Difficult Student

Difficult Student

By John VergaraEducation
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Difficult Student episodes

  • How to Keep Your Passion Alive as an Educator

    Joey Sims shares his journey as a special education teacher, balancing family life, and the importance of building relationships with students. He discusses his experiences with ADHD, his teaching philosophy, and how he creates a supportive community in his school

    56 min
  • Is Community Schooling the Missing Link?

    In this episode, Dean of Students Kamilah Todd shares powerful insights on community schooling, teacher authority, and supporting students’ basic needs. From rural Louisiana to urban classrooms, we explore how trust, grace, and real-world connections can transform schools into safe, thriving spaces.

    43 min
  • Can Smart Grouping Build Classroom Community?

    I sit down with Rob Stauffer, an international educator, to unpack why challenging behavior is communication, how to build belonging through smart grouping, and what vulnerability looks like in real classrooms. We discuss supporting autistic students, de-escalation through affirmation, and practical tips for new teachers and those considering teaching abroad.

    59 min
  • Why Do So Many Teachers Struggle With Fitness?

    In this solo episode, I open up about my real journey with health as an educator, father, and now grandfather. From growing up without strong examples of fitness, to juggling family and teaching in my 20s, to finally building consistent habits in my 30s and 40s.

    9 min
  • Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Educators

    A roundtable of educator-creators with guests Eric Glenn (MS math), Mash Makhlyagina (SPED advocate/coach), and Laura Vazquez (dual-immersion 6th grade) swap real-world stories about how social media has reshaped their teaching lives, community impact, and boundaries.

    1 hr 3 min
  • How Admin Support Impacts A School's Success

    Julio Lopez shares his journey from being a PE teacher to administrator, highlighting the challenges in physical education and the lessons learned in leadership. We dive into how strong administrators support teachers, the importance of building relationships, and why having a good leader makes all the difference for school culture and student success.

    58 min
  • From Playground Supervisor to Assistant Principal

    In this video, I share my journey in education, from starting as a playground supervisor at 18 to becoming an assistant principal. It hasn’t been easy, but every setback opened new doors. If you’re feeling stuck or uncertain about your path, I hope my story encourages you to keep going

    27 min
  • How Can First-Year Teachers Avoid Burnout?

    David Melendez shares his journey as a middle school choir teacher, discussing the importance of building connections with students, being authentic in the classroom, and the significance of self-reflection. He emphasizes the need for work-life balance and creating a comfortable environment for students.

    1 hr 1 min

About Difficult Student

From the publisher's feed

We explore how to connect with students with challenging behavior through real stories and strategies from educators.

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