"Many students arrive at school with unique mixtures of family histories, traumatic experiences, and special needs that test our skills and try our patience. In "Hanging In: Strategies for Teaching the Students who Challenge us Most," veteran educator Jeffrey Benson shows educators the value of tenacity and building connections in teaching the students who most need our help. This essential guide includes: Detailed portraits based on real-life students whose serious challenges inhibited their classroom experience--and how they eventually achieved success; Strategies for how to analyze your students' challenges and develop individualized plans to help them discover a sense of comfort with learning--with in-depth examples of plans in action; Recommendations for students' teachers, therapists, and social workers on how to gain skills and support and not lose hope through the ups and downs of the work; and Specific advice for administrators on constructing systems and procedures that give all our students the best chance for success."--Publisher's description.