Thank you so much.

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Need Behaviour Assignments for Consequences

Discussion in ' Behavior Management Archives ' started by dannyteach , Dec 6, 2010 .

dannyteach New Member

Dec 6, 2010

I'm looking for some help! I am in my 7th year of teaching and have a little guy in my grade 7 class this year. I taught him last year and was blessed with his sweet return to my class list this year. He is the most disruptive, disrespectful, high energy child I have yet to come across. am usually the teacher who invites challenges like this into my class...however this littleguy has got me, my principal, the admin beat! I am looking for support and help in ways to deal with him when he gets into his distructive states. I would like to come up with assignments for him to do that address his poor behaviour choices in class / on the playground. For example, if he swears at a teacher or pretends to shoot his classmates consistantly, having him write a journal entry from his teacher's perspective or classmates on what they may be feeling. Having him do a behavioural report when sent out of the classroom to reflect on his behaviours. I would like to come up with 10 or so behavior related assignments for him to do in the office when he is not ready to be in class. These can be kept with the principal and he must complete one before being permitted to return to class. Any ideas for assignments? reports? projects? readings? etc. It would be very much appreciated! I need to somehow survive this child this year and it is only December!!! Thanks! Danielle  

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StellatheSub Rookie

Dec 8, 2010

Age 7 or grade 7?  

Aliceacc Multitudinous

Hi Danielle, and welcome! I'm guessing 7th grade. And I've got to be honest and admit that I'm in a bit over my head; my typical "not bad enough for detention" assignment is to multiply your phone number by your zip code. The next time you stay after, you have to check it by long division. I tend not to have too many repeat offenders. How about an essay on the meaning of "respect", starting with a dictionary definition? Likewise "Civility" and "Cooperation"???  

Cerek Aficionado

The writing assignments sound like a good idea, because it will force him to actually THINK about what he is doing and how it affects other people. Having him describe his actions from the other person's POV might make him think about the impact his actions are having. I also like Alice's idea of writing a short paper on respect, civility, cooperation, etc by beginning with the dictionary definition. Other ideas for writing assignments could be: 1) Describe a typical school day from the time you wake up till you go to bed that night. Write about the things that happen on a normal day for you. (This might provide some insight from HIS POV about why he is so out of control. What is triggering all of that anger and disruption?) 2) List the name of 10 classmates and write one good quality or positive comment about each one. How does the person display this quality? What is unique about him/her? What affect (if any) does this quality or attribute have on other classmates? (Perhaps if he lists positive qualities of others and how it affects the classroom environment, he will begin to think about how some of those qualities or behaviors would work for him. You could also do this assignment several times, making him list 10 different classmates each time until he has eventually written one positive comment about each of them). 3) What do you want to do when you are grown and out of school? What kind of job do you think you would like to have? (hopefully, this will make him think about future goals and help him start focusing on what he needs to do to reach them). 4) If you had 1 day to do whatever you wanted, what would you do? (if he writes something like "play video games all day" or "sit around the house", then future assignments can focus more on describing a favorite hobby or activity OTHER than video games. Try to make him think of something that requires some energy and thought and describe what he enjoys most about that activity) 5) Imagine YOU are a middle school teacher. Describe what you think a normal day of school would be like for you then. What subject would you teach? What kind of lessons would you do? How would you make the lessons interesting for all the students? How much time do you think it would take to grade all the papers from every class you have? Those are some ideas off the top of my head. I'm not sure how much success you will actually have getting him to do any of these, but once he is removed from the situation that is upsetting him and has some time to calm down, maybe he will begin to reflect on these ideas and how he can use them to change his behavior. If he DOES complete the assignments, he will have been forced to think about his actions (and their impact) a little more deeply and will also provide insight to you about what is triggering these reactions and things he wishes were different about his environment.  

teacher12345 Cohort

Some other assignment ideas: 1. Writing a letter of apology to the teacher stating what he did, why it was not acceptable, how his actions impacted others, others point of view and what others think of him when he acts this way, how it makes his teacher feel when he acts this way, and what he could do next time instead. 2. Comparing and Contrasting his behavior with that of other students in his grade or class: IE: Other 7th graders treat their teachers with respect and use respectful words when talking with them, and I sweared at my teacher and then stating what other people may think of him if he keeps doing this behavior, ie: dissruptive, obnoxious, rude, don't want to be around him, direspectful, disobedient, defient, weird, goofs off alot, can't listen and follow directions, annoying to be around etc. 3. Write the following words and their defenitions from the dictionary 3 times each and use them in a sentence; cooperative/cooperate/cooperating, respectful, responsible, polite, curtious, rude, defient, and obnoxious. 4. Make a list of why his behavior was not appropriate: EX: it was disruptive, rude, not respecting teacher or peers trying to learn/teach, spoke out of turn, bad language, others were mad, etc. 5. Cause and Effect note cards: given a situation or behavior he will write down the effect 6. he will write a poem about how his behavior effected others/other people's point of view, teacher's point of view 7. He will write a diary entry as if he was the teacher and had a disrespectful, rude, uncooperative student in his classroom, stating why it was annoying, what the student did, why it made it hard for him to teach etc. 8. Write a diary entry as if he was a classmate of a student who acted like he did, disrespectful, rude, etc.  

paperheart Groupie

Dec 11, 2010

Name 50 careers that require a college education. Name 50 reasons that explain why you are bright, beautiful and just plain awesome. Imagine you are a superhero. Name 50 super powers you would like to have. Now describe 10 qualities you do have that can lead to good.  

Dec 12, 2010

Some of these sound downright fun! Detention in my school involves copying, word for word, a page of typed print. The last time I had detention duty, it concerned Brown vs the Board of Education. It used to be copying a page from the dictionay. Saturday detention is copying the Constitution. As you decide on the assignments, keep in mind: the point is that it's NOT fun. It's something to be avoided.  

Pisces_Fish Fanatic

Aliceacc said: ↑ Some of these sound downright fun! Detention in my school involves copying, word for word, a page of typed print. The last time I had detention duty, it concerned Brown vs the Board of Education. It used to be copying a page from the dictionay. Saturday detention is copying the Constitution. As you decide on the assignments, keep in mind: the point is that it's NOT fun. It's something to be avoided. Click to expand...

swansong1 Virtuoso

Here's my opinion as an ESE teacher: The children that Alice gives detention to are normal children with normal behaviors that have transgressed a little. Therefore, her punishment is absolutely acceptable. This 7th grader exhibits unusual and abnormal behavior ( as in a child with behavioral disabilities). He needs to have behavioral modification strategies to help him learn more acceptable behaviors in school. So, the writing assignments you all have suggested would act as behavioral modification strategies and would be be a good start for him to begin learning ways to change his behavior. I'm guessing he will not find these writing assignments easy. As a matter of fact, the fact that he will have to sit quietly and give some thought to his actions and then compose a response will give him difficulty because he has shown that those types of activities are not something he can handle easily..  

Excellent point swan!  

Teacherella Habitué

Jan 10, 2011

Whatever consequence you decide on, I would make sure that it won't make him hate writing. It would be a shame for him to associate writing as a punishment. I like the idea of him listing 50 positive traits about himself and maybe have him choose one to write about. I'm a firm believer in giving students logical consequences so I think it should directly relate to whatever reason he was send down to the office.  

MamaFisch New Member

Mar 7, 2011

I have several specially selected sections from our student code of conduct. Students have to copy it. If it is a short selection, I have them copy it several times and then I send home the page, with a note from me, to be signed by their parent. On our campus, three minor offenses that are documented and addressed result in a referral, so this also provides documentation and proof of parent notification. I also have students who make messes stay to clean up. Writing on desks and walls means erasing marks in the hallway. Students who run in the hall have to do 20 walking laps from one end of the hallway to the other, etc.  

sidhewing Rookie

Mar 11, 2011

Personal Responsibility Grade I believe in the "personal responsibility grade." I would suggest to give this to the whole class. It's a form that grades students on their behavior and is generally 15-20% of their overall grade. Each week you grades students on tardiness, absences, participation and respectful behavior. Allow yourself 2-3 sentences if they did something really disrespectful like curse, hurt a student etc. AND then allow them a space to "agree" or "disagree" with your grade and a space that allows them to answer: What could I do in the future to improve my grade? I've found that it is surprisingly effective and students sometimes are chillingly honest. If you don't want to do that have you considered a Behavior plan? Where you sit down with the students and together your brain storm was is disruptive/ productive and what the consequences/ rewards are? Or what about a progress chart where it's just between you and the student? So, that the students won't be embarrassed in front of his friends? Good luck!!  

m1trLG2 Companion

Apr 17, 2011

How are mom and dad? Here are some things we did in treatment as well as somethings I have used in the classroom. 1) Have him write a letter home to his parent that gets signed about his behavior. Do this in a guided writing style. "Dear Mom and Dad I was very disrespectful today. I made the choice to _______." Get it signed and returned (more effective if mom and dad are involved though). 2) Do "SODAS" with him as part of his journaling. S- Situation O- Options D- Disadvantages A- Advantages S- Solution Here is what it would look like: S- I want to color instead of do the work I'm supposed to do. O- Do my work or chose to color. D- If I chose to color my teacher will get upset, send a letter home, mom and dad will get upset, I will spend the rest of my day arguing. If I chose to do my work I don't get to do what I want and that upsets me. A- If I chose to do my work, perhaps I will finish early and be allowed to color and have some free time. My parents won't be upset, and my teacher won't get upset. If I chose to color, I get to do what I want. S- I think I will do my work and then color later and that way I don't have to deal with the upset people. This can be something he is allowed to do if he can recognize himself "losing control" it's a "stop and think" method. However it can also be used afterwards and then the solution would be the one he picked but why it didn't work out would be made clear in disadvantages. 3) This isn't a "punishment" but can be effective for helping to change behavior. A lot of behavior kids get overwhelmed very quickly and again need to "stop and think". Have him "take a break". This is good for ALL kids but mostly get utilized by behavioral kids. If he is being crazy and hyper and defiant tell him, "I think you need to take a break, please go have a seat facing the wall in the break chair." Give him 5 minutes and then ask him to join you OR tell him, "when you think you can make better choices let me know and you can join us" but if it's over five minutes have him make up the time during recess or with an assignment or something. This way he doesn't just go back to a corner and play. Sometimes these kids just get stuck in a loop and honestly don't know how to get out. 4) Have him do "self awareness" worksheets. Now, prior to teaching I was a behavioral therapist and I am a supporter of the cognitive behavioral school of thought. So, feel free to disagree I just wanted to say this is from that standpoint. A lot of behavioral kids are unable to put themselves in another person's shoes. This kid may be able to write a great response of how it would "feel" to be a teacher dealing with a kid like him but he doesn't "feel" that. He has observed your behaviors and listened and knows what to say. Giving assignments that require introspection will be more effective at changing his behaviors. Here are a few links. http://www.box.net/shared/fp9tziylhr http://www.stressgroup.com/ABCworksheet.html http://practicegroundprojects.wetpaint.com/page/Handouts,+Protocols+&+Client+Learning+Activities These are all similar to the SODAS approach and designed to have the child look inside to assess behaviors and slow down... again Stop and Think. If you google "Behavioral Therapy Worksheets" you will find lots of things he can work on. Also, ask the school guidance counselor if she/he has anything like these worksheets that he could work on. Lots of times the behavior is impulsive and there is no reason the child did it. So, the solution is learning to recognize impulsive behavior and then be able to stop and take charge of it. Hope some of this helps!  

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Smart Classroom Management

How To Respond To A Disrespectful Student

A disrespectful student can get under a teacher’s skin like almost nothing else.

When confronted with disrespect, it’s easy to take it personally. This is a normal reaction from a passionate teacher.

But it’s a colossal mistake.

Because when you take behavior personally, you’re likely to react in ways that make managing that student’s behavior much more difficult.

Your leverage and influence will then plummet right along with his or her behavior.

But if you can refrain from doing what comes naturally, then you can hold the disrespectful student accountable and still retain your ability to influence future behavior.

Here’s how:

Lose the battle.

When a student is disrespectful to you, you have to be willing to lose the battle. In other words, you must resist the urge to admonish, scold, lecture, get even, or otherwise attempt to put the student in their place.

Don’t take it personally.

Disrespect comes from a place inside the student that has nothing to do with you. So don’t take it personally. Your job is to help the student see the error of his or her ways so that it doesn’t happen again.

Take a deep breath to quell any angry feelings rising up inside you. Remind yourself that you’ll be much more effective, and the situation will go much smoother, if you maintain emotional control.

In the immediate moments following the incident, don’t say a word. Simply maintain eye contact with the student and wait. Let their words hang in the air for several seconds, leaving no doubt about what was said, how it was said, and who is responsible for saying it.

It’s important not to escalate the situation, but to end it as quickly as possible. Your pause and unwillingness to react is unnerving and will leave the student devoid of anything to say. As soon as you break eye contact and walk away, the incident is over.

Refrain from enforcing a consequence—for now. Just continue on with whatever you were doing. Leave the student standing there, unsure of what to do. It’s always best to get back to normalcy as quickly as possible for the sake of the rest of your students.

Do nothing.

Proceed with your day as if nothing happened. Don’t approach the student. Don’t try to talk to him or her about what happened. Don’t do anything until you’re confident that the student has mentally moved on from the situation.

As soon as the student is calm and the incident is forgotten, approach and deliver your consequence. I recommend bypassing the warning step of your classroom management plan and sending the student directly to time-out. Say simply, “You broke rule number four. Grab your work and go to time-out.”

For overt disrespect, the parents should be notified. A letter home is most effective. It also adds a layer of accountability that lasts beyond the day of the incident. Near the end of the school day, hand the student your letter and walk away–without adding a lecture. Let accountability speak for you.

Note: For more information on this topic, including a sample letter home, see the article, Why A Letter Home Is An Effective Consequence .

Let remorse set in.

When you handle disrespect this way, without lecturing or scolding or taking it personally, even the most obstinate student will be affected by his or her mistake. So much so that you’re likely to get a sincere and unforced apology.

A Lesson Learned

By following these steps, you can turn a student’s disrespect into a memorable lesson. The steps work because they heap the entire burden of responsibility on the student’s shoulders, with none of it clinging to you.

He or she can’t blame you or be resentful of you—thus undermining the lesson—because you didn’t try to get even. You didn’t have to win the battle. You didn’t yell, threaten, scold, or lower yourself to the same level of disrespect.

You kept your cool and allowed accountability to work, which is the right thing to do for both you and the student.

Thanks for reading.

If you haven’t done so already, please join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week.

What to read next:

• How To Respond After Losing Your Cool
• How To Respond To A Sudden Increase In Misbehavior
• How To Handle A Student Who Laughs When You Give…
• What To Say To A Needy, Dependent Student
• How To Handle A Student Who Rejects Your Kindness

67 thoughts on “How To Respond To A Disrespectful Student”

Thank you Michael, every post you make is so helpful to establishing good practice early in my career. And not reacting emotionally is a great way to avoid burn-out too. Regards Stephanie

Thanks Stephanie!

Thanks Stephanie….. this article was very helpful …

Excellent article. Well written, too. It is so true that blowing up may give the student the reaction they may have been trying to get from you. In that case, you will have lost the battle. And, because all eyes are on you, it’s a battle you will start to lose with all the kids. It reminds me of a time my own daughter threw a tantrum in the store. I just stood there and watched her wriggle on the floor and scream. After a moment, I turned away and started shopping again. I was amazed at how quickly the tantrum ended when she wasn’t getting the response she wanted. It can sometimes be the same with disrespect in the class.

Chris Bowen Author of “Our Kids: Building Relationships in the Classroom”

You’re right. And great illustration with your daughter. Thanks for sharing.

Hey Chris, I have read that book and agree with you completely, because sometimes you just need to let loose and lose the battle. I also think, that even though people get really mad from time to time, we could still give them a chance to calm down as well. I am only a kid, but I feel like someday, I want to write a book like yours, and have my dream job as an author. I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts and opinions, and I hope that you were calm when you read this.

