GTS

Introduce yourself, set expectations and start teaching — while a few students test every boundary.

Decision points

• Start with rules or with relationships?
• A student challenges a rule on day one — enforce, redirect, or let it slide?

One bathroom request becomes three. One student has been gone twelve minutes.

Decision points

• Genuine need or work avoidance?
• An urgent, private request — how do you handle it discreetly?

Lining up turns into shoving and shouting, with another teacher watching from the hall.

Decision points

• Countdown, timer or verbal cue?
• Physical contact in line — step in or redirect?

Your principal needs a minute mid-lesson, and the room starts to unravel in seconds.

Decision points

• Hallway or doorway?
• What task holds the class while you're away?

Every redirect earns another joke — and the class's laughter keeps feeding it.

Decision points

• Public redirect or private conversation?
• Address the performer or the audience?

Head down, eyes closed. Exhaustion, stress, or boredom — you don't know which yet.

Decision points

• Wake them now, or check in after?
• “That's not fair” — how do you answer the class?

Never disruptive, never participating — and weeks in, you're not sure what they've learned.

Decision points

• How do you draw them in without spotlighting them?
• Peers leave them out of groups — what now?

A student refuses to hand over a phone: “It's my property.” Another is filming.

Decision points

• Confiscate, redirect, or apply a consequence?
• They refuse — do you escalate?

You give a simple direction. The student refuses, and the whole class watches what you do next.

Decision points

• Repeat the direction or change strategy?
• Public confrontation, planned ignoring, or a private word?

It started over a pencil. Now insults are flying, sides are forming, and someone stands up.

Decision points

• How do you de-escalate with voice and names?
• Where do you position yourself — without touching?

A desk goes over, or a student breaks down in tears — seemingly out of nowhere.

Decision points

• Is anyone at risk right now?
• Remove the student, or remove the audience?

Repeated exclusion, a slur in the hallway, threatening messages shown to you on a phone.

Decision points

• Intervene now, or document and report?
• Set the norm publicly, or talk privately?

Punches are thrown, students are filming, and you're the only adult in the room.

Decision points

• Clear, authoritative verbal commands
• Get help immediately — intercom or runner

Unexplained bruises, the same clothes for weeks, or a direct disclosure from a student.

Decision points

• Listen without leading questions
• Never promise to keep it secret — you're a mandated reporter

A student says something racist, or asks why class only covers one history.

Decision points

• Address it in the moment or after class?
• Teaching moment, consequence — or both?