Watch Supernanny!! She has absolutely changed everything for me. In short, you probably need to be more engaging, supportive, exciting, maybe make the activity more structured! or find out her personal interests and try to incorporate them into the activity. Maybe find small, special activities before the real activities to help get her excited about the next thing (kind of how when you go to art class the teacher will usually have you do some fun and free doodling before the class begins). And then you need to balance this with firmness and discipline (if discipline is possible, it should be, but adults like kids to do whatever they want most of the time, which is not good). You need to give the kids simple choices (two choices) a very simple choice I give my prominent autistic students (because they tend to be difficult and don’t want to participate) I will tell them, you can sit in the chair or you can sit on the carpet and join us for circle time. If they a choose the chair then tell them that when they are ready to join you then they can come sit on the carpet (they usually join because sitting in the chair is boring, this works for any situation, even nap time in my experience, do not give the kid attention if they do not want to participate). That’s a very specific example, but it can be used in tons of ways. It is always the child’s choice to behave, but you have to make the two options clear for them and then follow through with your words. When kids get away with misbehaving they will just continue to do it, and then not listen when you try to take control. If they do not listen (and touch can’t guide and sit them down at the appropriate place) you give them a warning (give them time to correct their behavior, but if not), then a time out is given (sit in a spot away from the fun for a minute per age) or have them reflect in a journal for 10 minutes; depends on the child. Usually time out works amazing for younger kids in my experience, but Supernanny usually does the journaling for older kids. (I work with kids 2-5 years old) ALSO!!! Giving choices in activities is fun for kids, it should still be two options (but could be more depending on the age) and it shouldn’t be about the “what we are doing” but about the “how we do it”. Like if you are going to read the book, give them two books to choose from or if you were going to use a color for something give them two colors to choose from. Etc. this can be incorporated in so many ways, and kids love to feel like they have control (at the end of the day it’s all about control and who has it). If a child can’t decide, then count down and if they still don’t choose then you choose for them m. -but remember, if free time play is being done, then kids should have all the control. Using their imagination and engaging with the materials is their time to let loose, otherwise the teacher or parent should always have the control. Explain to her why participating is important! It is how we learn how we have fun how we make friends how we work together as a class and grow together and create more fun activities together. Etc etc. Maybe sit down with her and ask her what she would like to learn about a specific topic? Please watch Supernanny!! She is very insightful into the psychology of children and the dynamics of caregiver and child relationships!

Sorry if you already knew most of that, but I wanted to share everything that came to my mind incase it helps! I imagine that student is probably gone, but maybe you can help for future students. 😊