Thank you, Aaria Shah

Hi, Michael. I’ve emailed before and greatly appreciate all your advice and thinking. I have a question regarding handling a disrespectful student. I have one student who, at times, will challenge when he is held accountable for behaviors and has a time-out as a consequence. He might question, challenge, argue. At that point, I know what not to do (from your posts). I know not to argue back or explain, etc. But do I just stand, waiting for the student to move to their time-out? Do I use the broken record technique? I mean, I have initiated a time-out and the student is arguing with me about the nature of the consequence. What do I do to get them there? Is there additional consequences for disrespect (to be given at a later time)? Thanks!

You should turn and walk away. Better yet, whenever you send students to time-out, let them walk themselves there. Your only responsibility is to inform them that they must go. If they refuse, then enforce the next consequence–which should be a letter home. If you’re having repeated problems with this student, then read the article series, How To Turn Around Difficult Students .

What would suggest if a group of students within a class is trying to be disrespectful to the teacher by calling out an offensive word but not owning up who said it? (older students)

If you don’t know who said it, then it isn’t a good idea to confront the entire group of students. Peer pressure likely would make it difficult to get an honest answer out of them (assuming by older students you mean middle or high school). It’s best to pull students aside separately and privately to get to the bottom of it.

Great advice, but I have a lot of problems, as an English teacher at a junior high school and high school in Japan. First, it is illegal to send students out of the class, or make them stand up,which I agree to in principle. But if I call the misbehaving students for after school time-out, counseling, (which I am willing to supervise), they will just escape and not show up. It’s a joke to them.

So what can I do? I can take up to 20% off of their score, and I do that, following a warning, one point at a time. But most of the bad ones don’t care at all about their score. There are no fails at our school and they will get moved up the grades and even into high-school whatever their score is. They have nothing to fear.

I have been told by the leadership that it is irregular for any subject teacher to contact their parents, and that only the homeroom teacher should contact them so I can’t send a letter home, or make a phone call, (although I have one ahead and done it anyway.,before – although I had better stop because I don’t want to get in trouble with the leadership).

So that just leaves the homeroom teacher as a third party. And there is no system that the homeroom teacher should follow. If they want to help they may help, but if they don’t they won’t. They may even doubt me instead of the misbehaving students. Even the head-teacher has said it is better not to rely on them, or anyone else.

But there are no penalties at my disposal, I don’t know what is best.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

You didn’t mention in-class time-out, which is what I recommend. Time-out is the most effective consequence IF your students enjoy being in your class. However, it sounds like they don’t respect you. One of the core principles of this website is to create a classroom your students love to be part of (leverage), and then separate them from it if they misbehave (time-out). This combination works regardless of where you teach or what your situation is.

Thanks for your reply.

Sorry I should give more information. I teach classes of 40 students twice a week. Most of the students are well behaved. There are a few students who cause all kinds of trouble: getting up out of their seat, throwing paper airplanes at me, and talking freely. If I say to these bad boys move to time-out, they won’t move. What else can I do? I am not allowed to call the parents and the homeroom teacher may or may not help me. Thanks

Not being able to observe you and not knowing what you’re currently doing for classroom management make it difficult for me to address your situation specifically. Do you have a classroom management plan? Have you been a regular reader of the website? Have you worked your way through the archive? You must have a solid understanding of smart classroom management principles before my answers would make any sense or be any help to you. The answer I gave to your first question (above) is the same one I’d give to this question. But again, it might not make much sense to you unless you spend some time in the archive.

This was a great article. Unfortunately, I read this a day too late. 🙁 I am a high school geometry teacher and I blew up at a disrespectful student and in turn, the whole class, this past Friday and am still feeling terrible. I felt terrible the whole time the blow up was going on in class, but I just couldn’t hold the anger and frustration in. I felt disrespected and attacked and I attacked back. Afterwards I sat at my desk and could feel the tears welling up partly because I was hurt and partly because I knew how badly I had handled the situation. My question is what do I do now? How do I proceed with the class? Do I ignore it like it never happened and resume business as usual? Do I address my behavior in some way and try to make sense of it for them? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. –brenda

Don’t be too hard on yourself. It happens to the best of us. As for what to do about it, you can either move on as if nothing happened, resolving to never let your students get under your skin again, or you can apologize. If it’s wearing on you, then make a short and simple but heartfelt apology and then get on with it. Don’t spend much time on it or try to make sense of it for them. A simple apology is all that’s needed. Kids understand. And I think they’ll respect you all the more for it.

i teach 7th grade and today in class, i made a mistake and one of the students yell out bendejas in spanish, which led to an uproar laughter. i am first embarrassed and so upset at the kid. i dont know how to discipline him and how do i save face following day?

Okay, I think I understand what the student said/meant. As far as saving face, you didn’t do anything wrong. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. They’re kids. Let it go in one ear and out the other. It was, however, extremely disrespectful. Presuming you have a classroom management plan, I would jump to your third consequence and send a letter home to parents/guardian. To read more about this, look through the Rules & Consequences category of the archive. And don’t give the incident another thought. It’s not worth it.

In my first weeks as a teacher, I think I made every mistake possible in the class-room. The kids were misbehaving and disrespectful, and I was quite disappointed and provoked by it all. After a couple of weeks I was recommended, by a parent, to CARRY one of the pupils out if he didn’t listen, and I thought: “What? Carry him? I’m a teacher or I’m a bouncer?” Truth be told I am a short little woman, but that is beside the point.

I sat down and rebooted my brain. This class was not “mine”. I was hired in as 2nd teacher because of the high level of misbehavior. The head teacher was able to keep them relatively calm, but others had low impact on the discipline in the class-room. They were loud teacher with frustration written all over their faces, and I joined in. Therefore, I promised my self two things: I don’t ever want to raise my voice, and I don’t carry around on kids (what an insane idea).

Every lesson after this, which I had responsibility for; I started out with telling my class the rules and consequences for my sessions. I told the head teacher that it was important that I was able to communicate with parents if necessary, and of course I told the parent that recommended me to carry out her child that it was not an option. Since, it’s been a steady and not so bumpy ride, but it all comes down to me being able to stick to my plan. I allow my self to fail now and then, and not be to beaten up about it. Bottom line, I learn from my mistakes.

I really like your site, and I will recommend it to fellow teachers and parents(!).

Thanks Viggi!

You are very welcome. Forgot to mention that I am Norwegian, and that would explain poor grammar 😉

Keeping calm and being composed by not taking the comment personally at that moment is difficult, but it is a very valuable suggestion. It not only diffuses the tension created but also helps the class not being hijacked. Thanks for all the tips.

You’re welcome, Latha!

I love this, though I can anticipate the difficulty in breaking the habit of getting even via scolding, sarcasm, raising my voice, etc. What do you suggest if you have ‘blown it’ already? I have a girl who is wonderfully smart and sweet, at least she started out that way. She’s a sixth grader and, typical of middle school years, she is constantly undergoing metamorphosis. She has taken on a condescending sense of entitlement lately and loves to get me riled up by placing blame on me, which I almost always immediately take personally. Every bad thing that happens only happens because I’m not doing what she believes I should be doing. And I suppose because she was so smart and mature and sweet initially that I take these assertions to heart. But twice now I have semi blown up at her. Not necessarily yelling, but a stern, firm voice, talking to which attempts to assert my superiority and put her in her place. In fact, I just did this today. I mean, she was in the wrong, but I handled it wrongly and ineffectively. Is there any hope of restoration in the teacher-student dynamic and relationship we’ve built?

Hi Christoph,

You can definitely restore your relationship. The best thing you can do for the next few weeks is resolve not to take her behavior personally and simply treat her like everyone else. Give her space. Don’t pull her aside for personal talks. I’m going to write about this topic in the near future. Stay tuned!

Sir, Thank you very much for your help.

You’re welcome!

hi sir michael, i like this great topic. can i ask permission from you to publish this whole article in our local tabloid for the information of my fellow teachers? i am a school guidance counselor and i need to share with them good tips in dealing with disrespectful students because it is one of the many problems that we encounter everyday. if not, what can i do to share your topics to my colleagues? thank you so much.

Sure, that would be fine. 🙂

Hey there Michael. First of all, you have a wonderful website, I have found it most enlightening. I, like Ben, am teaching abroad (in Thailand), and though I have not encountered as much disrespect as Ben, I can see where he is coming from. I just want to know…is it possible to have good classroom management with zero administrative support? Because over here in Asia, admin. support is not always guaranteed. I have read your articles and they have great advice, but let’s say Ben wants to turn his class around and make it a warm environment that the students want to be a part of. How does he do that if objects are being thrown at him, students are screaming, etc.? In this case, with NO administrative help, is the best solution just to leave that school and “wash the blood from his hands” so to speak? Again, I have yet to encounter as many problems as it seems he has, but if it can happen to one, it can happen to all!

There should be administrative support only insomuch as following through with suspend-able offenses. In other words, you are always better off handling behavior problems yourself, in your own classroom, unless those problems turn dangerous–bullying, fighting, attacking the teacher, etc.–which is when you need the support of administration.

Alright Michael, thanks for the advice. The reason I am a bit concerned is that I will start teaching at a new school this coming Monday (8th & 9th grade Gen. Science). I am eager to get the semester started on the right foot, but I am always one to worry about the “what-if’s” (and alot of those “what-if’s” are possible in Thailand). Nevertheless, I will go forward, take your advice, and try to start the first day making my classroom into one that students will want to be a part of, but where they must also show respect for the procedures and rules. Surely the administration will at least assist in the case of dangerous cases–for the rest of the in-class incidents, I will seek the counsel of resources such as this website, Lee Canter, H. Wong, etc. (and my own imagination of course!)

Thanks again for this website, it really is a big help 🙂

You’re welcome, Lusas! Good luck in your new assignment. You’ll do great!

I was looking at that because I think I’ve suddenly developed a bad attitude and I’m only in year 8. Before I was really shy aswel! I don’t know whats got into me, I just seem to like winding teachers up! I know that sounds awful, and it is! But its not even as if I don’t know how it feels – both my parents are secondary school teachers (not at my school) luckily!

Yes. I’ve done this when I used to work with some really tough urban kids, and it works! I figured it out because I’d see other teachers get into a verbal battle with students and I just thought, “That is so completely not working that I need to do the opposite of that. What is the opposite of that…” It’s this.

The idea to wait until later might be good for a “normal” student but for a student who has a disability of ADHD, they wouldn’t remember the incident and they would feel like they are being punished for no reason. You also have to know the students mental health to start with before applying this approach.Not all kids with ADHD act the same, some are hyperactive, some daydreams others a combination of both and you can’t tell what an ADHD kid looks like. ADHD kids need to be addresses immediately otherwise they genuinely forget. good reputible website for ADHD infomation is additidemag.com

I find that sometimes kids are so impulsive and say things they regret and wish they had not said. In some situations I find that replying with the question “Did you say that to me?” gives them an “out” or a chance to take back what they said. Usually, the student will reply with a no, and the issue is solved. Its non-confrontational yet gets the point across that what was said was not appropriate. At a later point you can then privately let the student know that what they said was inappropriate, which they really already know. This approach also takes the issue away from becoming a “show” for the classroom.

EXCELLENT ADVICE! I have been doing this for years and it works. Teachers should not have to explain themselves to a child when it comes to consequences. If the consequences are already established, there is not need to have a discussion. Long drawn out discussions as to why you are enforcing a consequence only gives the student attention for negative behavior.

Hello Michael. First of all, thanks for the time invested in writing this articles.

I have a question, what would be a set of age appropriate consequences for highschool students (grade 8th-11th)?

I’m having trouble with an 8th grade class. They are ALL disrecpectful and love to challenge authority.

8th grade is really the cut-off point for calling time-out, time-out. In other words, although I recommend the same classroom management plan you find here on the website (Classroom Management Plan category of the archive), you may not want to call the second consequence specifically time-out.

Generally class discipline is poor in the schools. Generally some students know ways of imposing on good teachers and breaking them down to suit their needs. Generally teachers in vocation want student attention to get on with the lesson topic for the day, if they don’t have the attention needed, they cannot teach. The teacher may not be the problem, but the disrespectful students that he or she attempts to teach. Can a teacher in vocation attempt to teach an overcrowded, unruly, disrespectful group of young people? NO. Is the teacher in vocation at fault? NO. Some administrators would like to think that the teacher is at fault just to have a cop out. However, some teachers may be at fault for accepting poor teaching conditions and standards. Teacher may reserve the right not to (attempt) to teach unruly, loud, and disrespectful students.

A teacher was actually recently arrested for telling a kid they couldn’t disrecpect them I think because of a violation of the first amendment.

Hi, I enjoyed reading your article but this not only happens in classrooms but also in cafeterias. I am a middle school cafe manager and these kids are totally out of control. They have no problem getting in your face, cussing, tearing up stuff, disrespect. Absolutely none for the ladies who are feeding them. My administration says take names well trying to write names, take money, making sure they are getting a full meal and selling snacks it is almost impossible. Yes I have asked for admin do help monitor but that is not always possible. I have kids screaming at me, then I scream back so I am just trying to find a happy medium. Most days I do walk away but sometimes it just flies right out of my mouth.

It shouldn’t be your job to try and supervise the students while also handling your responsibilities. I’m surprised you don’t have more, or any, teachers or administrators there in the cafe to manage the students.

Hi Michael, I’ve spent the summer holidays reading through your books and blog. I might be your biggest fan. 2 questions: 1) You suggest jumping to consequence 2 (time out) when a child shows disrespect. From a pupil’s point of view, would this not sit as being unfair, i.e. bypassing consequence 1. When I teach the classroom management plan I could specify that in certain cases such as lack of respect, consequence 1 will be bypassed but that too vague. 2) I know the class I’m inheriting and yup they’re hailed as being quite something. I’ll be spending day 1 on my classroom management plan. Is day 1 too early to start with consequences. I’d opt for saying, “that’s rule number 2 you’ve broken, do you see why? Let’s recap…etc… From tomorrow, our cm plan will be put into action…” Your advice please? Thank you again, Heather

Hi Heather,

Good to hear about your summer reading!

1.) Yes, you would mention that you reserve the right to call parents, send to time-out etc. immediately for certain especially disruptive, aggressive, and disrespectful behaviors. If it does happen, they’ll understand why.

2.) No, it’s not too early for consequences as long as you feel confident they understand. However, if it’s your first time using them and you want to ease into it by giving two warnings instead of one for the first week, then that will work fine.

Thank you Michael – your answers make good sense and I appreciate your quick reply.

I have about 5 or 6 disrespectful students in my class that are making my life a living hell. They constantly speak on the mat and refuse to do work I set them. They play fight with each other and are constantly bullying others in the class. I have just about had enough. I have tried everything from staying calm all day to yelling and nothing is working. Most come from poor upbringings. Any help you could suggest or strategies that have worked in the past for a whole group of consistently disrespectful kids?

I’ll be sure and put this topic on the list of future articles.

One last thing and then I’m done:

The imposition of silence is a power play that expresses the ultimate contempt for the target: as George Bernard Shaw put it, “Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn.” The one giving the silent treatment — whether it’s not answering email, turning away in the middle of a conversation, or pretending not to hear a question — gets to feel control. In not explaining the cause, the perpetrator delivers particular pain. The message is loud and clear: “You do not matter.”

I posted three comments challenging this article, one with my main points and two with brief supporting evidence–I hope they’re just being moderated and haven’t been discarded. The main gist was that treating kids like this absolutely does get read as a “power play,” covert or not, and should be replaced with actual conversations about what’s going on. Please consider other alternatives to this sort of covert interpersonal violence: it may make you feel temporarily like the “bigger person,” but in the long run it only causes more problems.

We just saw your comments this morning. We try to approve every comment within 12 hours. However, we only see two comments from you. It’s likely that if your other comments have a trace of promotion in them than they were caught by our strong spam filters.

