This is the moment I learned that some of my colleagues and I had very different classroom management strategies.

There was one middle schooler in particular who was a challenge that year.

I am not kidding when I say that many of my classroom management strategies came straight from the Doctrine and Covenants, and I’m excited to continue to share those as we get to those verses!

Pulling someone aside and talking to them individually is one that has always stuck out to me.

Year after year in the classroom, I found myself being able to connect with even the most difficult kids.

(Not that everything was perfect, but I felt like there was mutual respect and a glimpse of understanding, even despite some of their continued poor choices.)

I came to learn that pulling kids aside and talking to them one-on-one was the best way to maintain that respect!

Calling kids out in front of their peers caused shame, or reinforced that they only got attention when they were exhibiting poor behavior.

I didn’t like either of those options… so I found that creating unique opportunities to talk to that child one-on-one on an even playing field gave me the best chance to actually get my point across to them.

I think about Hiram Page.

He believed that he was receiving revelation for the entire church. I don’t know how this all started, or if he knew at some point that this was not truly of God, but Joseph, as directed by the Lord, gave him the benefit of the doubt.

In D&C 28:11, the Lord directed Oliver to pull Hiram aside for an individual conversation about his behavior.

No shaming, no name-calling, and no unnecessary attention.

Just using discretion, solving the problem with respect, and lots of love.

I’ve seen the same principle carry over as I teach youth in church, and have kids of my own.

I truly believe that most people don’t want to be bad.

If we give them the benefit of the doubt, speak to them privately with an open heart and ready to hear their side of the story as well, that’s when hearts are most mended.

No ganging up, no mob mentality, no ounce of shame.

Just kind, loving, individual correction and connection.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Between him and thee alone first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.