Why do some kids who struggle with academics resist learning? Why do some students who need belonging and connection push us away when we try to get close? And why do some kids struggle with behavior so much? Wouldn’t it require less energy from them to just follow rules, try to learn, and let us form positive relationships with them?
This book is all about how to support kids who struggle in school. You’ll learn why they so often struggle and gain tons of practical strategies for how to help them. Importantly, this book is organized as a month-by-month guide for educators–with concrete ideas to try throughout the year. Check out the Table of Contents below to see how the book is structured.
There’s some important good news here. Though the strategies offered in this book are geared toward our most challenging students, they’re good for all kids. Though there are certainly some Tier 3 strategies in here, there’s also a lot about Tier 1. If we use really solid good practices with all students, our porcupines are the ones who most benefit.
Connected Resources
Asynchronous Courses
Several years ago, I created an online course called Hugging Porcupines. Full of short videos and practical strategies, it was wildly popular with some districts offering it to hundreds of teachers. This is part of why I decided to write this book–there is clearly a lot of need about this topic. Then, as I was researching and writing the book, I learned so much more that wasn’t included in the first course, so I created a second one! You can check them both out by clicking on the pictures below. The view all of the course I’ve created, click here.
Here are a few other resources you might consider checking out if you’re interested in supporting kids with challenging behaviors:
Hugging Porcupines: (Free) LiveBinder: This online bank of resources is packed with articles, videos, and other materials. I’ve made this binder free, public, and copyable, so feel free to share with friends and colleagues.
Blog Posts: Over many years I’ve written many blog posts to support teachers as they support kids with challenging behaviors. This is a collection of all of them.
Customized Consulting: I offer a wide array of professional development options for schools and districts. You can learn more about those here. Reach out to me at mike@leadinggreatlearning.com to schedule a call to talk about possibilities.