Behavior and the Community

Identify a student who is exhibiting unexpected behavior. What might this behavior be communicating? Build a relationship with the student and learn about their experiences in school and in their lives outside of school. Find out what is causing the behavior. Approach with curiosity (not blame and shame) and ask open ended questions that start with what you notice. You might say, “I notice that… what’s up?”

Which students are exhibiting unexpected behaviors?

What might be some reasons for these behaviors? What are the structures, policies, rules, relationships, and experiences that may be contributing to this behavior?

What did you learn from your conversation with the student?

What’s in your sphere of influence to change so that this student has the conditions to be successful?

Watch this TEDx talk, Rethinking Challenging Kids-Where There's a Skill There's a Way. Use this resource from High Tech High Graduate School of Education to try out Empathy Interviews with your students.