After giving directions, it’s common for teachers to ask, “Are there any questions?” Which isn’t a bad idea, per se, especially if the teacher follows with an extended pause. After all, it’s good practice to allow students a moment or two to ponder the … Read more
Listening is always a problem with a new group of students. You can count on it. Dwelling on it or complaining about it—as many teachers are wont to do—is a waste of time. The effective teacher is only concerned with what they can control. … Read more
Conventional wisdom says that you move around the room to keep your students engaged and involved. It’s an approach that buys into the notion that students are unable to focus without extraneous stimuli—movement, sound, proximity, novelty. It’s a belief that even in the midst … Read more
Following directions doesn’t improve by harping on it. It doesn’t improve by making a fuss about it or showing your frustration over it. And it doesn’t improve by pointing out to students how often or how poorly they’ve messed it up. The only surefire … Read more
There exists an amazing strategy that will dramatically increase student interest, motivation, and comprehension in virtually whatever you’re studying. It’s so remarkable, in fact, that it will pull your students deeper into your topic than any other single strategy. It will cause them to … Read more
So much good, quality instruction is lost in the hour before dismissal. Energy supplies run low. Minds begin to wander. Misbehavior tempts. Despite your enthusiasm, rallying your students and pressing for new learning is a high-altitude climb compared to the sea cruise it was … Read more
One of the great frustrations many teachers share is that they can’t seem to get their students to follow simple, procedural directions—at least not without considerable effort. In other words, they can’t just say what they want and step back and watch it happen. … Read more
If you were to break down what makes exceptional teachers so effective, you would find their ability to teach students to listen one of several key common traits. You would also discover that this one area of classroom management in particular is a near … Read more