Check out this great article on how “Tough Kids Make Better Teachers.”

www.edutopia.org/blog/tough-kids-make-better-teachers-allen-mendler

When I interview new teaching candidates I always ask them the following questions:
1.  Think of your top student in one of your classes.  Imagine I pull them out of class and ask them to describe you in a couple of words, what would he or she say?

2.  Now think of your most challenging student, the one who school is challenging for them. Imagine I pull them out of class and ask them to describe you in a couple of words, what would he or she say?

Would you answer the same for both questions?  Would you talk about how you built strong relationships, while maintaining high expectations for both?  What do you do to engage all students and build positive student relationships?