We all eventually get a child in our class who just cannot or will not focus. You know they type; the one who continually disrupts class and demands constant supervision; the one who reminds you to be patient, constantly. When this student walks in the door, a little voice goes off in your head and says, "Oh no, is it Wednesday all ready?" I'm using the term "crazy" here to describe an attention-needy child. Junior students who are misbehaving in class usually fall into one of two categories. One; they have a chemical imbalance in their bodies and may or may not be on medication, or two; they have learned how to receive "negative" attention. They have mastered the concept that by wandering in their thoughts and actions, you will say their name many times. I may not have the fighting titles of Joe Lewis or Kathy Long, but put each of us in a room full of unfocused five year olds, and we'll see which one becomes national champion! My secret weapon is not my left hook, or a quick roundhouse, but rather moving energy. We learn how to do this when we spar, right? Fake left, jab right. Punch high, kick low. It's the same concept when teaching junior students, especially the crazies. Engage the child's attention by creating excitement where he least expects it. This can be done in a variety of ways: Change your vocal patterns; if you speak in one loud commanding voice the entire time, watch how fast your student will tune you out like a boring T.V. program. Change the routine; vary your class. Be creative with your basics. You can do a reverse punch for twenty minutes and your students won't even realize it if you change locations, rhythm, and format. Make eye contact constantly. Don't just stand up in front of the class and give orders. Engage each child personally, giving him or her "positive" feedback. There is a way to re-program the unfocused student to want to receive attention from you in a positive way. When a child acts out, immediate praise the other students who are listening. Give them the points or reward for listening, and let the crazy kid know that he almost got a point but he forgot to listen. Let him know that as soon as you see him listening, he gets the point too. Try to reward his first effort shortly after that dialog. This sets the tone for the whole class. All the students will want to earn points and praise from you, instead of being ignored or reprimanded. Disciplining children is a delicate matter. Try to avoid sending a child out of class. This can cause psychological damage to both the student and the parent. Instead, give the child warnings that future misbehavior could result in a "time out." Make sure that any time-outs are short and to the point. You want the child to rejoin the group as soon as possible, and hopefully earn some praise for his new effort. There is no simple solution to keeping a class orderly. Every child is unique with different physiologies and families. The important thing to remember is to put yourself in the child's state of mind as much as possible. I know this is a scary thought when you picture your "crazy" Wednesday kid, but try your best. By seeing through your student's eyes, you may be able to teach him better. I always say that the kids are my greatest teachers. Use the magic of moving energy on the mat; both physically and emotionally, and watch the attention level soar. And, best of all, it could just happen that, over time, you actually become crazy about your crazy kids! (In a good way.)