Official LTTC Answer

London Teacher Training College (LTTC)

Answered on: 24 April 2026

Teenagers can be tricky, but most of the time the behaviour isn’t personal. They’re dealing with a lot—school pressure, social stuff, boredom, and the general “I’d rather be anywhere else” vibe. What’s helped me is keeping things calm and not turning every small thing into a showdown.

For starters, I never call a teen out in front of the whole class. That almost always backfires. If something needs addressing, I wait until after the lesson and have a quick, low‑key chat. Nine times out of ten, they’re much more reasonable when their friends aren’t watching.

I also try to give them a bit of choice. Even something simple like “Do you want to start with this task or that one” makes them feel like they have some control, and it cuts down on the attitude.

Keeping the pace up helps too. Teens switch off fast, so shorter activities, pair work, and anything with a bit of competition usually keeps them focused. If they’re bored, they’ll find their own entertainment, and that’s when the problems start.

And honestly, showing them a bit of respect goes a long way. A quick “Hey, you did well in that last activity” can completely change how they behave with you. They respond better when they feel like you actually notice them.

The main thing is not to get pulled into power struggles. Stay calm, keep your boundaries clear, and save your energy for the behaviour that actually matters.