Some students are hard to reach and difficult to connect with, writes Richard Curwin, director of the graduate program in behavior disorder at David Yellin College. Curwin recounts in this blog post his own experience with a teenager who was hostile. Curwin suggests that teachers stop using rewards, encourage effort more than achievement, give students multiple chances and increase opportunities for them to learn. Another suggestion is to encourage students to keep trying by saying "You haven't done it yet," rather than telling such students they have failed.