Hi Michael,

Thanks so much for your reply–I didn’t intentionally promote anything, but it could have been the fact that one of my short comments included a link to an article about “the cut direct”–just Google it to see what I mean. This was my earliest comment:

“NONONONONO!!! Don’t do this! I had a teacher who did precisely these things and all it did was destroy my confidence for the rest of the school year. If someone is getting in your face and you don’t know why and don’t like it, you have to say something. Period. Using your words is both the correct way for an adult to handle a conflict AND a good example to that student and the others in your class.

I was an exemplary student for a very long time but went through some horrible [stuff] that made made me distrust authority figures. Confronted with someone who just *ignored* me or played silent power games in response to what was (inwardly) a cry for help was devastating on so many levels. I was afraid to say anything in case it came out as disrespectful, but I didn’t know what else to do. Please, please consider the possibility that conversations have a positive and life-giving effect in situations like these. You don’t have to be the boss, the enforcer, or the Bigger Person (which comes across as a snooty creep). All you have to do is use your words.”

It came out pretty strongly-worded, but that’s how strongly I feel about this. I had a great deal of respect for the teacher involved but it was very greatly mixed with fear, and unfortunately the fear only grew as I was met with the silent scorn of “You did something wrong but I’m not telling you what, just letting you suffer for it.” Anyway, thanks again for the reply–I hope very much that these situations become less and less frequent as everyone involved learns better communication skills.

Sincerely, –DC

We are an after school enrichment program. Our success is measured by students’ academic achievement. We need a quiet time for homework/reading and as well as an orderly time for enrichment activities. (we also have free time) Do we have to have a time out place or can we use two warnings and then a note home? I ask because, kids grades 3-5, like to be sent out so they don’t have to do what they should. Our facility doesn’t have a “separate time out room.” We can send them to “free time” time out by leaving them behind with staff supervision while other students enjoy free time. If you suggest this, then what should students do during this time. Struggling with time out. Thanks.

I recommend in-class time-out only.

I’ve been reading the articles on your site and have begun implementing your suggestions. I have seen a HUGE turnaround in my second grade students’ behaviors in just 4 days. I need to thank you for helping me find a way to actually TEACH again instead of worrying about behaviors. I’m actually enjoying teaching again! I have referred many of my colleagues to visit your site. I just wanted to say thank you!

Awesome Sue! Way to go. I’m thrilled how well you’re doing. Thanks for sharing your success with me.

thank you very my much…I have a learner who is so disrespectful he picks on me…and doesn’t really know how to address me respectfully…I think he sees himself my equal. I’m a young teacher.

So, I read another one of your articles and although it hit a lot of major issues and gave some helpful tips, and insight, I wasn’t satisfied. I needed something more. This provided that. It feels more concrete for me and the issues I’ve experienced with difficult students.

I work in an environment where being “cool” is than education. To show interest in learning is not popular, and some of my kids would prefer to derail the lesson than engage it.

Addressing rude/inappropriate behavior is making me weary because we lose valuable class time. This is why I like this approach.

Thanks for providing solutions.

I am so glad I found this article. I was about to make 4 to 5 mistakes you prevented me from.

It is so easy to berate/put down students in a sarcastic way. I am going to try this next time.

What do you do with students who don’t care or like a subject?

What do you do when the parents of the disrespectful child back their child? I have a snotty, disrespectful student who has been getting away with sneaky behavior, lying and “mean girl” behavior for the past few years because her previous teachers had “bigger fish to fry.” Now that I’m holding her accountable for actions and behavior through my classroom management plan, I’m getting a lot of blowback from the parents. (e.g. “She’s never had a bad relationship with her teachers before now.” “I wish you and she could just get past your differences.” quotes from her mom.) It’s to the point now where the child has lied to Mom about things I didn’t say and the mom has emailed the principal that her daughter told her I said these things. The mom is also recruiting other parents to email the principal. Help!

I have been searching the internet for solutions to my problems with no luck and after reading some of your articles, it feels like I’m getting somewhere with what I should be doing but the only problem I have now is that I teach at a school where one class has plus 60 learners and I’m a young female teacher. And I have boys who are always ready to react to prove a point to their fellow classmates, they barely write my work, they watch porn in class because the school allows them to have their phones with them and because they don’t respect me or maybe I bore them they just use their phones whenever they please. I have tried setting rules together with them in the beginning of the year, and those rules it was like they were thrown out the window, I have sent them to the office but it seems that makes things worse as they return with more hatred or whatever that is, that makes them look at me and respond to me in a disrespectful manner… it’s difficult to find a strategy that works for 60 or more learners in a class, is there anything I can do because at the end of the day I realise that most of these learners are not learning anything, and I’m held accountable for that.

And by the way it’s my first year of teaching 😢

Reading your article already soothed me. What suggested here makes a lot of sense to me. Thank you！

This was helpful. Thank you.

Oh how times have changed. I was teaching geometry at a high school in Texas and I had a soph boy who was playing on the varsity football team, and he thought he was pretty tough. He was smarting off in class, I turned around, and said in a very gruff voice… John, do you see the door over there? He said Yeah. I said, well John, here’s the deal … if you can get out that door before I get to you, you are free to go where you please, BUT if I get to you before you get out that door, there’s going to be one “heck” of a fight. I took one step towards him and he was up and out. I turned to the rest of the class and said “now that we’ve cleared the air, we can get back to Geomety”, 5 minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I went to the door, and there was John. He said Mr. B, where am I supposed to go? I told him I didn’t care, but he wasn’t coming back into the room until he apologized to me and to the class for the disruption. He thought for about 20 seconds, then he apologized to me. I let him back in the room and he apologized to the rest of the class for being such a pain. I never had another problem with him the rest of the year. It also set the precedence for the other students… don’t mess up in Mr B’s class. The word got out to parents, and John’s dad came up to the school the next day, told me that if John ever acted up again, call him, since John wouldn’t be able to sit down for at least a week. However, I know that things have changed very much for the worst for teachers today. I get a Christmas card every year from John, who is now a very successful engineer, thanking me for putting him in his place.

I am not a teacher but admin staff. A student failed and I tried to explain why as it is not the teachers’ responsibility to explain but ours. While sympathising with the crying student, I accidentally pronounced the student’s name incorrectly as I was not told how to pronounce it, to which the student said “shut up” and carried on crying. I left the place and did not tell the student off or showed my anger. However, later on now I am feeling that I should email the student and warn that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in future. Do you think I should do that or let it be?

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Teaching Guide: Respect

• For grades 4-8

This material about respect is from the teaching guide for the video   “The Respect Connection “ in the 6-part DVD series   The Character Chronicles.

Are you a respectful person (take this self-evaluation and decide for yourself.).

(If you wish to copy or use any material from this website, please click here for Terms of Use.)

RESPECT DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

If you are using the video, ask questions 1-3 before viewing.

• What does it feel like to be respected?

What does it feel like to be disrespected?

What role does respect play in your relationships with friends and family?

What are some respectful behaviors?

How important is respect in our lives? Why?

Do you consider yourself to be a respectful person? Why or why not? In what ways do you show respect to others?

One student in the video said that you don’t have to like someone to respect him or her. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Describe one person you respect in your life. What does this person do to earn your respect?

This material is from the teaching guide for the video   “The Respect Connection “ in the 6-part DVD series   The Character Chronicles.

Does a person have to earn respect, or do all people deserve it?

How do you show respect to others? Do you show respect to strangers differently than you do to friends?

Does it feel different to be disrespected by a stranger than to be disrespected by a friend? How?

What are the benefits of people treating each other with respect?

When was the last time you disrespected someone? What was the reason? How did you express this disrespect? What effect did your behavior have?

When was the last time someone disrespected you? What do you think was their reason for treating you in that way?

What are some reasons people show disrespect for others?

How do you feel when someone judges you without knowing you or giving you a chance?

How do you feel when someone you disagree with calls you a name?

In the video, several students talked about the role that “differences” play in how people respect or disrespect others. What role do you think differences play in our positive or negative attitudes toward other people?

Does respect play a role in harmonious race relations? Explain.

In the video, some of the students talked about the idea that, “It’s one thing to respect a person, but another to respect that person’s beliefs.” What did they mean? Can you think of someone you know who has a different set of beliefs than you? How do you respond to different beliefs?

In the group discussion, Vanessa and Aidan talked about an incident with a water bottle in which Aidan accidentally cut Vanessa and didn’t give her a real apology right away. Have you ever experienced something similar? What happened?

How do you feel when someone bumps into you in the hall and doesn’t apologize? What does saying “I’m sorry” have to do with respect?

Agree or disagree: Courtesy and politeness are only for adults. Explain your answer.

One of the kids in the video said that if someone treats you with disrespect, you don’t have to treat that person with respect. Do you agree? How should you respond to someone who is disrespectful of you?

How do you think respect affects your community, the world?

Does everyone deserve respect? Why or why not?

Think of the students from Georgia and their stream clean-up. Have you or your friends done something to help take care of the environment? What did you do? How did it make you feel?

What is the difference between respecting a person and respecting our planet?

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

• Write down the name of someone in your life right now who you respect very much. Name two things that person does that cause you to respect him or her. Do you share either of those traits with that person?
• Write about a time recently when you felt you didn’t treat someone with respect. Describe the situation. Why did it happen? Was it the right thing to do? What were the consequences? How did it make the other person feel? Would you behave differently if you were given another chance? How, and why or why not? What did you learn from the experience?
• Write about a time when you felt you were treated disrespectfully. What suggestions would you have for the other person to treat you better?
• Write about something you see in your school, your neighborhood, or the world that shows a lack of respect. What would you do to change it?
• Write a letter to someone in your life whom you respect. Tell why and how you respect him or her. Send the letter to that person.
• One student in Benjy’s blog talks about how people make assumptions that aren’t necessarily true about other people. Write about a time when someone made an assumption about you, or you made an assumption about someone else. What does this situation have to do with respect?
• Make a list of ways in which people show disrespect for Mother Earth. Now make another list of things we can do to show her our respect.
• Describe three things you could do to be a more respectful person. How would that affect your relationships with others? How does it benefit you to be a respectful person?

Other teaching guides in this series:

STUDENT ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD GOOD CHARACTER

• Have students break into groups of three and share a time when they felt disrespected. What was the situation and how did it make them feel? Have students report back to the larger group on behalf of someone else in their group. The report consists of two parts: a)what was the situation and what emotions did it involve and b)what could you say or do to help that person either at the time or afterward?
• As a large group, brainstorm issues or places you see in your community or the world that make you angry because they demonstrate a lack of respect. Then, in smaller groups, pick one issue per group and brainstorm some things you could do that would address that issue. If possible, follow through with some direct action to try to improve the situation.
• Invite someone to come to your class who works with environmental issues. Have that person talk about how what they do deals with the issue of respect. After his or her visit, write a thank you letter explaining how you respect what that person is doing.
• Bring in articles from newspapers or the Internet that deal with people respecting or disrespecting other people. Think of some actions that could be taken to improve the situation presented in the article.
• In the video a Thai girl talks about how comforting it is to have other Thai people hold their hands together and bow to her. As a group, do research on the Internet to discover some ways different cultures have for treating people with respect. Present these to the class.
• Brainstorm ways to make your school environment more respectful. Create a list of recommendations and place them in your school newspaper or on a poster. Compare your list with the “Are You a Respectful Person?” quiz above.

In this video, Benjy, a fourteen year old blogger, explores the importance of respect in everything we do, from our interactions with our peers to the way we treat the planet on which we live.  more . . .

This award-winning six-part video series brings character education and social emotional learning alive for upper elementary and middle school students. Presented from the point of view of a middle school video blogger, this series explores Character Counts’ Six Pillars of Character through the thoughts and personal experiences of young people throughout the U.S. more . . .

For more information about individual videos in this series, click on the title below.

If your school or organization does not have these videos, you can purchase them from Live Wire Media , or request them from your local library.

Subscribe to our almost Monthly Newsletter

Get breaking news and developments in character education and helpful tips and ideas that you can use with your own character education program.

View the current issue.

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Eberly Center

Teaching excellence & educational innovation, address problematic student behavior.

Reports of problematic behaviors are on the rise nationally, not only in the classroom but in society at large (Kowalski, 2003).

Some of these immature, irritating, or thoughtless behaviors or “ classroom incivilities ” include:

• lateness or leaving early
• inappropriate cellphone and laptop usage in class
• side conversations
• disregard for deadlines
• grade grubbing
• sniping remarks

These behaviors are not just instructors’ pet peeves; they have real costs including:

• distracting other students and instructor in class
• reducing student participation
• lowering other students' and instructor’s motivation in or out of class
• affecting fairness in grading
• using instructor or TA time unproductively
• feeling disrespected as a fellow learner or authority figure

Possible causes

In order to limit or deal effectively with these behaviors, it is important to understand the factors that cause or facilitate them. The cause can be:

• contingent on individual student situations
• structural to the course

This distinction is important because it orients us towards the causes we can control.

Contingent on individual student situations:

• Health Services
• Counseling and Psychological services
• Academic Development
• Office of the Dean of Student Affairs
• Cultural issues can also play a role. The culture of the US classroom is not homogenous, and expectations for classroom conduct can vary greatly, but they are all informed by the same basic academic values. Students from other cultures who don’t share the same values might not understand implicit expectations for classroom behaviors. MORE on cross-cultural issues .

Structural to the course:

Some of the uncivil behaviors can be inadvertently facilitated by the instructor’s behavior or the course structure . Boice (1998) researched classroom incivilities across a range of courses and reported several findings.

• Professors disagree with students about what counts as uncivil behavior, apart from a few egregious situations. Moreover, there is significant disagreement among different professors, as there is among students.
• Instructor’s age or teaching experience are not a significant determinant of incivilities. Young/novice instructors experience the same average level of incivilities as older/experienced instructors.
• The choice of motivators. Instructors who use negative motivators (e.g., fear, guilt, embarrassment) experience more classroom incivilities than instructors who use positive motivators (e.g., encouragement, praise).
• The number of “immediacy” behaviors (verbal and non-verbal signs of warmth and friendliness). Instructors exhibiting few immediacy behaviors experience significantly more incivilities compared to instructors who exhibit several of those behaviors. In other words, if students perceive the instructor has disengaged from the course and from their learning experience, they disengage in turn, exhibiting the attendant problematic behaviors. Other factors correlate negatively with incivilities, including perceived worth of teaching, clarity and organization, and pacing.

Possible Strategies

Based on these findings and a comprehensive literature review, Sorcinelli (2002) suggests 4 principles to reduce incivilities. The principles are broad enough that each one can be used to generate several concrete strategies.

Define expectations at the outset.

Explicitly letting students know how you want them to behave in class avoids incivilities due to mismatched expectations.

• Define your policies on the syllabus. Clearly articulating your policies and their rationale in a respectful tone can curb undesirable behaviors. See the page on writing the syllabus for more considerations on tone. This link provides some language for policies such as cell-phone and laptop usage.
• Make good use of the first day of class. Use the first day to create the right climate for productive interaction. Highlight the policies on the syllabus and model the behaviors you’d like to see. Follow this link for more on the first day of class .
• Allow student participation in setting ground rules. Having students participate in setting the rules for classroom behavior and interaction might not be feasible for every class but it has the benefit of making the students more invested in the rules. Ask the students to reflect on classes with bad discussions or other students’ behaviors that have been distracting and not conducive to their own learning. Use that list as a starting point for your ground rules. You, of course, retain final decision power.

Decrease anonymity.

Especially in large classes, students can sometimes engage in thoughtless behaviors because the atmosphere feels very depersonalized. You can try several techniques to build connections with students:

• Learn and use names consistently. You can request a photo roster from the HUB, which will make it easier to associate names to faces. Learn a few more names every day, and let students know that you are trying to memorize their names in the first weeks.
• Engage students one-on-one. Use the time right before and after class to make small talk with students. Ask about the weekend, or the homework, or common interests. Some professors schedule lunches with small groups of students throughout the semester to get to know them and to present themselves as more approachable.
• Take advantage of office hours. The one-on-one nature of office hours greatly augments possibilities for interaction, even in larger classes. Some professors have a mandatory office hour during the first week, which they use to meet the students individually and to make themselves available for help when needed.

