Summary   In this conversation, Rick and Nick discuss a video by educator Brian Mendler, who shares strategies for working with oppositional defiant kids. They highlight Mendler’s engaging presentation style and his focus on using questions instead of declarative control statements. They discuss the importance of disarming and building relationships with students, as well as the need for power and control in children’s lives. They also mention the prayer of St. Francis as a reminder to seek peace and understanding in interactions with students.   Takeaways

• Using questions instead of declarative control statements can be an effective strategy for working with oppositional defiant kids.
• Disarming and building relationships with students is important in managing challenging behaviors.
• Understanding the need for power and control in children’s lives can help educators and parents address misbehavior.
• The prayer of St. Francis serves as a reminder to seek peace and understanding in interactions with students.

  Sound Bites

• “What a great presenter. You can just feel his emotion coming through.”
• “Using questions instead of declarative control statements definitely changes the game.”
• “It’s almost like the neurological strategies of taking a sip of water, for looking upwards, pointing your eyes upwards towards the ceiling.”

Chapters 00:00Introduction and Overview 07:21Brian Mendler’s Engaging Presentation Style 08:24Using Questions for Classroom Management 09:22Tapping into Curiosity and Calming the Brain 11:49Empowering Students through Ground Rules 12:44Understanding the Need for Power and Control 19:19Seeking Peace and Understanding 20:49Knowing When to Walk Away 21:27Conclusion