Dear Kid Whisperer,

I teach fourth grade. My question is about putting students in teams. I have been pretty successful at keeping them on the same team all year, as you describe in your book. I am just wondering what you suggest when a team isn’t working out for the teacher? For example, some of my students have become very good friends throughout the school year and are talking disruptively while being on the same team. I would love to separate them.

Answer: I love this question because it gives me the chance to write the following:

Do not change a procedure that is effective because kids are using negative behaviors. Instead, change the behaviors.

The procedure of seating kids permanently is the correct one because, as you know from "The Classroom Behavior Manual," it involves seedi

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