queen bee lost her sting...

So, I mentioned the challenging classes I have this year and the mean girls. Yesterday I called out the queen bee. She complained that she didn't want to do the assignment so I took the opportunity to tell her that not only didn't she have to, that I would write a pass for her to go to guidance to switch out of the class. She said she didn't want to leave the class so I told her that the only way she could stay is if she had an attitude adjustment. I told her that there are very few people that I don't get along with and it bums me out that she and I aren't getting along. That I don't get why I'm being treated like an enemy when I'm just a teacher who wants her to be successful. I told her she has to pretend to be nice, to leave the drama at the door, every day for the rest of the school year if she's going to stay.

I was careful to keep my voice soft and without a sarcastic tone or anything like that. And I could see from the body language of other students in the class that some were uncomfortable by the exchange and others were comforted by my asserting my dominance to the class. But I effectively took back the power of the classroom. Later in class I even caught her almost-smiling and accused her of it. That did get a chuckle from the class.

And today? The whole tenor of the class has changed. It was a good class. I handed out some grade sheets and she was very excited to see she is solidly passing the class. Later on, she even doodled on my board: I <3 Ms. L and she signed her name to it.

Rawr!