Caring Teacher: a free newsletter for K–12 teachers

Know what to say when a student says "I'm not doing it."

Join Caring Teacher and get a free two-page guide with the exact words for the four moments that derail class. After that, you'll get short, practical emails every week on student behavior, handling your own stress, and staying calm at school.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime.

Kristy Banks holding the printable guide: What to Say When a Student Says I'm Not Doing It
What you'll get after that

Short emails about real classrooms and what brain science says about them.

What to say instead of a write-up

A student is late again. One response threatens a consequence. Another welcomes them in and plans a talk for later. The expectation doesn't change, but the student's reaction does.

Two-minute practices for your own stress

Small things you can do before bed or between classes, instead of hour-long self-care routines.

Why a student's stress becomes yours

People pick up each other's stress through their faces, voices, and movements. A calm adult can help a student regulate for the same reason.

What happens when things still go wrong

Stories from Kristy's classroom work and home life, including the moments that didn't go well and how she repaired them.

Recent issues

A taste of what lands in your inbox.

Written for K–12 educators

Teachers, paraeducators, counselors, and administrators.

Anyone who deals with challenging behavior and wants to respond calmly instead of reacting.

Kristy Banks
About Kristy

Kristy Banks, M.A., BCBA

Board Certified Behavior Analyst · Former special education teacher · Safety-Care Trainer

Kristy Banks is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, former special education teacher, and Safety Care trainer with more than 15 years of experience in classrooms and district-level coaching. She trains school staff to respond to challenging behavior calmly, so escalations happen less often and students can get back to learning.