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Love and Logic, pg 52
This is the number one reason why I have been successful with students identified with emotional/behavior disorders.
When I had my first full time teaching position (for students with Autism, ADD, and labeled as ED), I taught next door to the projects the county with the highest prison population out of the entire state. I taught the youngest kids in the school, but I volunteered and tutored the oldest. Some of these kids, frankly, scared me initially because of known family members’ associations with gangs and the possibility that they were on their way to joining one as well. It was the consistency I provided, noticing and asking about their interests, and being concerned about things they needed that allowed me to get anything done with them. It wasn’t until that relationship was there that I could be the least bit effective. Once that relationship was there, those kids really surprised me in very inspiring ways. I wish I could give concrete examples, but I feel the need to be protective of their privacy.