Seek feedback from students.

Some student incivilities are due to perceived instructor incivilities – instructor’s own lateness or disorganization, rudeness or interruptions when students are speaking.  Seek feedback to double-check student perceptions of you. You can use early course evaluations, or quick in-class anonymous feedback with one –minute papers. You can also designate some students to be class representatives and meet with them periodically during the semester, when they can let you know of general student concerns. See more on assessing your teaching.

Encourage active learning.

Meaningful engagement has obvious benefits for student learning and performance, but it can also bring some side benefits with respect to student behavior in the classroom. In fact, Sorcinelli (1991) points out that in classes that use active learning effectively, students

• feel more responsible for coming to class, and coming prepared
• perceive they pay more attention in class
• feel more responsible for their own learning.

The section on instructional strategies has several suggestions on ways to incorporate active learning in your courses.

References:

Jaffee, D. (1999). I am not a TV: Confessions of a professor. Retrieved July 6, 2007, from http://www.cte.tcu.edu/144.htm.

Kowalski, R. M. (2003). Complaining, teasing, and other annoying behaviors . New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Boice, R. (1998). "Classroom incivilities." In K. A. Feldman & M. B. Paulson (Eds.), Teaching and learning in the college classroom (2nd ed.) (347-369) . Needham Heights, MA: Simon & Schuster Custom Pub.

Sorcinelli, M. D. (1991). "Research findings on the seven principles." In A. Chickering & Z. Gamson (Eds.), Applying the seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 47 , 13-25. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Sorcinelli, M. D. (2002). "Promoting civility in large classes." In C. Stanley & E. Porter (Eds.), Engaging large classes: Strategies and techniques for college faculty (44-57). Bolton, MA: Anker.

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Managing Disrespectful & Rude Behaviors in the Classroom

March 3, 2020 by pathway2success Leave a Comment

Let’s talk about disrespectful behaviors in the classroom. The child who talks back. The student using their cell phone , even after being told to put it away. The kid who refuses to do their work, and even loudly tells you, “no!” when you try to politely give some encouragement. The student who jokes about your class being dumb, causing an eruption of laughter in the room.

As educators, we’ve all encountered some (or probably all) of these situations from time to time. Here are some strategies to help you manage these challenging behaviors and get back to what you do best – teaching your students.

Change your mindset. First, the most effective strategy is actually a mindset shift. Kids aren’t being rude to be rude or disrespectful. Kids and young adults are coping with challenging feelings the very best way they know how to in the moment. Let’s think about it: Wouldn’t it actually be easier for a student to follow the rules and just fly under the radar? In most cases, it would. So, it’s important to remember that disrespectful, rude, or challenging behaviors are not really directed at you. They are just a way to communicate needs.

Have empathy. Remember that we don’t know what goes on in the lives of our learners. Take a trauma-informed approach. Rather than blaming and accusing the student for their behavior, take a step back and consider that they are struggling in some way. Even if we don’t know the reasons for the struggles, it’s helpful to have empathy always.

Be consistent with expectations. Kids and teens need boundaries. Spend time teaching, discussing, and practicing the expectations. Adults can be fun and still have rules. The key, though, is that kids need to know and truly understand them. Prior to group work, talk about what the expectations for being a good ground member are. Act them out and highlight them while kids are working. Before independent work, model what a good independent worker looks like. Give reasons and explanations for these expectations. It’s also important to note that this isn’t just something for the beginning of the year. Reviewing expectations should be a year-round and continuous process. All kids benefit from a refresh and some kids truly need it.

Train yourself to not take offense. This takes real work. Remember, though, that these are kids and young adults. They are still learning and growing. It’s critical to stress that these behaviors are not often meant to be directed at you. Also, think about it: Are you really offended that a 10-year-old made fun of your hair? Do you actually feel upset that a teen said your class was stupid? When we phrase these “rude” situations like this, it seems even a little silly to take offense, really. With that said, there are times when kids and young adults can use their words as weapons. When this happens, it’s important to view those behaviors as needs and skill deficits. Train yourself to not take offense so that you can stay calm and collected.

Consider skill deficits. When a student says something mean or rude, consider how it could be the result of a lack of social skills . For example, if a student keeps blurting out in class, are they really purposefully being rude or are they struggling with self-regulation? If a child tells you that your shirt is ugly, are they trying to be mean or do they lack a strong social filter? While not all “rude” behavior fits into this category, it’s worth taking the time to consider first.

Focus on the relationship. Continually focusing on the relationship with your students demonstrating rude behaviors is extremely important – for you and for them. First, so often, a child or young adult with challenging behaviors needs connection. Spend time talking about non-school related topics, find out their interests, hear about family, and listen to their favorite music. No relationship-building topic is too small. There needs to be connection before there can be correction . There really is no other way. Use this free printable relationship-building questions list or read up on more strategies for building relationships with your learners .

Ignore what you can ignore. Sometimes, kids and young adults act out as a way to express their feelings. Of course, they aren’t going about it the right way, but in the moment is not the right time to address it. Other times, kids might be acting out for attention. In both cases, ignoring what you can ignore is often the best action in the moment. Walk away or pretend you didn’t see that eye roll. If you have to address some behaviors in the moment, say, “We’ll talk about it later.” This gives the adult the opportunity to let others know they are handling it, but also reduces any chance for power struggles along the way.

Be prepared for behavioral episodes. Using the word “ADAPT,” you can remember to act calm, de-escalate, acknowledge feelings, problem-solve, and think reflectively.

Avoid the impulse to punish. Now, I’m all for logical consequences. Punishments, though, are a whole different ball game. Sometimes, when a kid or young adult acts out, our first impulse is to punish them by giving them a detention or assigning extra homework. Almost all of the time, these on-the-fly punishments will do more damage to the relationship than they will help the problem. Problem-solving over punishing will always win.

Keep them in the room. As long as students are in your room, they can keep learning. This is especially important for those kids who refuse to do their work . Even if the student is not starting the classwork, leave them be. They will get much more out of the class conversations and discussions than they would in the office or in a desk outside your room. There are exceptions to this, of course, including when students are disruptive to the learning to others or if there are any acts of violence. It’s safe to say that those are times when additional support outside of the classroom is necessary. When possible, though, keep them in the room.

Use de-escalation strategies. Strategies to defuse a bad situation are worth their weight in gold to an educator. I strongly feel these strategies should be emphasized, discussed, and practiced during educator training every single year. Grab this free list of de-escalation strategies to print as a reminder and read up on more de-escalation strategies .

Consider the why . There is always a reason behind the behavior. If a student is acting out when they have to do math problems at the board, maybe they are really embarrassed to do work in front of others. If a learner disrespects you when you ask for the homework, maybe they didn’t understand it and they don’t want to look dumb. Don’t focus on the what. Focus on the why. These will lead you into the right direction of problem-solving, rather than blaming.

Be self-reflective. Take some time to reflect on the situations that led up to the problem situations in your classroom. Of course, this isn’t a blame game. Being self-reflective means just considering what went wrong and what could have gone better. Could you have asked a question in a different way? Did you put the student in a situation that was maybe extremely uncomfortable for them? Was the classroom too noisy, causing the child some distress? Be open-minded and ask yourself some questions to figure out what you could do better next time.

Meet privately with the student. Not punitively, meet with the student and talk with them. Rather than blaming them personally, highlight that you noticed there was a problem and you want to help solve it. For example, you might say, “Jane, I noticed there was a problem when you were working in a group yesterday. What’s going on with that?”

Listen. As educators, sometimes we have the habit of talking more than we listen. In this case, rather than talking at the student, give them time to speak. Sometimes, you will be amazed at what you learn. Maybe that student didn’t realize they were calling out. Maybe the student felt disrespected by something you said first. Regardless of what you think about their behavior, give kids a chance to speak. They deserve that. It can become the foundation for repairing relationships and moving on.

Brainstorm solutions. After listening to a student, brainstorm some strategies that might solve the issues together. Again, stay open-minded about suggestions from the student. Offer some of your own ideas as well. Actually brainstorming solutions goes a long way. The best solutions are almost always developed together.

Make a plan together. After brainstorming, set up a specific plan of action with your student. Come up with at least one thing the student can do and one thing you can do to do better next time. For example, if a student was acting out when in a difficult group setting, perhaps they can come up with a list of group ground rules, and you can agree to ask their input about their groups in the future. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to show that you care and you both are working in the right direction.

Make time for social and emotional supports . All kids and young adults deserve a supportive check-in with an adult. This can be done during morning meeting advisory, homeroom, or even study halls. Talk to kids about how their feeling and what’s going on in their world. You can even t each SEL skills with this morning meeting set for the year that I developed. While this intervention won’t fix disruptive or challenging behaviors in the moment, it is a proactive approach that will help learners throughout the year, even halting problems before they start.

Teach the skills. If a student is lacking some social skills, teach them. If they need to work on managing their emotions , teach emotional management and coping strategies. If they need to work on self-control , discuss and practice strategies for self-regulation. While not all educators have time for this set up in their schedules, there are many ways you can integrate social skills into your instruction. Another option is talking with support staff about setting up a small lunch group to teach the skills kids need explicitly.

Focus on your own self-care. Working with challenging behaviors can be stressful. Schedule time for yourself to unwind and relax. Whether you take time reading at home, head to the gym, or schedule time with friends, find what works for you. Use this printable self-care poster for educators to remind you throughout the week.

Throughout these strategies, there is a solid theme. Educators can learn to ADAPT. This is a acronym I created to stand for: Act calm, De-escalate, Acknowledge feelings, Problem-solve, and Think reflectively. These are the essential elements of handling challenging behaviors in the classroom, including behaviors we see as disrespectful and rude. If you are a subscriber, head over to the free resource library to grab your very own ADAPT poster as a reminder. If you aren’t a subscriber yet but are curious, head over here to learn more and join .

Have you been successfully managing disrespectful or rude behaviors in the classroom? Feel free to share what is working for you!

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You Got a Bad Sub Report. Now What?

Advice from teachers who’ve been there.

The only thing worse than missing school is coming back to a bad sub report. How do you respond, both with your class and to earn back the sub’s trust? Members of our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook weigh in.

1. Write letters of apology.

“My fourth graders were terrible with the latest sub, so when I got back, we had a big talk about respecting our room and class. I taught them how to write an apology letter that says I’m sorry, I was wrong for doing this, this is how I’ll behave next time, and please forgive me. I made them write letters to the substitute. When I had to go back out a few days later, they were great.” — Melana H.

“I have my students write letters of apology to the sub, and they put ‘sub apology letters are due’ in their planners so parents could ask them about it.” — McCann V.

2. Don’t wait for an absence to lay out your expectations.

“I address my sub expectations often, whether I’m planning on being out or not. Anytime a class near mine has a sub, I remind my students my expectations for when and if I am ever away unexpectedly. I also have a note to my class in my emergency sub plans to be shared with the class, so that they can ‘hear’ my voice even though I’m not there. It may sound like overkill, but it seems to work.” — Sandy W.

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3. But don’t feel like you had to give a disclaimer in order to give a consequence.

Didn’t think to state explicit expectations before you were out? You can still keep your students accountable to their behavior. “I teach sixth grade. It’s good if you set your expectations before you go out, but respect should be automatic, and if they respect you, they should respect the sub. So if a name is left when I’m gone, notice or no notice, that student gets a detention. If the vice principal had to come down, I’d make the whole class stay after school one day to show you mean business.” — S.K.O.

4. Get the parents involved.

“I would write a letter to their parents about their behavior and ask for their support, and I’d require a parent signature on the letter.” — Dawn M.

But be aware that you may get a little push back. Another WeAreTeachers reader wrote: “I did this and had parents—whose children had been listed more than once on the sub list for bad behavior—called me screaming because how dare I accuse their child of this behavior. Not their angel!” Our advice? Involve parents, but be sure to word the letter in the most constructive and positive way to avoid a misunderstanding.

5. Suss out the main perpetrators with student statements.

Chances are, even if the class as a whole was terrible, some players were worse than others, and maybe a few weren’t bad at all. “I make each of them write ‘statements’ detailing what happened from their perspective. The main instigators always emerge, and the appropriate punishment can be given.” — Kristine K.

6. Names matter!

“I have decided to never use the term ‘sub.’ Several years ago, I found out that most students think that a ‘sub’ is not teacher. I refer to them as a ‘guest teacher.’ I explain to my class that the guest teacher has gone to college just as I have done, and they deserve the same respect.” — Belinda M.

7. Focus on the positive.

Instead of telling students how not to act, focus on positive things they can do to ensure a good experience. “The next time a colleague has a sub, you should coach those students on being helpful and make them do something nice for the colleague’s sub as you watch, and use it as a teachable moment.” — Kelly M.

“Read Miss Nelson Is Missing and talk about it. When I get a really good sub report, I will bring in donuts or schedule an extra fun snack or activity. So far this year the positive rewards have been working, thank goodness!” — Shellie S.

We’d love to hear how you’ve handled a bad sub report. Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

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1001 Writing Prompts About Respect

March 17, 2021

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As a writer, you probably do not want to just write stories, as you also want to instill your readers with positive values, such as respect.

Respect is shown by people in different ways. Some listen to the opinions of others, make compromises, and say ‘thank you’ and ‘I’m sorry’ when they have to, while others, especially those from particular cultures, bow or kiss the hands of their elders. The different ways people show respect makes good inspiration for stories of all genres. 

If you are looking for inspiration for stories about respect, here are some writing prompts you could use to stir up your creative juices:

