Here are some ways to connect or reconnect with students who make themselves hard to like.
3. Act toward your worst student the way you act toward your best student.
Who is your best-behaved or most motivated student? When you think about that student, what adjectives come to mind? When you interact, what comments come naturally? When the student makes a mistake, how do you usually react? For one week, try acting toward your worst-behaved or least-motivated student in the same way, and see what happens.