Who you are and how you carry yourself has a powerful impact on student behavior.
More than most teachers realize.
It’s not just about using the right classroom management strategies. It’s about whether and to the degree your students respect you and look up to you—and thus want to please you.
Role models are in short supply in this day and age.
So if you can step forward and offer a living and breathing portrait that inspires who they’d like to become, it will result in real behavioral change.
What follows are eight things you can do right now to be the role model your students are looking for.
Live it.
If you’re leaving petty complaints or mean comments on blogs or social media, or if you gossip and moan with your colleagues, then you’re going to find negativity wherever you look.
Especially in your students, which they can recognize in you from a mile away and want no part of.
In order to begin seeing the best in them and who they can become, and in order for them to begin looking up to you, you must stop searching for reasons to be offended.
Instead, be part of the solution.
Focus on how you can be better for others instead of undermining them with your negative attitude. Live who you aspire to be in this moment by changing your thinking, and you’ll be worth admiring.
Do what you say.
If you say you’re going to follow through on your classroom management plan and you don’t do it, then your students won’t trust you.
You’ll be just another adult who has let them down.
You’ll be just another teacher who fails to protect their right to learn and enjoy school without worry over being bothered, bullied, and interrupted.
Their opinion of you, privately, will be among the dust on the classroom floor until you start doing what you promised. Consistency in word and deed is rare, but it will make you stick out like a flower among thorns.
It will make you someone your students will hold in the highest regard.
Keep your cool.
Taking the misbehavior of a child personally shows immaturity, no matter your age, and a lack of emotional control. It also opens the floodgates of disrespect and rude behavior.
When students know they can push your buttons and get under your skin they’ll exploit it for all it’s worth.
Handling misbehavior with grace, even kindness, on the other hand—while still following through—stands out to students. It’s remarkable, admirable, and deeply appreciated.
It’s also far more effective in curbing unwanted behavior, causing true remorse and the desire not to make the same mistakes again.
Furthermore, how you handle adversity, frustration, bad luck, etc. in front of your students will be how they handle it in front of you.
Focus on them.
Blah, blah, blah, people love to talk about themselves, even teachers in front of students. Instead of citing your degrees or organizations you belong to or years of experience or how you put yourself through college, focus on them.
While in class, it’s not about you.
It’s not about your politics. It’s not about your wants and needs. It’s not about the difficulties in your life, your future goals, or your stressful morning. Be a pro and keep them to yourself.
Put them behind lock and key the moment you pull into the parking lot.
Besides, getting away from you and looking outward at the world around you is healthy. It will make you happier and more appreciative of what you have, which will show and glow in front of your students.
It will cause them to begin doing the same. In time, your class will become selfless, altruistic, and kind to classmates who are struggling or different than themselves.
Be positive.
Have you ever heard the expression “your thoughts are showing?” Negative thoughts about your students—about anything, actually—will always bubble to the surface.
It’s something you can’t hide. It’s glaringly obvious to people around you in your voice, body language, and tension you bring to the classroom.
A positive thought life on the other hand will result in a calm, positive demeanor, which is contagious. It will spread from you to every student in your classroom. The best thing is that it is nearly instantaneous.
You can turn the energy around in your classroom by breathing full and easy, standing up straight and confident, smiling, and refusing to indulge in negative thinking.
See the best in your students and their best is what they’ll give you.
Be professional.
Although it’s important to have fun with your students, to tell stories, and even be silly, there is a line that must never be crossed. Be a professional in all your interactions with students and staff, including the way you speak and dress.
They’re watching it all.
They notice how you treat others. They notice if you play favorites and the subtle way in which you smile at some but not others. They notice when you’re late or you check your phone or you monotone through a lesson.
Students are far more observant and influenced by what they see than most teachers realize. Much more so than what you say. Classroom management, after all, is about action. It’s about integrity and leadership.
It’s about no excuses and learning the principles and strategies that actually work in today’s classrooms and then putting them into practice.
Be prepared.
Teachers who hem and haw, dovetail off topic, and talk a lot carry little weight with students, who tune them out. In fact, they hardly notice their existence.
Do you ever feel inconsequential? Do you feel like you have to repeat yourself and raise your voice to be heard? This, along with inconsistency, is why.
Thus, when it’s time to step in front of your students, be ready. Visualize your day and know what your objective is for every lesson and every scintilla of instruction. Then speak succinctly and clearly.
Model and define your expectations explicitly.