• What do you do in response after being respected?
• You find missing socks in your room. But the respect for your parents is written on your face.
• How would a politician convince people that he has great respect for his town?
• Opportunities abound because you show respect.
• You witness an accident and miss paying respect to the victim
• Your respect saves the world or helps the hero win a battle.
• I greet the day with respect.
• Thank a teacher or mentor who has taught you respect.
• Your disrespect felt like a knife through the heart.
• A bullied person learns respect.
• Write about respect in the school bathroom.
• You lose a friend over a small matter of respect.
• Respect is contagious.
• When the teacher said that everyone needed to participate today, everyone made up their own activity because of respect.
• You value respect.
• Write a letter home about respect you have learned.
• She taught her students respect, in her own special way.
• Your pet snubs you. It’s a character of a story exploring how respect is a choice you make.
• You meet someone you respect and don’t know what to do.
• You are the middle person in a love triangle involving Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. How do you resolve this situation?
• You must learn to respect your parents.
• King Arthur says, “We need more respect around here!”
• Each season you bring the same teacher cake with a different message written in frosting.
• A parent would respect their kids more if they were nice.
• Write about a person who misuses the word respect.
• The king starts respecting the people he rules.
• What would an enemy stealing a star do to the universe?
• A dear friend disrespects you. After they confess their wrongdoing, tell the friend what respect is.
• List three tips for respectful relationships.
• You get in trouble because you don’t respect your parents.
• What word reminds you of respect?
• Write an endearing, forgiving story about siblings with different interests.
• A lesson on how to respect someone else.
• Write a story about losing respect.
• Write about someone who shows respect without respectability.
• There is a magical world in your backyard.
• There is a sale at the grocery store today. There is one small problem. Susan is getting her food from the window. The people behind her in line have no respect. Susan opens her mouth to complain when her father enters the store. He advises that her words are hers and Susan should never use them carelessly. Instead, he advises that they leave the line and pick up the groceries at some other point in the day when there are fewer people. Susan loves her father very much. His words today have been very important. She will respect him by obeying what he said to do and be patient because he is correct. Your parents have lots of good advice. How do you respect them?
• What negative traits have you thought about respect?
• A friend teaches you a new word about respect.
• You imagine a disrespectful scene. Then you edit it. Which do you like?
• The challenge is presented to you and your team to briefly summarize your best story about respect.
• Sometimes, the choices you make reflect how much respect you have for others. Write a character who faces a decision about respecting the needs of one person or the group.
• Because of respect.
• You won’t get the recognition you deserve until you respect yourself.
• A stranger inspires you with respect.
• Respect ruins a baseball game.
• Your recent purchase is now designed with more respect.
• Your character redefines respect.
• You lose an award for disrespect.
• Write a poetic eulogy that respects the dead.
• A person who always strives for respect wins an award for it.
• You show today’s youth that respect can be cool.
• You get a letter of commendation for showing respect in your community.
• You are sent to prison for disrespect.
• A giant hangs everyone on his wall of respect.
• Someone refuses to show you disrespect.
• You get in trouble for dis-respecting.
• A character finds a book on respect and reads it, finding advice useful.
• A monarch in England buys the very first Ford Excursion. His people are very respectful toward him.
• Find a character who is dissatisfied with having, or not having, respect.
• Write about doing something important because of respect– find a lost dog that has killed people, for instance.
• Respect compels your younger sibling to stay in her place, to stop provoking you.
• It’s the first day of school. You get detention for disrespecting your teacher.
• A news report about someone giving a helping hand or showing respect to someone.
• A hero’s child commits a crime.
• There is a rebellion in your kingdom. The crown jewels are hidden. Only they can be revealed by someone with respect for all.
• Write a book about an insult, revenge, injury, and rehabilitation.
• You do not win an award for respect.
• There are graffiti walls in your city tagging messages of respect.
• A parent is disrespected. How do they handle it?
• Your teacher goes on strike because she does not get respect from other teachers.
• Write a newspaper article about respect.
• Respond in poem form.
• A boy loses a trophy for not respecting an adult.
• True freedom comes from respect.
• You are cast away on a deserted island with a person you think you don’t respect. You keep themselves alive for over a year by learning about them and thus gaining respect towards them. And then, you are rescued. You lose respect for them when you discover what they are really like.
• War is fought to bring peace. A peaceful solution is found when both sides of the conflict respect each other.
• Detention is canceled because of respect.
• Someone does something really gentlemanly because of respect.
• A debate on respect.
• All is forgiven because you showed respect. How does this make you feel?
• You learn what it means to be respected.
• Granted one wish, you choose respect.
• People are fascinated with you, a new variety of rose, because this new flower has developed respect.
• Write a story about a bully whose heart is changed by the power of respect.
• What would a flower represent to you, of a respect?
• Someone uses the word “respect” in a non-verbal manner.
• Respect is the cure for a disease.
• The importance of respecting someone.
• You don’t…
• Your parents demand respect.
• Your students become very disrespectful.
• People step away from you because they think they have to respect you too much to get close to you.
• Write about Respect from the POV of a well-known character.
• Family members fight uncontrollably until someone with respect steps in.
• You’re old and alone, and you kick butt, because you’ve learned respect.
• Line up your toys. Your mother praises you for respecting their order.
• A business speciality is respecting others.
• You save a life based on respect.
• But the question remains.
• The main characters in a story are trying to be themselves and if not for respect, they feel lost and confused.
• Write about respect and justice.
• You have a secret enemy.  They are out to destroy you.  It is underhanded.  Their secret weapon? A ploy that plays on your respect for others.
• Things seem out of place, yet they make sense.
• A super villain is defeated, because of a lack of respect.
• Respect has caused it to rain.
• Brian Boitano writes you a letter about respect.
• A child needs to be respected by her parents.
• Why one thing is better than another.
• Write about “the lost art” of respectful behavior.
• Wonder Woman fits right in on Earth because she respects everyone.
• The world is brought back to order.
• Everyday is a winding path of opportunities to show love and respect for others.
• A new emotion you are required to feel is respect. Write about what the world would be like with just this one emotion. What are the positives? What are the negatives?
• Conflict is resolved through respect.
• The end of bullying because of respect.
• Write a story about the forces of respect versus the forces of selfishness.
• Describe an environment where respect is valued.
• A character tries to win by talking about respect and persuading.
• “All” little girls dream of a fairy godmother that will grant wishes, not all dream of one that grants respect.
• Violence erupts because of non-respect.
• When you become a centurion, respect is required.
• A boy on the playground defends someone being bullied—because of respect.
• A respected person moves into your neighborhood.
• Racism hurts all of us. Write a story from the perspective of someone who learns this fact.
• Respect one small teaching.
• What happens when children are disrespectful to adult figures? People learn from different people dying to show respect. Students should behave around their teachers. Students will show respect for themselves and others.
• What respect means to you.
• A good friend explains why respect is so important in a conversation.
• Respect is actually quite pooky, but it is what you make of it.
• Hey, hey you,
• A robin brings you a bit of respect for your garden.
• A bully runs afoul of the school librarian.
• You discover a new respect for your new principal.
• Your television show gets respect tattoos for today’s episode.
• You are plagued by persistent begging at your front door. What does it take to win your respect?
• Little Johnny shows respect to his dad. What’s the fallout?
• What happens when someone forgets that someone else has respect.
• You are praised because of respect.
• Respect helped you through a difficult situation.
• Principles that teach respect.
• Eight people you respect make a remarkable change in your life.
• A dying parent wishes for more respect.
• What would happen if there was no respect?
• You have a quarrel with an immoral friend.
• Respect allows you to cross the barrier into new worlds.
• A fairy gives you respect.
• What happens when someone who’s nice loses their temper.
• Friendship overcomes all prejudices etc.
• Write about respect between friends.
• Everywhere you go, you are treated with respect.
• Another story about bullying, but the bully learns about respect.
• You lose an award for lack of respect.
• A battle is won because of respect.
• You earn something special for respecting someone.
• Write about respect when it was earned and when it was taken.
• You’re not respected and something is taken away from you.
• You earn a reward for respect.
• You meet someone really famous. The famous person offers you a piece of advice about respect.
• A ghost story where it’s the ghost who comes out too soon and doesn’t respect the living’s time.
• Write a story describing different things that deserve respect.
• You notice a discussion about respect. Write the dialogue.
• Someone is wrong about a fact. They change their mind once you show them respect.
• You are blessed because of respect.
• Love must be earned through respect.
• Your school name is changed to a noun with the root “respect.” If your school is Alice Deal Middle at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington D.C. , your new name would be something like Respect Deal .
• You have to write a speech for an award you won. Something you said—out of respect—lets you win the next-highest award because of your creativity and respect that surprised everyone at the awards ceremony.
• A kid who you think is disrespectful is nominated for an award for respect.
• Kids ask you their hardest questions about respect.
• Working hard is the key you unlock to greater respect.
• Write a compelling letter of apology in the voice of a person who has been disrespectful.
• A pretty new girl transfers to your school. You instantly fall in love with her. It turns out she is dating a popular boy at school. You treat her with respect anyway.
• The kingdom prospers because of respect.
• A simple animal shows respect
• A character dies. Before he dies, he is able to question the hero. The hero causes the character to respect him/her.
• Write about a caring end of the world.
• Write about a time when you earned respect.
• God wants you to visit him at the corner store. After you arrive, he says you must give back what people have taken from you. You return with nothing. In respect for you, God gives you back every ounce of pain you have suffered.
• A famous poet has a corner in his house dedicated to the object of his respect.
• A superhero’s physical superpower is respect.
• Write about respect where there was none before.
• Respect comes in many forms. Pick a form.
• You get into trouble for not respecting others.
• People stop fighting over things because of respect.
• What does a bully do? She bullies.
• The Smothers brothers’ careers are resurrected when they tell jokes about respect.
• One thing you can do to make a change in the world is to respect others. Write a story describing how that will happen in your community.
• Respect does not have to be earned. It is required .
• Citronella might have saved the day for you, but something else earned your attention.
• Respect in a land of disrespect.
• Fraternities and sororities pledge respect.
• You grow up and learn respect.
• No one respects you.
• One way to show respect is to learn sign language.
• You become the spokesperson for respect.
• You exit a boy scout meeting and respect everyone around you.
• Showing respect in order to build self-esteem.
• Cards or letters arrive from distant places acknowledging the effect that respect has had on all involved.
• You lose your iPod because of no respect.
• Write a scene that increases your respect for the writing process.
• Respect puts a flower in your heart
• A celebrity gives an inspiring speech about the value of respect.
• A kid gets the stuff kicked out of him in the school playground for playing with a kid the other kids don’t respect. What does he do?
• Respect for teachers. Respect for the person you are dating.
• A princess is disrespected and doesn’t even know it.
• Many people are learning to respect others. You are one of those people.
• Respect affects elections.
• Here are some fun poetry worksheets and exercises that focus on describing others with respect.
• You get punished for a lack of respect.
• A poem to show respect to your mother.
• A plague of disrespect devastates your neighborhood. What do you do?
• A character decides to do something excellent, something that could get him in a lot of trouble, and he does it anyway. And that decision helps lives.
• You always show respect when you meet someone new.
• When does respect become respect-ability?
• Your dog gains super-intelligence by reading a book on human respect.
• A stranger does you a great favor and you thank them with respect.
• Write about a Good Samaritan who “fixes” another person who mistreats others.
• Write a story about hazing. Show how a group – any group – can practice respect in this situation.
• Writing prompts have different purposes. Sometimes they are used as the starting point for warm-up, prewriting, brainstorming or freewriting. For fiction writers, the value of prompts lies in their potential. They are triggers for ideas or even make for a decent short story. Although it’s good to have an idea or genre in mind when creating other exercises such as a character checklist , if we have to think of every detail already, we’re not opening ourselves up to the possibility of discovering something new.
• A congregation comes to respect its pastor.
• Respect is a powerful word.
• Give a presentation on respect.
• Write a poem about a bully.
• Respect means taking others into consideration.
• A teacher wins an award for respect.
• Share something you have learned about respect.
• Write a story about people showing their disrespect by throwing garbage. Or write a story about how respect for the environment changed the thinking of some people in your town.
• A person with your name is famous for being respectful.
• Revealing secrets requires a lot of respect.
• A very famous person notices you, and it’s because of respect. Who is this famous person, and what is a wonderful thing he or she does in the story?
• Christmas & Respect
• Respect finds you and enrolls you in an institute for truth.
• A boss gives a speech about respect.
• Honor the person/people who taught you respect.
• How you lost respect for a person.
• Write a love story with respectful characters.
• You play a game with your friends. Respect is the trump card.
• Write a story about you doing a brave deed of respect.
• A birthday is forgotten. One person shows respect,
• You encounter someone with a lack of respect.
• A character demands respect.
• Other people begin to live up to your example of respect.
• Highly respected professionals?
• Read a science fiction story about the military’s fear of respect.
• Who taught you to respect nature?
• A robot will appear in your kitchen and ask about respect.
• Disrespect hurts.
• It’s okay to crack your knuckles. Just make sure you remove your name tag, asking questions, and being disrespectful or you’ll get in trouble.
• A monster defeated. How? By respect.
• Write a letter from a girl to her hero who she respects.
• A business owner asks for respect. Her employees give it to her.
• The art teacher asks you to make a piece depicting respect.
• Write a sermon on the rewards and consequences of respect.
• Small kindnesses make a big difference.
• Dinner parties where you can discuss the Great Issues of the Day.
• Write a killer song about respecting others.
• A character has a dream in which people respect her/him.
• Teenagers are respectful for one week.
• Respect unlocks the oceans, stops the deserts from growing, and defeats an evil dictator.
• The main character considers “How much is respect worth?”
• Researchers think your life can be predicted based on your respect level.
• Violence is not the answer.
• There’s really no such thing as invasion of privacy. The only thing that counts is respect. An invading spy is really just a nosy neighbor.
• Who inspires respect in you?
• Respect is the real super hero.
• A villain puts you in a trap. The only way out is to show respect.
• A time you acted with complete and total respect.
• Women are treated with the respect they long for.
• Think of three additional ways someone could find respect.
• Noah builds the arc because of respect.
• Your loser friend was saved because he developed respect.
• You get a special reward because of your respect for someone.
• Respect is on everyone’s lips.
• Respect falls from the sky and saves you and your friends.
• Find a way to slip respect into your busy schedule.
• You earn a patch, badge, or merit award for respecting.
• A character with no respect gets a chance to earn some.
• Describe a time in your life when you didn’t receive respect.
• Respect saves the day in a story. Include at least three instances of arguing or violence but show how respect can stop the arguing or violence.
• Respect for something special for the world.
• Respect opens doors.
• A special neighborhood gets together to solve a problem by using respect.
• Write a song about respect.
• Respect saves the day.
• Respect looks like…”…has a golden heart.”
• A committee is formed and one secret word will come to represent the key ingredient that allows the committee to accomplish its goal. What is the word? respect
• How would you change the world with respect?
• Damsel in distress plots with her dog to get the hero’s respect.
• Shouts of respect are heard and a new crime fighting hero is born.
• The teatime bunnies respect you.
• Show respect to others.
• Lack of respect brings down an institution.
• A stranger writes heartfelt Thanks to those blessed with respect.
• Imagine being valued for something other than your money. See how it changes things. Write about this experience.
• With the help of a newfound friend, you become a respectful person.
• Your hair begins to tell others to respect you.
• Respect is a two way street.
• How do you show respect for your parents?
• Write from the perspective of a different age, a different gender or from another country. What do you learn respect-wise?
• Show others how to deserve respect.
• You are an undiscovered rock star, finally getting respect.
• A person with respect stands up to a bully.
• Your bosses learn respect when the janitor suggests a new company-wide policy.
• You share a story online about respect. An anti-bully site publishes it on their page.
• You turn the other cheek and your attitude of respect changes the world for the better.
• Respect at work saves the company.
• Criminal minds are viewed through a lens of respect.
• You are fired because you aren’t respectful.
• A professional development writer, she brings respect to her audience.
• Your uncle is the most respected man at work. What does he respect?
• Someone gives you a hug out of respect.
• You discover a creature that lives out respect. Write about what it does.
• What is the book all about? It’s about respect.
• Respect is contagious and can save the world.
• You have a bully that has a change of heart because of respect.
• You are surprised with a certificate of respect by someone.
• Respect in the forms of respect songs, poems, ramblings, or wish list items.
• A child writes a letter to her friend in jail.
• Respect is the punch-line to a great joke.
• Respect, no matter why.
• A grateful spirit leads to respect.
• Write an essay or a debate about respect.
• Teachers are always respected by their students.
• Write about something that happened to you because of something else’s lack of respect.
• Respect is what puts the icing on the cake
• How would you describe respect?
• Bring up the topic of respecting your elders, respect Jesus, respect a parent, or some other form of respect.
• Discovering you’ve lost respect.
• Respect between fellow students causes a good day at school.
• Write a poem or song about respect.
• Someone’s lack of respect gets your goat and they need to change to have any relationship with you.
• Is respect magical?
• You park your spaceship and go out to accept an award for respect.
• Write a scene about sending children to bed without their supper because they wouldn’t explain and share the ball with their friend.
