A student of mine just lost their father suddenly. They are typically very well-behaved and eager to learn. Since the passing, this student has had many outburst and is defiant. I feel bad punishing this student because I don't want to cause them any more distress. I can't continue to have this student misbehave, but I also don't want to hurt their feelings. This is a new situation for me and any help would be appreciated.
I agree with this solution for the situation.
I would suggest talking to the students privately. Let them know if they need anything or recommend visiting the school counselor. It may be helpful to create system to help the student de-stress or calm down.