Be efficient. Don’t waste their time. Tell it like it is, provide great instruction, and then move on. Say what you need to say to get them working. Most teachers would benefit by cutting their amount of talking by one-third.
This alone will greatly improve listening, work habits, and interest in you and your lessons.
Be strong.
Having struggles in your personal life? So are we all. Covid got you down? Welcome to the club. Put it behind you in the few hours you’re with your students and show them how to behave when things are tough.
Pull your shoulders back, look your students in the eye, and say what you mean. Be the same, consistent YOU during all seasons. Be the steady hand that guides the ship.
Be the smile, kindness, grace, and confident visage they can count on every day.
Through thick and thin. Hold yourself to a high standard, believe in your ability, and love the amazing blessing it is to work with students.
Leader or Troll
They are watching. And what you do and say and the way you carry yourself matters. It makes a big difference in their behavior, satisfaction of school, and respect for you.
It’s one reason why some teachers have an “it” factor, that secret something that causes students to want to behave and succeed in their presence.
The truth is, it’s easy pickings.
There are so few role models in this day and age that students will bend over backward to be around and please the real thing. It makes building rapport effortless and gives your consequences leverage to curb any misbehavior.
If you believe that there isn’t an approach to teaching and classroom management that can deliver your dream class year after year no matter where you teach, you are wrong.
All of our strategies here at SCM are proven to work—and are still being proven every day—in the most difficult schools and classrooms imaginable. Not just by me (Yes, I still teach at an urban public school), but by hundreds of thousands of teachers around the globe.
By principals who have transformed their schools.
If you have questions about why we recommend certain strategies, then spend time in our archive or pick up one of our books. Do your due diligence. Learn and try them out for yourself before casting stones.
When you dig into the details you’ll find that what we offer—the combination of principles and strategies and the way they’re delivered—is unique.
As mentioned many times before, we welcome and appreciate all comments, even those that disagree. But I want to restate very clearly that we will not approve anything meanspirited.
Be better than that.
And remember that when you leave an email address on any website, your students and employer can look these up. They last forever. There are a number of educational leaders who should know better that leave snarky and petty comments on this blog.
They’re lucky we don’t publish them.
If you dislike Smart Classroom Management and our success, go to any other site or social media platform and shout it to the world. Call me a fraud or out of touch or anything you like. But please don’t come into our living room here at SCM and expect to get a voice for your hostility.
Perhaps consider an alternative approach and swallow your pride. Take responsibility and stop making excuses for why your classroom, school, or organization is failing and go study our methods.
Go be part of the solution. Go be a role model for your students, teachers, and community who need a leader and true expert to follow.
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.
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This was very informative. I am always looking for ways to improve myself and my teaching skills. There were some pointers that I already knew then there were some I never knew or thought about. Thank you so much.
Hi
I truly enjoy your articles. I share them with my colleagues and administrators. I have learned a lot and have been reminded of things forgotten.
I wanted to say I like the way you politely called out the negative, haters in this article. I enjoy the way you write. You cover a lot of material, concisely.
You people are amazing. You hit the nail on the head every. Single. Time.
Yes, Debbie – I agree 100%. I just read the article and discussed each point with my 15 year old son (who also happens to be one of my students this year). The process merited a great discussion and my own renewed commitment to be this kind of example. Thanks, Michael, for all you do!
I love your methods and blog. It has changed my teaching life! Thank you so much for your wisdom, expertise, and all you do!
Another great post Michael, these are all spot on. One question in the Focus on Them section. We are encouraged (to the point of expectation) to talk about what college we went to, our experience there and our degrees. We post our colleges in our rooms and what we wanted to be when we grew up, then facilitate regular conversations about it. This is supposed to (in elementary school) inspire our students to go to college. How do we incorporate this and not focus on ourselves?
Elementary students don’t need to be inspired to go to college. They are 11 years old and younger! I understand your school sadly forces you to do this, but it is frankly a waste of time. Inspire your students to be the best people they can be, to persevere through challenges, to develop strong character. In doing so, you will prepare them to go to college (if they choose to) far better than talking about your experience in college. Also, college is not necessarily the best path for everyone. A good living can be made from going to a trade school or starting a business.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong at all with telling them about some of your college experiences, but to shove it down their throats all the time is useless. Spend more time learning about your students and their passions instead!
