I teach high school and probably the best thing anybody ever told me is not to engage in an argument with a teenager. I simply don't. I have three boys of my own also, and we really don't have many problems. We established and modeled correct behavior early on, and our boys know what is acceptable and what is crossing the line. I do that with my students also. They know what my boundaries are, and they know not to cross those lines.

Occasionally I'll have a pretty hard core student who clearly has no idea how to deal with authority figures. Again, I don't engage in arguments. I set up my perameters of expectations, and if they can't comply, there are consequences that they know ahead of time will follow.

I also pick my battles carefully. You really have to ask yourself if this battle is worth it. Some things can just be let go. You really have to have a sense of humor with teenagers; they actually see that as a sign of respect.

It may not sound like it from what I've said above, but there is a great deal of laughter in our home and in my classroom. I am NOT their buddy though. That's a mistake many parents make. Buddies don't discipline buddies; parents do.