What to Do With the Kid Who...
Kathleen "Kay" Burke
What to Do With the Kid Who...
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Developing Cooperation, Self-Discipline, and Responsibility in the Classroom
by Kathleen "Kay" Burke
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Some kids act out in ways that can be really tricky to handle, but what if there was a secret toolkit that could help teachers turn those moments into chances to learn and grow? Imagine a classroom where respect and kindness rule, and every student feels understood. This book reveals how teachers can make that happen—and why it changes everything for everyone.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book provides practical strategies and tools designed to help K-12 teachers effectively manage disciplinary challenges while fostering a positive and respectful classroom environment. It is suitable for educators working with children who have emotional and behavioral difficulties and includes updated scenarios, intervention techniques, and assessment checklists. Parents should note it is an educational resource focused on classroom management rather than a storybook for children.
Why we rated What to Do With the Kid Who... 12LE
What to Do With the Kid Who... is written at a Level 7 reading level across 312 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What to Do With the Kid Who... works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate What to Do With the Kid Who... as 12LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, What to Do With the Kid Who... explores education, teaching skills & techniques, emotional & behavioural difficulties, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about education, teaching skills & techniques, emotional & behavioural difficulties.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781412937016
- Pages
- 312
- Publisher
- Corwin
- Published
- January 11, 2008
- Type
- Nonfiction