http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-na-teacher-discipline-20151029-story.html Upon looking for classroom management articles for this week's blog prompt, only the biggest current headline in classroom management gone wrong popped up. First of all, it makes me thankful I do not teach high school. That said, kids are kids. I have teenagers at home. The issues get bigger, but they are still the same issues. Teenagers still need boundaries and love and guidance. I can apply this situation to my first grade classroom. As the article indicates, a student violated the clearly stated cell phone policy. After refusing to hand over the phone, security was called. The problem came when the security officer used excessive force to gain compliance. From what I can tell, I do not think the teacher was in the wrong. But other teachers have weighed in that the teacher may have been too quick to call security. Perhaps she should have had a backup plan. Maybe asking a responsible student to walk the child to the office would have set a better tone than bringing in security. If there is one thing that gets my blood boiling, it is disrespect. That is a hard pill to swallow. As a teacher, I must be ready to face it calmly, however. It happens. I have seen it in my class. My response wasn't the best. A child was refusing to put some pencils away and showing disrespect, so I took them out of her hand and put them in the community bucket. After she had her recess time out, I talked to her about the incident. She told me her mom had bought the pencils for her and that they were special. I told her she could have them back as long as she doesn't play with them when she is supposed to be listening. I apologized to her for losing my cool. I have apologized to my class a few times for getting into reactive mode and taking things personally. I shouldn't let their behavior get under my skin. I also think it is important to model how to admit when you've blown it and move on. I want them to feel safe and loved at school. I can't be perfect all the time, and they can't either. The important thing is to be consistent with the rules and own up when we have blown it. Every day is a new day!