Apathetic pupil- any ideas?

[booklover164]

I job share a very difficult year 6 class in one of the poorest areas in the country. V high pupil premium, mostly white working class.

I teach them 2 days a week and have an unbelievably tough time with them and it's really starting to affect my mental health and home life.

One child in particular is incredibly difficult, often violent and horrible to myself and other staff. What I find so hard is his sheer apathy towards ANYTHING. He's not motivated by or interested in anything which I could use to help his behaviour. His response to any sanction is that he doesn't care. He regularly tells me to f**k off and that he's not bothered by any action taken. Social care are involved as his home life is a mess. I feel so sorry for the kid but I just don't have any strategies to deal with this sort of behaviour. I've been in education for 10 years now and never had to deal with this sort of attitude, although I've taught some very difficult children in the past. Any tips or ideas would be gratefully received!

Couldn't read and run. Try researching Attachment Disorder behaviours. 'Inside I'm Hurting' springs to mind. The poor child sounds incredibly difficult but also incredibly hurt. Could he have a key person who gives him consistent 5 minute attention every day - a kick about in the playground for example?

It's very difficult. You have to walk a very careful line between offering support and kindness and not taking responsibility for this child, because it really does weigh on your shoulders and affect your mental health.

I think the main thing is to be consistent. Try and maintain your cool. Find something they are interested in and ask them about it. Try and find them a job to do in school that they can do well and try to build their confidence, because it'll be rock bottom. Many children who fit that profile love helping out with smaller children (reading, playing, helping with PE).

Strategies you might like to try in class (sorry if you've tried them)

• setting up a tray of preferred games, playdoh, colouring tasks which they are allowed to use after completing one task
• pick your battles (hardest thing ever when you're also trying to maintain some semblance of discipline)
• if they'll work on technology use it
• encouraging relationships with key adults. TAs and lunchtime supervisors can be gems, as are kindly caretakers.

And while it sounds callous, and it's so hard, don't take his behaviour personally or give yourself the task of 'redeeming' him.

Praise, praise, praise. Low stakes. Short chunks of work with loads of opportunities for success. Absolute consistency (hard when it’s a shared class). Find out his interests and tailor some work to that.