• You find a secret necklace that teaches you to respect yourself.
• Be sure to sign up to get the A to Z weekly writing prompt delivered to your email every week.
• You win an award from your parents for the most respectful homework you have ever done.
• Think of a scenario in which complete strangers randomly begin to appreciate one another. The scenario should develop in a natural and lifelike fashion. Ideally, it should resolve at peace or promise more trouble to come. Use that idea.
• Respect is born out of light.
• What would you do on your 15 minutes of fame? For what would you want to be famous? Being known for a quality like respect would be a pretty good choice.
• Respect is more important than winning.
• You, your boss, the manager and your co-workers are all out to dinner. Respect is at the top of the restaurant. You’re all on a waiting list to use a bathroom downstairs. You have to share it with a homeless man. Your boss grabs the homeless man by the shoulders and tells him to get out of the way.
• Pumpkin seed eaters gain respect.
• Someone disrespects you. Your world is upside down as a result.
• A teacher asks her students. “Respect does what for you?” Write about the answers.
• Respect is how cultures become corrupted.
• Respect saving the day in a dream you once had.
• The topic comes up at the family holiday dinner table.
• There is a new movie about respect. It’s a total flop.
• A seemingly trivial act of respect makes a difference.
• A story about a medieval keeper of the king’s elephants who adopts a young prince of the realm.
• What is respect? Nobody knows.
• Anti bully education that uses the story of Joseph and his brothers in the Old Testament of the Bible to teach respect. In short, he dared to respect his brothers, even though they had thrown him in a well. 0
• A person is lonely … until they teach their dog some respect.
• Distinguish the difference between this and that by recognizing the age-old resources for respect. When are the appropriate times to use which one?
• An action of respect inspires an unexpected change.
• A famous movie star loses all his respectability because of his actions.
• A character has to sing a song about respect.
• Respect is the thing no one admits to.
• A girl’s true beauty–including her brains–isher respect.
• A potential love interest adores your respect. How does the relationship unfold?
• Others learn from your respect.
• Respect for mothers and fathers change the world.
• Write a field report on respecting a body of water, such as a lake or a stream.
• A writer reflects on what he’s learned about respect in life.
• A professor explains the correlation between respect and…
• What do you do to show respect?
• An old man who has never been respected in life has finally found the dignity he deserved. No one tells him that, but they can feel his ‘shine.’
• Respect saves the world.
• Something sinister is afoot, and it has to do with respect.
• A man loses his other arm and then finds respect in his life as he learns to juggle with just one arm.
• Show a first grader with respect.
• You feel like giving up, but a respected friend intervenes.
• What do dragons want more than anything else in the world? Why? How is this wish granted by a writer who understands that it is respect that dragons crave?
• Why do you respect someone?
• A wise person shows you what respect looks like for the first time.
• A stranger is someone to be respected.
• The enemy respects you more after you defeat them.
• Stand-in teacher is teaching manners because the teacher has been kidnapped.
• Write a scene between a brother and sister about respect.
• You respect your children. They respect you in return.
• The President gives a speech on the meaning of respect.
• Is there such a thing as life with no respect?
• A sport that teaches respect.
• A best man speech.
• A video created to teach respect.
• Anyone can change, if they come to respect themselves.
• A new car. Bet that makes you think about respect.
• A politician rises to power based on a platform of respect.
• You get in trouble for bullying.
• A respected person becomes villainous.
• Respect is printed on money.
• Respect leads to fame.
• Your birthday party turns around when someone does something respectful.
• You watch a movie about respect.
• You give someone something they remember for the rest of their life, that has something to do with respect.
• You need to show respect to save your health.
• Why do you deserve respect?
• Characters show respect to the superhero.
• How you learn to show and appreciate respect.
• The ghost of your childhood hero appears and tells you that respect is the thing that got him where he is today!
• A police officer earns respect by showing it to everyone they meet. What do they do?
• Write an end of the year school report card on respect.
• A way to score more respect is to help someone.
• Hatred ended with the respect of others.
• The ugly duckling becomes the beautiful swan of respect.
• Someone doesn’t understand respect. Write a letter to them to try to explain it.
• Imagine a world without respect.
• You learn about something really bad that somebody did to somebody else. Who was responsible for this crime? Do you think they should be punished?
• The moths’ respect for Roger morphs into love.
• Someone doesn’t show you respect. Write about how you feel.
• Parents and students feel happy. A parent comes to school to tell the teacher how glad she is about the student who stood up for her in her time of need. The teacher shows the student much respect by giving the student a lot of credit for this deed.
• The reward you most wanted as a child? Respect.
• Friendship tested. What happens when my friend disrespects me?
• A person doesn’t like how they are treated. Something happens to change their mind about the situation.
• A rich, famous athlete gets what he always wanted. What is it? Respect.
• A person you respect dies.
• Every year your school recognizes a student who shows respect. You are proud to have your award on display.
• Life is rewarding with respect.
• A man realizes his problems will never go away until he learns to respect others.
• Wrong, pointless, or harmful behavior is successfully countered because of respect.
• A vampire suffers an allergic reaction to the blood of the person whom s/he respects most.
• You get a job promotion because of respect.
• A hostile tradition comes to a close because of respect.
• Creating art that conveys respect.
• You meet someone. You never heard from him/her again, but you learned something about respect.
• “Respect and love are the most important things in the world.” ~Corrie Ten Boom
• Find a newspaper story and write a respectful ending.
• When it’s time for bed, your child chooses a book about respect.
• A confused oracle does the wrong thing, resulting in several casualties. Who can set things right? The very resistant, insightful super hero, Resooroo.
• You gain the trust of your idol.
• How do you get along with your grandparents?
• Respect for teachers and their struggles.
• Your mom is making you a sandwich for lunch. When she’s finished, the kitchen table is covered in crumbs. You pick up a handful. What do you do?
• Respect is in good supply this Christmas.
• A robot is built with a computer chip. The computer chip has a virus and attempts to smash the robots that disrespect humans. The only way humans can defeat the robots is to show them respect.
• A trickster God decides she will teach the people about respect.
• A battle of intents and wills disrupts the space time continuum because of one person’s disrespect.
• Friendships are built on respect.
• How to have more respect for someone or something.
• The world wins an award for respect.
• Everyone is afraid because there is no respect.
• Explain what respect is.
• Respect for the innocent.
• Write a letter requesting a raise in salary and reference respect.
• Someone gets hurt, but it’s clear that the lesson learned is respect.
• Racist jokes become the butt of these jokes.
• Someone is voted person with the most respect.
• You are respected at work, but not at home.
• You are afraid but do an act of heroism anyway.
• A dog movie with a special message about respect.
• A client describes what respect means to him.
• Respect grows in a harsh environment.
• Two children build a swingset for the neighborhood. The other kids learn the importance of respect.
• Write a Shakespearean sonnet in respect.
• Respect wins the day. You see an example of it.
• You come up with an advertising slogan to encourage people to show respect.
• Leave a respectful comment on a blog.
• Someone’s surprise gives you respect.
• They call you “The woman with unwavering respect.”
• Write a character following the guidelines of the school board’s new Respect Ceremony.
• The students listen to the substitute teacher. Her secret? Respect.
• The least likely person wins an award for the perfor-mance of a lifetime.
• You reject the award for the “family dog power hour.”
• In your best friend, you’ve finally found a person who is always respectful toward you.
• When you have no respect, you feel empty. Confused.
• When you grow up, respect is one of the top values you will practice. Write about that.
• A cage fighter teaches his opponent a lesson in respect.
• Persuasion is achieved only through respect.
• Respect terrifies you.
• Levels of respect are defined.
• Your child has a wonderful trait you wish your partner possessed.
• A day in the life of a baker. Write about how respect tastes and smells.
• A respected teacher in your school asks you to be a tutor.
• A teenager is sent to a farm to learn respect.
• The World is saved because of respect.
• Someone you love is given a special award for respect.
• You are a famous actor because of respect.
• A single word can inflict great pain.
• And, so this is my challenge to you. Write a short story or a poem or a play or a song about respect. Be sure to check out the schedule to link up your piece. Writing is like a hug from your favorite writer, to YOU . Head to my Schedule Page to link up and read some new short pieces. And don’t be a stranger!
• Saying “no” is more rewarding and respected than the alternative.
• You show the bullies, no one stands down when they make fun of others. Time to teach those bullies a lesson.
• My great grandmother always respected me, even when the others in the family didn’t.
• Write about a family that values respect.
• Write a story in which you learn to respect something you were never considering before.
• Create a poster featuring respect.
• Something is lost or abandoned due to a lack of respect.
• A year later something happens that can’t be undone.
• A scene from Romeo and Juliet rewritten with respect.
• You must remake yourself into a respectable person.
• Respect is a pill that makes someone super healthy.
• A poodle wins rights for his people. Write the story.
• A group of friends breaks up because one member acts in a way that shows a lack of respect.
• Mother’s Day comes around and it’s all about respect.
• People are getting motivated by a new symbol… a Clothespin Next … Well-Behaved Students and Unruly Students
• Write about respect that lasts forever.
• You take a tourist trail, but the guide is more interested in shows of disrespect towards the tourists than meaningful information.
• It is betrayal that takes a town’s respect away.
• My parents teach me about respect.
• A new social rule — do not wear shoes to the dinner table.
• You are born without respect. But a wish gives you respect. Your story is that of you getting it!
• An older person wants to tell a younger person some advice. Respect is the topic.
• How do you demonstrate respect to others?
• Write an apology about a character using disrespectful language.
• You become a famous spokesperson for respect.
• James McAvoy is incredible in his role as the coach.
• Fight and learn respect.
• What would happen if every person on earth showed respect, every day.
• The king and queen lose everything when they lose respect.
• Someone makes an incredible discovery.
• Share a story about a time when giving respect proved to be problematic.
• God gives you a sign of respect.
• A bully has learned some respect. He sees another boy being bullied. What does he do?
• Good values depend on respect.
• You get an email from the Office of Public Safety. Turns out you were very respectful as a cyclist in a city where people often lack respect for each other, and that means you are getting a call…
• Parents teach their children to be respectful.
• You have been chosen as the new leader because of your respect.
• A friend or family member teaches you about respect.
• Write About Respect
• A respected person loses their self-respect.
• A kitten shows no respect for a neighbor’s property or animal.
• Your sister gets into trouble and you learn a big lesson in the process.
• What Is the Biggest Risk We Risk Not Being Respectful?
• You forget your lunch. Your best friend respects you still.
• An example of a time when you didn’t show respect.
• Respect lands you in hot water.
• Five things that bestow respect upon a person.
• You have a neighbor who smokes cigarettes and you want to respect their choice.
• Time travel? You correct your past behaviors.
• A wanderer steps up to the plate to accept the responsibility of being respected.
• What happens when you don’t show respect?
• You have to go to summer school for not respecting teachers.
• Someone displays bad manners.
• What is a disrespectful act?
• You respect your neighbors and get your school parade canceled.
• Respect grows in the way a flower grows.
• Write about a spaceship pilot who wants to land on Mars, but runs out of fuel, so he must travel to Earth to ask for help.
• Respect isn’t always meted out equally.
• You find meaning in life through respect.
• You open a lemonade stand. When you don preppy apparel, it takes in more profits.
• The kindness award has no winners. Kindness and respect are intrinsically linked and no one is awarded because the award would be meaningless without an opposite. It was always kindness).
• There are two holes. The first hole is the brain and the second hole is in the liver. While the brain controls your ability to reason and respect, the liver is a filthy organ where toxins, drugs, alcohol, and junk food are stored. The first hole eats what comes out from the second hole. In a way, the two holes in my head are a lot like my colon. When my brain says, “Hey, we need to learn respect,” and my liver name-
• All is well, you’ve earned respect and love for many things you’ve done.
• Explain why respect is important.
• Someone you really care about shows you respect.
• There is an underground society that disagrees with your definition of respect.
• Respect keeps your friends happy.
• Each of the above prompts and ideas could be used to structure a good essay, opinion, or story so give it a try.
• Now give me a million dollars.
• Respected leaders of your community.
• Three thousand years ago, people referred to Gods and Goddesses with respect.
• Respect releases tension in a relationship because you are finally getting your way.
• Everybody loves your birthday cake because of respect.
• Your parents decide to stop arguing and respect one another.
• Change is made by respect.
• A sports team works out a new strategy for respect.
• You may feel depressed about the loss of respect.
• Fantasy world – losing respect has bizarre effects on government.
• You stand up to a bully, but it’s just talk for attention.
• The fight of your life breaks out. The combatants are about to fight to the death. But . . . respect is shown. Someone says, “You know, you aren’t my friend, but listen here.” And they talk things out. The fight is over.
• Does being nice to others mean you aren’t being true to yourself?
• Student council head positions include respect commissioner, respect mediator, etc.
• Everyone has something to teach me about respect.
• A meeting ends in harmony because of respect.
• You write a letter to your partner one year from now to commend their progress in holding rigid rules.
• In a futuristic society, one thing is established. Respect is the rule.
• A stranger helps you while you show respect.
• Write about someone with a missing sense of respect.
• Set a timer for 15 minutes and write about a situation on which you could have acted better given greater respect for the situation.
• A troop of soldiers rallying behind a sense of respect.
• A rip in the space-time continuum.
• Write the “Be Respectful” brochure.
• Write about a family trait you most admire.
• Gods give each human a different eye color and respect.
• You lose an award for dishonoring another.
• Respect for one person opens the doors to understanding between two people who cannot get along.
• Someone makes a drawing for you because you are so respected.
• Appreciate someone that made a difference in your life.
• People are really impressed when you treat them with respect.
• Your activity partner takes… Read More
• Write about defiance of discrimination and injustices.
• Respect makes your life meaningful and happy.
• You hear a rumor that you do not respect someone.
• It’s Friday. You are enjoying getting home and throwing yourself into a meatloaf. You come across a huge stack of bills and work. They slap away that cheerfulness in a heartbeat. Now you feel that work-jaded tiredness. Before you lie down to rest your eyes for just a few minutes, you lay through the bills and punch the numbers into the calculator. It all adds up. There’s nothing left. That’s life.
• There is a new dating show where the bachelor has to earn the respect of the bachelorettes.
• The world is in awe of how you treat others.
• You see someone being mistreated. How do you handle the situation?
• Cesar Chavez shows respect while being chained to the fence.
• Respect transcends language, nationality and culture.
• You are a teacher, and your students act respectfully.
• She had a lovely smile.
• What does a problem look like when it is showing respect?
• Life is overwhelming and checking one thing off the list is… respect.
• A story about sadness resulting in respect.
• Someone does something mean to you. You must deal with this act of disrespect by showing grace and respect.
• You learn to give respect…and it’s awesome!!!
• Write about a person who doesn’t understand the meaning of the word respect.
• Your character wins a special award for his or her respect.
• In all cultures, respect is rare.
• Imagine a community judging people from the standpoint of respect.
• Even monkeys can show respect.
• Write about being able to see out of someone else’s eyes.
• People are attracted to you because of your respectful qualities.
• Writing Prompts for the Season
• A man’s life is lived quietly and without much respect. But he doesn’t mind because he’s content. But then he notices an incredible revelation…or meets an amazing person…or he does something for someone. He realizes respect is more important than everything else he’s ever done or known.
• A mysterious stranger knocks on your door demanding that you respect yourself.
• The talk about your character at a dinner party is about respect.
• Protest by standing or sitting quietly.
• The career you never pursue is the one that uses your ability to show respect.
• A problem at school can only be solved by respect.
• Reasons to have respect for someone.
• A person from the future travels back in time to teach you how to be more respectful.
• You find out who are true friends through a respect challenge.
• All children must rack their brains every morning before school, a hint about how to earn respect.
• You find yourself in a really tough fix because of lack of respect.
• Respect is worth more than an Olympic medal.
• You have a private encounter with a celebrity hero because of your selfless acts of respect. He begins to change her mind about being a hero.
• What is the world coming to when respect is a stunt?
• You teach someone their lessons in respect.
• You detect the respect of someone you thought did not have any.
• Teaching your kids about respect.
• Respect saves your cat’s life.
• Write a scene with a character showing respect to another character.
• You donate your award money to animals in need.
• A talking pig teaches you how to respect elders.
• Respect is realizing you should be scared, but knowing you are not.
• A person looks back on their life and realizes he grew in respect and wisdom.
• Until it turns into something else.
• A week in the life of a respected human being.
• Write your own definition of respect.
• Express your feelings about respect in a poem.
• Write a story about someone who is angry that their country is being disrespected.
• Respect brings you luck.
• Write a sequel to one of your stories where you show how an established character has grown because of respect.
• You are given respect in a profession you never dreamed of.
• Acceptable means of showing respect.
• Tortured by the things you say about yourself? Change the channel.
• You make being respectful fun. For example, the Teen Agent Club introduces a Secret Agent respect club.
• A new kid at school doesn’t know what to make of the respect given to you from others.
• There are no more problems in the world due to respect.
• A stranger comes into a typical day. Her one act compels us to respect her.
• Why are kids fighting? They aren’t being respectful.
• You’ve won an award for respect and are asked to speak at the ceremony.
• Being one of the few individuals in the world with a certain imbalance means growing up with lots of respect.
• A character with no respect led by his ego creates a situation that could destroy the city. Write how that wound up being his downfall.
• You get the lead part because of respect.
• The best superhero is loved not because of superpowers but because s/he respects others.
• Make a flip-book about respect.
