Be Persistent yet Flexible

From Teach

Be flexible: "I knom when to bend rather than break."

• If the class is never in the mood for work on a Friday afternoon, show a little leeway. Do practical rather than written work. (Cowley 2006)
• If the class has good reason not to be in the mood for work, offer a compromise: in return for completing a chunk of work, let them chat quietly for a few minutes at the end of a lesson. (Cowley 2006)
• If a specific student is always confrontational, try backing off for a while. (Cowley 2006)

Be persistent: "I refuse to give up."

• Don't give up on strategies because they don't work immediately. (Cowley 2006)