I started SCM in 2009. Since then I’ve heard every possible reason why you can’t be good at classroom management.
Although some circumstances are more challenging than others, none hold water.
The truth is, you can have the class you want. I’ve done it over and over again and know of thousands of other SCM teachers who’ve done the same.
So in this article, I’m going on record.
What follows are the most common reasons the doubters say it’s impossible to have a polite, well-behaved class
- I work in a Title 1 School.
- I teach middle school (or 1st grade, 9th grade, etc.)
- I have 14 students with learning disabilities.
- I have 11 students with ADHD.
- I have mostly boys in my class.
- I don’t have administrative support.
- I don’t look like my students.
- I’m too young (or too old).
- My students’ parents don’t care.
- My students speak nine different languages.
- My students have no respect, don’t care about school, can’t listen, etc.
These are challenges. Nearly every teacher must deal with them. But they don’t determine success 0r failure.
The real reason teachers struggle with classroom management isn’t because of outside circumstances. It’s because they lack knowledge.
Only by learning and applying what actually works will they see the light. Only by experiencing success can they finally throw away the excuses holding them back and embrace the career they really want.
If this is you, my advice is to learn SCM principles first. The Classroom Management Secret and one of our classroom management plans is the best place to start.
PS – Check out this week’s YouTube videos:
1. Most Behavior Problems Start in the First 5 Minutes
2. Stop Building Relationships with Students
Also, if you haven’t done so already, please join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week.
Here’s another reason that I’d love to have you address at some point: what if our school doesn’t use a point-based grading system (i.e. uses standards-based grading) and/or doesn’t allow behavior to affect grading? This would make your high school management plan moot. Do you have ideas in that case? I’ve asked this before via email and in comments, and I’d still genuinely love to hear your thoughts on these kinds of different situations! The high school in my district uses standards-based grading, so it really limits how grades can be used as leverage for behavior in the classroom.
I was using the management plan as written in my high school classroom, with good results. Admin called me in and told me I had to stop assigning a “participation” grade even though I had clearly used one of our state standards to back it up. Apparently, a parent of a student NOT in one of my classes complained that it was “no fair” my students got points for behavior and their student didn’t. At this point, I have the same question Katie mentioned.
I have read your books and implemented your classroom management strategies and have had success with them. What I would love is for you to explicitly teach how to teach. I have this gist of teaching strategies that you recommend, but what do you do exactly to add an aspect of fun and joy into the classroom so students buy in and invest themselves into the learning? Is PBL a recommendation as a teaching method?
Could you possibly address how to handle issues in the classroom that have to do with school supplies?? I give my students a pencil box with the proper school supplies at the beginning of the year. I talk with them on how to use that supplies properly. However, they pull off the erasers on their pencils, destroy their crayons lose their glue stick etc. I’ve told them I will not replace their school items until the next quarter but they simply can’t tattooed care of their supplies. I’ve just started reading your classroom management plan! I found you on YouTube and watch as many videos as possible. Thskkd
Seriously Folks,
I’ve been using the SCM plan for 5 years…..I started using this after my worst year of teacher, I felt there had to be a better way. I am in my 12th year of teaching so I do know a thing or two. Here is what I did:
1. Went over my class rules and distilled it down to 5 things….posted those rules all over the classroom and on the door and outside wall leading into my classroom.
2. I passed the rules out to the students on the first day, went over it and explained what they mean and WHY WE will follow these rules and what the consequences are if WE do not.
3. I then made “the promise” to the students that I will follow these rules from the first day of class to the last day of class, no exceptions. Promised, I won’t yell and all the rest of the SCM platform.
4. On day two: I go over it again, THEN as always, someone will test it…and me.
Usually by a student wearing checkered Vans sneakers…I call this the “Spicoli Effect”. The whole class is watching, so I give the one warning, and inevitably they do it again. (usually phone out), so student is sent out, email/phone call home, phone taken.
5. Day Three: I go over the rules again…
6. I also practice ALL the classroom procedures for at least two weeks…how to enter the room, how to leave the room, how to use the restroom, all the nuts and bolts.
7. Could care less what admin, parents or other teachers say about it. Behavior tied to academic grades is tricky. MY POINT: stop making excuses for yourself and start the SCM plan for your grade level…it will be scary at first, but it changed my teaching for the better and changed the way I run my classes. What’s REALLY interesting, is that I can see the students relax and be calm, because I am relaxed and calm. ALSO….you need to invest more time into your lesson planing, get to work earlier, showing up 20 min before school starts is a bad idea. Don’t be the grade level complainer, stay away from the complainers. Doesn’t matter what your does and does not do, rely on YOUR TEACHING to make the best classroom for your self.
Kudos sir. I am still struggling with classroom management bc I’m figuring out that I *might* be skipping a step or two, then wondering what’s wrong with the system ;)) and if I emulate exactly what my colleague does, it looks forced and not natural. You gotta drink in the system and express it in your style but with calmness and confidence in both the system and yourself. It’s tricky, it can be done. I’ve had good days and bad days trying to accomplish it, still it can be done.
There WILL BE good and bad days……just roll with it.