• Post your thoughts below concerning the topic of respect. What draws you to respect? What makes you lose respect for others? What situations can lead to disrespect on a grand scale? What relationships in your life deserve the utmost respect ?
• Something something sisterhood of the traveling pants.
• Explain respect for homosexuals.
• You encounter tyrants and see another, greater tyrant come to power.
• Write about a historical figure who stood up for respect.
• Family can be defined as the people you respect.
• An enemy soldier is shocked when you ask him to stop fighting.
• Someone stabs you when you least expect it because you didn’t respect them.
• Farmer Jane grows her crops and arrives at the farmer’s market with her vegetables. Two mean girls insult her veggies. She stands her ground. They exit.
• A splinter group for the National Honor Society.
• Vandalism is avoided because of respect.
• Respect informs people’s choices not to taunt or tease others.
• A company asks you to join their team. The day of your interview they ask you to greet their dog. What do you do?
• Respect for nature. Respect for animals. Respect for a culture, nation, race.
• Respect is needed at a family event.
• Write about a time when your brain went into a calm state because you were respecting others.
• A friend gets your respect after a performance.
• Respect hurts.
• Respect fills the earth.
• The future would be perfect if everyone respected everyone else.
• What happens if your family, peers, town, country, the world, etc. lose respect for you?
• The door to a mansion opens by itself when a certain Four-lettered word is whispered.
• Respect arrives.
• One of the Seven Deadly Sins is respect.
• Lack of respect leads to a revealing dream.
• Two characters fall in love because of respect.
• Choose a central theme, then it connects all the story and character elements. Boost your writing.
• The pea pod in the garden has lots of respect.
• You open up your business, but customers don’t respect your establishment
• Your teacher is impressed with how much respect you have.
• Fear of owing respect causes failure.
• You write dirty music lyrics, but if you respected people more you’d be a better songwriter.
• A fly gains feelings of respect, then loses them.
• After earning respect, you give it away and then you receive an award for giving it.
• You are writing a story about a pioneer in the field of respect.
• Write about a child whose only salvation is respect … and then she loses respect and now what?
• A mother and son talk through disrespectful behavior.
• People have respect for your style.
• A kidnapper shows ignorance by disrespecting.
• A tired and thirsty wanderer finds peace in respect.
• Your fictional world is saved because of respect.
• Respect is understood by a child, and all problems are solved.
• You feel respected.
• Respect by stepping aside.
• Breaking the record for distances jumped in school lunches.
• You’re proud you’ve earned the respect of the people from your hometown.
• What do you rate the respectability of your movie? What specific instances of respect do you like best in your story?
• Showcasing respect to others is a comforting thing to do.
• There’s a museum. The exhibit? Respect.
• A kind of respect is more important than an answer on a test.
• The older mentors respect the younger ones. Even when it’s not deserved.
• You inspire others to respect.
• What are hidden lives due to disrespect?
• A misfit gains respect.
• Show us a caveman family carving co-operation into a mammoth bone.
• Respect…What does it look like? Describe this act of respect.
• Problems arise when something is disrespectful.
• Arthur Levine of Scholastic Books recommends the following poetry writing prompts for teens. They’re meant to be done on a specific subject, but you can write about anything with them. Share your work…
• Respecting differences is the most important lesson in life.
• While flying, people point at you because you are dressed like a bat. You wonder what that’s all about. Later, when you land on the ground, you find a bat with some other kids inside a cave. He asks you to respect him.
• Respect takes a left turn.
• Respect is a way to stop a bully.
• In your future, respect is the universal monthly fee for enjoying the pleasure of the planet.
• The first human on Mars has the right stuff.
• What do you do with respect? Share your writing in the comments section.
• Write about a time a small act of respect made a big difference.
• The war is over because everyone respects each other.
• The opposite of respect is unlikely.
• Find the person who changed your life with respect.
• List the top 5 characters in your book and give each one a theme of respect. Which one is the most disrespectful? Why?
• A tale of a quest for respect.
• Using sympathy, people win the day.
• You accidentally travel back in time to a period not known for respect. What do you do to express respect to this culture?
• However, without respect, you cannot succeed.
• Respect is traded on the stock market. If your shares lose value, your respect is decreased.
• Write a flyer for a rebrand of respect as the empowering force it is.
• The President of the United States bestows a Respect Award.
• You are coming to the last day of school. As a valedictorian, you give an address on the meaning of respect.
• You discover something new about respect.
• You stop receiving a reward. Now, your students are showing respect.
• A story about starting a respect club for kids.
• You earn money because everyone feels respectfully toward you and your craft.
• Celebrate respect day.
• A robot modeled after you would possess respect.
• A book about respect.
• Someone you respect invites you to a party. The theme, respect.
• Write about a character who starts out without respect but acquires it.
• Someone shows you a total lack of it.
• You show that you respect authority.
• The villain uses respect to rule.
• Trust and respect. Two things we cannot live without.
• You have a conflict with someone and need to use your creativity to solve the challenging situation.
• Little Red Riding Hood starts to respect all those around her. Go back and write a different version of this story.
• You are being trained in martial arts. Your most important lesson? To respect your opponent.
• Respect is running thin.
• You continually fail to understand the authority you have been given.
• You deserve respect. You get it. You deserve it.
• Respect is incredibly valuable in its own way.
• Your culture centers on respect.
• Respect helps solve a random problem at school.
• An anti-bully group is successful.
• A gang helps a person in need because they have respect in their hearts.
• Think through some interesting ways the word “respect” can be used in a name.
• Write a conversation between someone who does not respect their job and someone who is thoroughly proud of their career.
• People make fun of you for being respectful to those who need, deserve, or earn your respect.
• Explain why respect for the past is important.
• Respect–it all comes down to how you treat others.
• Two people who know each other very well sit down to discuss something. Respect is the most prized topic of conversation. Create the post office in a way that adds to the topic of respect.
• Show us what happens when someone loses respect for the right to vote.
• A girl scout gives you a cookie for respecting diversity.
• A student discovers the secret to earning respect. Give examples of what he does and write a scene about a specific interaction between the main character and someone else.
• A teacher’s career is affected by his respect for his students.
• The consequences of not showing respect
• Your whole world is changed and the most important thing is respect for yourself.
• Write a poem describing what respect is.
• Witness a teenager tutor a peer on respect, rather than lecture.
• You find a valuable object because of your respect.
• Kids are mean, so you try to teach respect.
• A school teacher stands up to the school bully.
• You run the inaugural respect race.
• But being respectful is no more wanted than being rude.
• Write about encountering a troublesome giant, and earning its respect.
• You make a change in someone’s life with your respect.
• Show time is ruined because there is a snake in the way.
• You decide to leave home because of disrespect in your family.
• Listening to learn.
• Write a story about bringing respect back where it has vanished.
• Share a story about a time when you showed respect.
• This is the season for respect. You describe Christmas with respect, and reap the benefits for a billion years.
• A poem honoring Steve Jobs.
• Our country will be fine IF everyone…respect others.
• Write about an individual doing anything he/she does because of, and because of respect.
• You’re sent to your room for disrespect.
• Mother bear teaches her cubs about respect.
• How do you show respect for your mother?
• It’s a decision about respect that gets you sent to the principal.
• You receive an award for respect.
• Sympathy and respect have become lost art forms.
• You have no food and no Respect. Write a story.
• Respect for the law.
• You must learn to respect others.
• Individuals are accidentally transported to another dimension. For being respectful to the others from Earth, they survive.
• Respect can take you places.
• Write a poem about respect.
• A cool decal on your bike saying respect.
• It is Independence Day. You are celebrating with your family and friends, but the festival does not go as planned. Write a story of faith, freedom, and respect.
• Learn how to respect others even if you don’t understand their culture or religion by accepting a job to teach children in a refugee camp in Central America.
• You’re aboard a sinking ship. Respect dictates who will be saved.
• The golden rule applies.
• Instituting respect in the extended family.
• People who normally do not respect each other learn that alike underneath, we all share the same need – to be respected.
• The only thing that can solve the mizchif? Respect.
• A sage gives the secret to life. What is it? Respect.
• You feel respected by the actions of another person.
• A very special pen is stolen.
• An entire town is left in ruins. What is there to rebuild?
• You have a break-out idea for hosting a respect-themed event.
• An appreciation of someone’s significant other.
• A demanding teacher respects you and lets you be a leader.
• Sometimes respect doesn’t feel good.
• In a country where people punish, respecting others is a crime.
• A story of respect for the human spirit.
• By 2030, a new generation arises to honor respect.
• We live today because of respect.
• A werewolf wishes she was human because she can respect humans.
• You just won the lottery. Tell me what you will do with respect.
• You change a world by showing respect.
• You overhear talk about respect. Afterwards, you are awkward and still not sure what respect really means. Write about those moments.
• The rainbow of respect appears.
• Respect for life is praised at an award ceremony with the Medal of the Order of St. Jane.
• Sometimes you need to give people a chance to respect you.
• Your enemies respect you.
• You meet a girl who loves Spider-man. She tells you that her favorite comic is Spiderman featuring Watermelon Man. You wonder just what that’s about.
• A sports figure learns to respect.
• Respect is interwoven into justice.
• Dad wants respect so bad he forgets to show his kids he really cares about them.
• Your secret feelings are written on a tombstone.
• Because of respect, the hero of the story wins a battle.
• A bully is miraculously transformed.
• You are not afraid to respect them without pity.
• Think of how you respect your parents. Write a thank you note to them.
• A friend stalks you.
• You meet a person so exceptional they make you respect them.
• Respect is the new hot mini-dress in fashion.
• Respect looks different on everybody.
• Good attendance earns you respect.
• Respect is rewarded with a present.
• Someone deposits $1,000 in your savings account as a gift of respect.
• Write a scene in which a friend shows you respect.
• Politicians have power. Write about what they do with respect.
• Laura shares respect around the office.
• You go back in time and save Hitler from joining the Nazi party because of respect.
• Walking in someone else’s shoes.
• A tale about the Six Degrees of Separation. A girl realizes that she should treat everyone she meets with respect.
• Respect at school.
• A world where respect is a prized commodity has emerged. People literally die of disrespect.
• How would you pay someone to say something bad about you for $1000 that’s positive for $1000? The respect must be real.
• You lose an important award because you are disrespectful.
• My principal teaches respect.
• A stranger keeps you from harm.
• A recount of an important event in your life where respect figures heavily.
• Cruz Reynoso, a United States Supreme Court justice has described personal pride as “The right thing is not just to do the right thing but to feel good while doing it.”
• Write about respect from another’s point of view.
• Teachers talk about respect and write.
• You are called on to help resolve a conflict.
• She didn’t get the respect she deserved.
• A conflict is resolved because of respect.
• A chain of events unfolds, with each being respectful.
• A new leader emerges. Her gift is respect for all people.
• A court case proves to be decided by respect.
• Write a story about respect in non-human creatures.
• Write about why you or someone you know deserves respect.
• Write a letter to someone you are angry with expressing your respect for him/her.
• You read a powerful book about respect that has a big impact on your life.
• A new game begins because everyone respects the other player’s playing card.
• You lose an opportunity for achievement because of lack of respect.
• An unexpected consequence of the growing respect is …
• The vote is tied, except for a vote of respect.
• You put respect on your dinner plate.
• Write a song.
• Write about a house that allows no room for respect.
• You make a difficult decision because of respect.
• What did you learn from a trustworthy ally?
• You are out walking, alone, and you come across a strange object.
• A ship that is lost brings respect to something that was previously disrespected.
• A rude child apologizes to her parents for disrespectful behavior.
• It’s all about a little respect.
• Your colleague earns admiration because he always respects others.
• A historical event shows how one person’s lack of respect could have changed the course of history, by scaring off potential allies through bad manners.
• After carefully considering your life, you decide respect is your most important value.
• Growing up, you read a comic book or novel about a peculiar animal who dressed freely, and wore whatever he or she pleased. The animal was bullied for its obnoxious fashion choices. How did the animal respond?
• Respect makes you the top dog.
• Write a tale about respect with a message that will stick with the reader for a long time.
• There’s a lesson of respect in a popular children’s story. Rewrite the story to contain the lesson.
• Someone seeks respect.
• Respect comes back.
• You witness a killing and must decide if it is an act of respect, or not.
• The story of a special gift of respect for a loved one who has been lost.
• Use respect to help narrate an important moment in your life.
• You befriend someone who doesn’t seem to have many friends because of his or her short temper. It helps them become more respectful.
• You and another must demonstrate caring and respect for each other.
• Write about a gracious winner at sometime in your life or someone’s else’s life.
• Write about a day without respect.
• Your hometown holds an award ceremony for teens with outstanding respect.
• You earn respect.
• A reunion story with full respect.
• You win the grand prize in a contest of respect.
• The most powerful force in the world is respect.
• Respect makes a sick person well again, or a broken arm mends itself.
• What shows respect?
• You have to share a room with someone you don’t respect.
• She looks out the window. She breaks a rule and gets in serious trouble.
• Are you standing as straight as you could in nursery or primary school? Why not? What does it look like when someone stands straight?
• The most famous person in your story is a person who shows respect.
• Write a story about a speaker teaching respect to their audience.
• A nosey reporter is taught the meaning of respect.
• Through some tragic circumstances, a character learns everyone needs to show his or her respect toward others.
• Tell how you know that respect is important.
• Let the world know of your respect for truth.
• Your brother has lost his memory. What will you do to show respect to him?
• You will be famous for your respect.
• A brand new invention arrives. Its sole purpose is to promote respect.
• The human race suffers an epidemic of respect.
• Your success is only possible because of the respect of others.
• Young Author’s Contest entry about respect.
• To win a contest, you need respect.
• A tragedy happens because no one showed respect.
• The boss merchedrines can’t respect your home business. You win anyway.
• Someone buys you a robot to help you do the chores.
• Someone dies because of lack of respect.
• Write about a ghost that regrets not valuing respect when he was alive.
• He honors her out of respect.
• Somebody you don’t like is afraid you’re working for the CIA because only the CIA could produce someone that polite.
• Respect is the motivation for a lesson.
• Give someone a gift, but it is filled with disrespect.
• You have a big sibling with a really large nose. Always looking down it at others. You’re no longer the little brother/sister, now you’re the big brother/sister.
• Does respect always come after one displays kindness?
• Disrespect ruined your life.
• Respect… it lasts forever’
• A symbol of respect represents your city or state.
• A book is written about your life and all the lessons around respect that you have learned.
• A poem about respect.
• Once a year there is a day where respect is the prize, and you win!
• Any chance you get, you prove to your boss you’re worthy of respect.
• You get a phone call. There is a message of respect waiting for you.
• Respect allows you to get a better job.
• Write about a child watching their parents respect others. What does the child learn?
• The value of respect.
• A child breaks a school rule and gets detention. The punishment fits the crime better once respect is introduced.
• You never go anywhere without your power of respect.
• How do you show respect to an important person such as a boss, teacher, or parent?
• It starts during recess.
• If you don’t respect me, I’ll move to your country and refuse to learn the language.
• A reward for enjoying respect.
• Respect is at the heart of your friendship.
• An explanation of respect to a family member.
• A way that you earn respect from others.
• Show an individual learning respect.
• A fictional character has a positive behavior related to respect. Who is she?
• A journal about respect.
• Respect can be taught to autistic children.
• Respect and the law collide in a collision.
• A bored teenager challenges another to a duel. Pistol at dawn. Surprisingly, the teen fires backward. It’s respect.
• Everyone you know admires you for your respect.
• because of respect someone is believed.
• Write about the importance of respect.
• One person’s motivation is respect.
• This is your reminder to be respectful.
• Write about symbols of respect.
• You learn a lesson about respect.
• You are looking back on your life and writing your biography. How do you save face when what you have done involves acts like theft, lies, or any inappropriate or illegal behavior?
• Husbands respect their wives because women respect their husbands.
• Your parents lose their jobs because they didn’t respect the boss.
• Two old men have a respectful conversation together.
• You lose an award for not respecting others.
• School is cancelled because of the snow, so you have the day off, except that everyone is expected to work on their writing project. You write a response to the above prompts.
• An old relic seems to possess respect.
• A grown man goes into a fit of rage. It only calms down when he places himself in the “loser” category.
• Read this book. Pretend you feel the character’s feelings as she sneaks off to show the creature her respect.
• Gather objects that represent respect on your desk as a reminder to yourself.
• New phone app to teach kids about respect.
• Write about your commute.
• Respect allows you to save the day.
• You are at a crossroads when you realize you must grow in respect.
• After being pretty rotten to one another, cousins become friends again.
• Respect heals all.
• You get sued because you didn’t give someone respect.
• Someone has unprecedented good luck because they are respectful.
• In the night, robbers break into your house. A memento protected from the criminals because of respect.
• You are having a difficult time with a partner. He tells you that he doesn’t feel respected by your words or actions. Write your story of what you decide to do that shows him that he is valued and respected.
• Respect saves your life.
• You get sent to alternative schooling because of disrespect.
• A megaphone only works if you respect others.
• Tell what the opposite of respect is.
• Characters learn to recognize and respect personal space.
• A monster is close to eating a person but then decides the person isn’t so bad after all. What made the monster change its mind?
• Show that respect means paying attention.
• You are confronted with your own prejudice.
• You own the mini-mart, and respect pays.
• A science fiction story that takes place in the distant future where respect is at the center of every moral decision.
• You’re visiting a new school and want to make a good impression.
• There is a special respect station in the cafeteria at your school.
• You get a car and think you have respect. But not really.

