Ep 221: Managing Extreme Student Behaviors

New Teacher Talk welcomes Abigail Jarrett, an educator who specializes in managing extreme student behavior, for a candid conversation about what to do when a situation escalates past anything your training prepared you for. Dr. Beth Wilkins opens by naming something every new teacher needs to hear: when behavior reaches this level, it is usually not a reflection of your skill or your effort. Abigail describes the scenarios that can feel like a new teacher's worst nightmare, a student throwing chairs, screaming, hitting classmates, or bolting from the room, and reframes them as communication. Behavior like this usually signals a student who is overwhelmed, dysregulated, or out of coping skills in the moment. Understanding that matters, but as Abigail is clear to say, safety always comes first. Drawing on a firsthand account from her own first-grade classroom, she offers five concrete strategies you can hold onto when things escalate, along with the prevention and repair work that happens before and after the hard moments. What you will take away: Why extreme behavior is communication, and why safety still comes first How to stay calm and steady even when you are not feeling calm The difference between misbehavior and crisis behavior, and how to tell quickly Why relationships built before a crisis are your strongest prevention How to debrief afterward in a way that builds skills instead of shame Resources mentioned: The Explosive Child by Ross Greene, the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model, and the behavior specialists, counselors, and special education teams already in your building. If this episode gave you something to hold onto, or there is a topic you want us to cover next, leave us a review. We read every one, and your feedback shapes future episodes. #NewTeacherTalk #ClassroomManagement #BehaviorSupport #CrisisResponse #NewTeacherSupport #StudentBehavior #TraumaInformedTeaching #CollaborativeProactiveSolutions #TeacherWellbeing #K12Education