Welcome back to Thriving in Challenging Schools. In our last episode, we looked at practical strategies to help you survive the day-to-day chaos. Today, we’re shifting the focus to something even more powerful: building relationships in crisis.

Because here’s the thing—sometimes your toughest students are also the ones most desperate for connection. I’ll never forget the Year 6 boy who asked me to marry him, or the one who swore he’d stolen and eaten the teacher’s pythons. These moments might sound funny—or completely outrageous—but behind them is the bigger question: How do we build trust and connection with kids who seem determined to push every boundary?

In this episode, we’re going to unpack three strategies to help you do just that:

• How to strategically include your biggest troublemakers in ways that change the game.
• How to meet kids where they are—rather than where we wish they were.
• And why giving responsibility first can be the key to earning real respect.

So if you’re ready to turn some of your greatest challenges into surprising allies, let’s dive in.

Where to find me: 

Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity
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