What are the best ways to handle a defiant child in your cla

I teach first grade and he is awful. He has no fear of being written up, no fear of calling his mother, nothing. He will look me dead in my eye when I tell him to do something as if he's challenging me. And not do it.

Sounds like he wants attention. Don't give it to him. If he disrupts the class send him outside or to the office to sit. That way he isn't 'entertaining' the rest of the class. If you refuse to give into this defiant behavior it may stop. Honestly, it sounds like the parents aren't doing a great job or aren't giving him enough attention at home (maybe that's why he doesn't care if you call his mother). Instead of telling him what to do, when you give the class an assignment, just tell the entire class. When he chooses not to do it, ignore him. As long as he isn't disrupting the rest of the class of course. Let him do as he pleases. When he DOES do something right praise him-a lot. Reinforce positive behavior and ignore (for now) bad behavior. When he sees that good behavior gets attention he's more likely to cooperate.

My mother was a teacher and had a similar student. I think what ended up working for her was just making sure the child knew she was on his side and she was there to help him. She continued to praise him and give him positive reinforcement as she did with all the other kids. For disciplinary action, she would count down from five - he would stare at her for four seconds but at the end of the countdown he would finally make it back to his seat quietly, so that actually ended up working pretty well. If he didn't she'd just kind of shrug her shoulders and say, "Well, I guess that means we're going to have to talk with your mom." And she'd follow through with it every time. Like jeanna said, I think a lot of it has to do with not feeding into the drama he's trying to provide.