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Addressing Offensive Comments in Class

Instructional Consultant Shadia Siliman describes a time when a student made offensive comments about transgender identity in her classroom:

"Several years ago, I was teaching a session of Introduction to Gender Studies which focused on trans experience . My students were completing a silent activity using the Genderbread Person and Gender Unicorn worksheets when one student interrupted our work time. 'Let’s say I think I’m transgender, but maybe I also think I’m a cow,' announced the student. Before he could continue, I cut in:  'Hold on, I don’t want us to compare being trans to thinking you are an animal.' I then asked the class as a whole, 'Why?' "

In the above response, Siliman made efforts to "call in" the student who made the offensive remark. First, she paused the conversation. She used “I” statements and the collective “us,” rather than “you,” to generalize feedback to all students and avoid direct conflict with the individual who made the offensive remark.

Next, Siliman turned the topic over to the whole class by asking: “Why?” This shifted power away from the individual to the community, allowing other students to practice "calling in."

The conversation continued:

INSTRUCTOR: … Why?

STUDENT #2: Because it makes trans people seem delusional.

STUDENT #1: But if I’m trans, I might as well think I’m a cartoon character.

INSTRUCTOR: Wait, I don’t want us to compare being trans to thinking you are a cartoon character.

• Strategies:  Pause the conversation, use “I” statements, generalize feedback to all students rather than one speaker, offer Student #1 a second chance to reflect on his language

INSTRUCTOR (to the class): Why?

• Strategies:  Turn topic over to the whole class, shift power away from one individual to the community, allow other students to call in Student #1

STUDENT #3: It still makes trans people seem delusional.

STUDENT #1: Well then, maybe if I’m trans, then I’m delusional.

Unfortunately, Student #1 turned down the “calling in” invitations and persisted in making transphobic statements. This signaled to Siliman that he was no longer choosing to participate generatively and respectfully, and she responded by asking him to leave the class session.

INSTRUCTOR: I believe that you have violated the guidelines of our classroom agreement, and I’m going to have to ask you to leave class.

• Strategies: Use “I” statements, refer back to a classroom agreement or community norms, ask Student #1 to leave the class session

STUDENT #1: I don’t think I’ve broken the classroom guidelines.

INSTRUCTOR: Let me ask your classmates. Do we believe that what was said is acceptable for class?

• Strategies: Turn topic over to whole class, shift power away from one individual to the community

"Looking around the room, I saw students shaking their heads. After the student left class, I asked students how they were feeling in the moment. We discussed their reactions and clarified that while disagreement in class is not wrong, being disrespectful is a problem.  After class was dismissed, the student returned to apologize to me for his offensive remarks. We met during office hours to clarify why his behavior led to removal from class and developed new guidelines for him to participate generatively and conduct himself more respectfully with other students. I restated to him what the class had discussed in our debrief: Disagreement is acceptable as long as it is respectful."

It is important to remember that we invite our students to participate respectfully, but we cannot make them do so. If you have to, ask someone to leave to de-escalate conflict and maintain a respectful learning environment.  

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Keep the following precautions in mind when using verbal reprimands: It will be interpreted as weakness. Literally stand your ground as you metaphorically do the same. Yelling at members of your class severely limits the way they can respond to you. Basically, it gives them two options: stand their ground and get in worse trouble or submit and lose face with their peers. If you don’t want the student to yell and be disrespectful to you, then act in kind. The Big Picture One teacher I know developed a special tone of voice to use when verbally reprimanding a student. It was not a yell or scream, but an unusually high-pitched note that was reserved for this occasion. He also asked the reprimand in the form of a question, such as, “Do you think I should allow you to sit there and disrupt the class with your incessant noise-making?” Like a rattlesnake uses a distinctive sound to warn of a venomous strike, so too this teacher used a unique tone of voice to warn of unpleasantness. Do not invade a child’s personal space during a reprimand. Doing so belittles the student and may stimulate a knee-jerk reaction by the student that makes things worse. Select a position in the classroom where you can deliver your verbal warning shot so that everyone (especially the offending student) can see and hear you clearly. If, even for a moment, a child feels you are a physical threat, your actions become indefensible to parents and the administration. Reprimand the student immediately and by name. Do not wait until the end of class and say, “I saw some people copying off each other’s work, and I want you to know that’s against the rules.” Stop what you are doing, look directly into the eyes of the offending student, describe the disruptive behavior, describe acceptable behavior, refer to the class rules, and announce this event as a verbal warning. For instance, you could say “John, stop copying off of Megan’s paper. You know that’s unacceptable behavior. This is not a group project, so you have no business looking at anyone’s paper but your own. I don’t want to see you, or anyone else in this room, with eyes pointed anywhere but straight at your own desks. Understood?” Verbal warnings are very effective if handled correctly. They are one of the lowest and least obtrusive forms of intermediate student discipline. Be careful to read the situation: the student’s demeanor, causative agents, and then deliver a reprimand that corrects the student behavior without belittling the student. Writing Names on the Board Writing a student’s name on the board is a good way to reprimand most students. There’s something powerful about seeing a written record of wrongdoing on the board that constantly and silently reinforces your classroom expectations and rules. There are some students, however, who like to see their name on the board. It is a form of positive reinforcement, an advertisement for bad behavior, and they will actively try to maintain their “celebrity status.” In such cases, choose a different disciplinary path. Teacher Tip: You can write the student’s name on a sheet of paper at your desk, in your grade book, or other a non-public location. This removes the glamour from the event and makes it less desirable for the student. ©2007 ABCTE. All rights reserved. Get the Reddit app This sub is for discussions amongst college & university faculty. Whether you are an adjunct, a lecturer, a grad TA or tenured stream if you teach students at the college level, this space is for you! While we welcome students and non-academics lurking and learning, posts and comments are not allowed. If you're new here, please familiarize yourself with the sub rules and follow them. If you're ever unsure, feel free to reach out to the moderators for clarification. Need advice to deal with disrespectful student I am an early career faculty at a university(Female,25). I have been teaching since two years and I think I am good at it. This semester in one of my classes there’s a student who constantly disrespects me by asking inane, unrelated questions or by just discouraging other students from clarifying their doubts. He tells them that it is too much effort that they could spend on partying instead. During my classes he makes weird disapproving faces at me and frequently asks for breaks to go out and use the restroom. During these breaks he then goes to meet my colleague and talks to him instead about general things all the while skipping my class. I have tried to talk to him and he treats me like a child. I have tried to accept that he simply does not enjoy my classes and I should focus on the others but then he disrupts the class and I lose focus. I teach literature but I have severe dyslexia so certain words trip me off and I can’t spell them without writing them out somewhere...he deliberately tries to make me spell out random difficult words and when I use my fingers to trace them out on my hand he smirks and clearly enjoys it. I have an entire semester worth of classes with them and I dread going to every single one. Please let me know what I can do to stop this? Talking to my supervisors or the departmental chair hasn’t helped. They said I should accomodate his requests because he is a sincere student. Please help! What can I do to tackle him that won’t require me to lose my mind? It is taking away my confidence. By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy . Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account. Enter a 6-digit backup code Create your username and password. Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it. Reset your password Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password Check your inbox An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account Choose a Reddit account to continue 474 IMAGES Respect Activities for Kids Visual Tool for Teaching Respectful vs Presentaton of respectful an disrepectful dialog. 4 tips on how to handle a disrespectful student Misbehavior Respect Vs Disrespect Worksheets 363 Word On Being Disrespectful To Teachers Essay Example (400 Words VIDEO 3 Ways to Deal with Disrespectful Students Students being disrespectful how to fix disrespectful students in school Disrespectful students #Forward Talk RUDE DISRESPECTFUL STUDENTS, THEY MOCK and LAUGH at the King’s Guard 🤬😡❌ Being a NYC Substitute teacher COMMENTS Writing Prompts about Respect Here are seventeen writing prompts about respect designed to spark critical thinking, empathy, and creativity in K-12 students. (Bonus! This list of prompts can be adapted for teachers, too.) Use these prompts as morning work, writing assignments, journaling prompts, or even springboards for engaging in SEL (Social Emotional Learning) activities. 55 Great Respect Writing Prompts Tell about a time when you showed courtesy to someone. 7. Write a story using these words: love, respect, kindness, patience, proud. 8. Explain how greetings are a sign of respect. 9. Compose a poem about respect. 10. Design a bumper sticker to advertise respect. PDF Discipline Essays monitoring. After the 3 rd , 4 th , and 5 th unprepared, you will be required to complete an assignment in a teacher's room during advisory. The 6 th unprepared will result in a detention. This starts over each quarter. If it is a writing instrument you need, the student that lends you a writing 35 Writing Prompts about Respect 35 Writing Prompts about Respect. Respect is an important value to have and to experience. It means to consider other people and their feelings. It means you care about the other person and what they believe in, the values they hold, and them as a human being. It means you will treat yourself and others kindly and without judgment. How to respond to rude, disrespectful students Get the story to the parent before the child does. If something happened in school that day, make the call home. Email is not enough, because parents may not read their email before they talk to their child, so you really want to get to the parent. Whoever gets to the parent first controls the story. 3. Need Behaviour Assignments for Consequences The writing assignments sound like a good idea, because it will force him to actually THINK about what he is doing and how it affects other people. ... He will write a diary entry as if he was the teacher and had a disrespectful, rude, uncooperative student in his classroom, stating why it was annoying, what the student did, why it made it hard ... How To Handle The Student Disrespect Sweeping The Country It's the way you interact with students that needs to take on greater significance. With that in mind, what follows are seven teacher behaviors that when combined will reduce or eliminate any surge in disrespect upending your classroom. 1. Body Language. Timid and weak postures, stances, and movements don't cut it. Teaching Respect for the video "RESPECT". in the 10-part DVD series THE SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER. Teaching social emotional learning, good character, and mindfulness education. Elementary school guide for teaching respect. Discussion questions, writing assignments, student activities, and tips for parents to build good character and social emotional learning. How To Respond To A Disrespectful Student Pause. In the immediate moments following the incident, don't say a word. Simply maintain eye contact with the student and wait. Let their words hang in the air for several seconds, leaving no doubt about what was said, how it was said, and who is responsible for saying it. End it. Disrespect Essay Teaching Resources A Little Middle School Magic. This is a 524 word essay for students to copy when they...1. Break a classroom rule (like distracting other students)2. Disrespecting a teacher, substitute, or other adult in the room3. Not adhering to classroom management policiesStudents are given the essay to copy.The essay states they have 1 evening to complete ... Teaching Guide: RESPECT 6. In the video one teen talks about a ripple effect: If one person treats another with respect, the respect begins to spread out from there. Write an editorial for your school newspaper encouraging students to start the "respect ripple effect.". Describe what it could accomplish in your school setting. (If you wish to copy or use any ... Disrespect Lesson Plans & Worksheets Reviewed by Teachers Teaching About Tolerance Through Music. For Teachers 3rd - 12th. Explore the importance of tolerance with a music-themed lesson. Learners listen to the music of Peter, Paul, and Mary, and discern the underlying messages before discussing the painful effects of ridicule, disrespect, and bullying. +. The Best First Writing Lesson of the Year: Email Etiquette 101 A best practice with writing is to have the students the email to the recipient. In doing so, I'd strongly encourage you to either make yourself the recipient of an email in response to a or to read through students' drafts before allowing them to press "send" to another teacher (for obvious reasons). In the past, I've asked students to think ... Teaching Respect Have that person talk about how what they do deals with the issue of respect. After his or her visit, write a thank you letter explaining how you respect what that person is doing. Bring in articles from newspapers or the Internet that deal with people respecting or disrespecting other people. Problematic Student Behavior disregard for deadlines. grade grubbing. sniping remarks. cheating. These behaviors are not just instructors' pet peeves; they have real costs including: distracting other students and instructor in class. reducing student participation. lowering other students' and instructor's motivation in or out of class. affecting fairness in grading. Managing Disrespectful & Rude Behaviors in the Classroom Here are some strategies to help you manage these challenging behaviors and get back to what you do best - teaching your students. Change your mindset. First, the most effective strategy is actually a mindset shift. Kids aren't being rude to be rude or disrespectful. Kids and young adults are coping with challenging feelings the very best ... You Got a Bad Sub Report. Now What? Involve parents, but be sure to word the letter in the most constructive and positive way to avoid a misunderstanding. 5. Suss out the main perpetrators with student statements. Chances are, even if the class as a whole was terrible, some players were worse than others, and maybe a few weren't bad at all. 1001 Writing Prompts About Respect Describe an environment where respect is valued. A character tries to win by talking about respect and persuading. "All" little girls dream of a fairy godmother that will grant wishes, not all dream of one that grants respect. Violence erupts because of non-respect. When you become a centurion, respect is required. Addressing Offensive Comments in Class Strategies: Turn topic over to the whole class, shift power away from one individual to the community, allow other students to call in Student #1. STUDENT #3: It still makes trans people seem delusional. STUDENT #1: Well then, maybe if I'm trans, then I'm delusional. Unfortunately, Student #1 turned down the "calling in" invitations and ... Classroom Management: Moderately Aggressive Disciplinary Strategies Writing Names on the Board. Writing a student's name on the board is a good way to reprimand most students. There's something powerful about seeing a written record of wrongdoing on the board that constantly and silently reinforces your classroom expectations and rules. There are some students, however, who like to see their name on the board. PDF Character Building Writing Prompts Every English class does the same writing prompt. This is then read on the announcements the next day. You can have the announcements rotate by class each week. This way each class is represented on the morning announcements. A different student will read the announcement every day. This way a diverse group of students will be making the ... Need advice to deal with disrespectful student : r/Professors I really think it's best not to engage. Name the behavior and keep going with the class. "Please hold your questions until the end." "I've asked you to hold your questions; now you are interrupting." "Your continued interruptions are disruptive." "I will be documenting your disruptive behavior.". Disrespectful Behavior Letter To Parents Teaching Resources As a middle school teacher, I used to dread taking days off. After continuously getting reports of bad/disrespectful behavior from substitutes, I knew I had to do something. I came up with a letter writing assignment. Students reflect on the previous day(s) by writing letters to the substitute, their parents/guardians, and my building principal. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis