Students Who Drive You Crazy: Succeeding With Difficult Young People

In this review of Students Who Drive You Crazy, the reviewer finds a practical, commonsense manual aimed at educators who regularly encounter resistant or unmotivated students. The book's single biggest reason to buy is its usable model for assessing and responding to challenging behavior, which is presented with real-life scenarios and reflection questions that teachers can apply immediately. This second edition broadens strategies for both rule-breaking and withdrawn students, and also discusses managing relationships with difficult parents and colleagues, making it a hands-on resource for school professionals.

Key Features

• Assessment model: Presents a clear commonsense model teachers can use to assess why a student is acting out and decide practical next steps.
• Behavior strategies: Offers concrete techniques to respond to both rule-breaking and withdrawn students so interventions can be tailored.
• Real-life scenarios: Uses classroom examples that illustrate how methods play out in everyday school situations, improving transfer to practice.
• Reflection tools: Includes questions for reflection and new tables and charts to help educators plan and track their approach.
• Relationships guidance: Addresses handling difficult parents and colleagues so teachers can manage the broader social context affecting students.
• Updated second edition: Expands earlier content with additional strategies and organized visuals for easier classroom use.

Who It's For

This book is best for classroom teachers, school counselors, and administrators seeking practical, classroom-tested methods for dealing with resistant, unmotivated, or otherwise difficult young people. It suits educators who want an applied framework rather than theory-heavy text and who will use scenarios and reflection questions to shape interventions.

Those seeking intensive academic research, therapeutic manuals for clinicians, or curriculum-only interventions should look elsewhere; this title focuses on teacher responses, school relationships, and day-to-day management rather than formal clinical protocols.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical assessment model that teachers can implement without extensive training.
• Useful real-life examples that make strategies easier to adapt to different classroom contexts.
• Expanded materials in the second edition, including new tables, charts, and reflection questions, help with lesson planning and follow-up.
• Includes guidance on managing difficult parents and colleagues, acknowledging the wider school environment.

Cons

• Not a substitute for formal clinical or diagnostic resources for severe behavioral disorders.
• The focus on commonsense strategies means readers seeking dense theoretical backing may find it light on research detail.

Specifications

Title	Students Who Drive You Crazy: Succeeding With Resistant, Unmotivated, and Otherwise Difficult Young People
Edition	Second edition
Authors	Jeffrey A. Kottler, Ellen Kottler
Audience	Teachers, counselors, school administrators
Focus	Assessment model, classroom strategies, relationships with parents and colleagues
Includes	Real-life scenarios, reflection questions, tables and charts

Our Verdict

Students Who Drive You Crazy is a solid, practical resource for educators who need immediately applicable strategies for challenging students and for managing difficult adults in the school setting. Its commonsense assessment model and classroom examples make it good value for teachers and school leaders who prefer action-oriented guidance over academic theory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this edition add new material?
Yes, the second edition adds expanded strategies, new tables and charts, and reflection questions to help implement the model.

Is this suitable for counselors or clinicians?
It is most useful for educators and school counselors; clinicians seeking diagnostic protocols should consult specialized clinical texts.

Will this help with parent interactions?
Yes, the book includes strategies for handling difficult parents and improving professional relationships.