My student has trouble reading.

If your students is limited by their reading level, it is important to work on that in addition to their math skills! Start with some simple scaffolding and practice:

1. You read the sentence.

2. Both of your read the sentence together.

3. They read the sentence on their own.

My student is being rough with their device.

This is usually a sign of frustration, boredom, or an ask for attention. Depending on the root cause, you will want to respond differently. Begin by asking the student why they are being rough. They may not be able to articulate why, and you may need give some prompts. Once you have an idea on the root cause, you can try the following steps:

Frustration

1. Distract: ask the student to stand up and take a walk with you. Or move away from their device to another part of the room. Engage them: ask them how their day is going.

2. Reconnect: ask them what is happening right now. Are they frustrated because something is too hard? Too easy?

3. Redirect: based on what you’ve learned, decide on next steps with the student. Remember, giving them choices increases their agency. If they were frustrated with IXL, maybe they should move to Khan Academy. Or maybe they should watch a video.

Boredom

If the student says they are bored, first check to make sure their work isn’t too easy or too hard. If it seems to be the right level, give them choices: let them choose between IXL or Khan Academy. Or maybe they want to choose a different topic to work on. You can also set a goal: work hard for 5 minutes and then you can take a mental break.

Attention

If the student is fundamentally looking for attention, you can name it with them. “It seems like you’re looking for attention…is that right? I’m happy to spend some time with you, but what is a better way to get attention when you need it?”