Thank you for this. I work as an ESL teacher in Korea and it’s nearly impossible to find another teacher like me who isn’t negative and complaining all the time. This is a great encouragement and reminder to keep working hard for my students. Thank you
Thank you for your own role modelling. You are my inspiration and motivational speaker 🙂 I read your blog and it helps me find a new perspective or refresher on an area of teaching. It helps keep me thinking and behaving positively and I really appreciate that! I always have a great take away and often use “it” in my parenting too!
Thank you!
I second this! Except I think of Michael as an experienced “Sgt. Linsin” reminding and inspiring his troops how to get out there and make a success of things the same way he has–it’s great! I like how he’s not afraid to speak the truth firmly but kindly.
Once again this year, my new and difficult classes have turned around for the better, and it’s largely because of SCM!
I’m a former medical sales professional-turned-stay at home mom- turned substitute teacher. I read every blog, have one of your books and try to implement things you suggest. And you know what? They work! I have high job satisfaction and my students like and respect me (I think lol). Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience. It’s changed my life and I hope it has a ripple effect.
Michael,
I struggled at playing music for years until I came across a teacher that helped me understand the guitar framework. I had a lightbulb moment, and I’ve been hooked on playing ever since. I’m glad you have this site and also referenced Rick Morris, who I’ve also learned a lot from in just a few days. I’m looking forward to my next year of teaching and using the teaching framework that you and Rick obviously understand, based on the consistent success you both have had.
p.s. With about 8 days left in school, I tried your techniques as a bus monitor…finally. I laid out all the rules in a lighthearted, engaging way. I also described that they get a warning if they break a rule (like a second chance) and a 10 minute recess detention if they break two rules. Then I observed like a hawk. The students have gone from needing reminders to keep feet out of the aisle (et cetera) constantly, to maintaining all the rules faithfully the whole ride. I only need to give a warning to a few individual students, typically. I also feel like the kids respect and appreciate me. Thanks, man. I appreciate your advice.
If I get a book, which one should I start with??
The Classroom Management Secret
Well said, as always!
Mr. Linsin,
I read you posts weekly, and your book, The Classroom Management Secret, was required reading before teaching at my last school, a homeschool coop. My current school, a public, classical charter school, also encourages subscribing to your weekly posts. I consistently love your posts.
While many of your suggestions are common sense, I find the reminders help me to gain perspective as I reflect on my classroom and plan my approach. Your insights are clearly grounded in your experience and offer wisdom that is needed and easy to employ. Thank you for sharing your practical advice weekly. It’s a great help to me. I appreciate you!
Blessings,
Lisa Campbell
Yes Michael!
This article has me all pumped up! I know I can be a much more consistent leader in my classroom than I have been. Thank you for laying it all out like this.
Dear Michael,
I’m retiring this year after 38 years of teaching. It has been an awesome experience!
After so many years in the classroom, I have learned that students watch what we do and listen to everything we say. I have found that successful students, struggling students, hard to reach students and even seemingly dis-connected students will always respond to honesty, courtesy and respect. This is really what every human being wants. When we meet this need for our students, we can begin to teach. It’s all about establishing an honest relationship. We, as teachers have the responsibility to demonstrate this in our interactions with students, both in and out of the classroom.
The words you have shared in this blog are among the best you have written so far because they are so true! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
I love these SCM and I believe they’ve helped me become a better teacher, even though I’m not near where I need to be. I struggle with consistency, and every year I just hope I’ve gotten better than the year before. I also struggle with kids (high schoolers) talking when I’m teaching. If you know what I’m most likely doing wrong, I’m all ears! And thank you for these emails. I truly get a lot out of them.
Fantastic. I couldn’t agree more. It is important that we as educators carry ourselves in a mature manner. I see so many teachers gossiping in the hallway, or complaining and murmuring about something or another~ and this is a complete turn off to me. I can only imagine what the students think.
I really appreciate the SCM team and I know they’ve helped me become a better teacher, even though I’m not near where I need to be for my students sake. I struggle with consistency, and every year I just hope I’ve gotten better than the year before. I also struggle with kids (high school) talking when I’m teaching. Thanks once again for the wisdom and care in all you publish.
Smart classroom management has made me a better and happier teacher. I love the kids but was so inconsistent. The last two years have been a dream because I have had the support of smart classroom management. I don’t get it right everyday, but I clear the decks and start again. The kids don’t even blink when they get a warning. They understand. They get up and go to time out before I even tell them they have a second warning. I have other teachers sending their kids out of their rooms and sometimes into my classroom. The kids look so rejected. I don’t lecture them or ask them why they are there. I make them feel welcome and get them to do whatever we are doing and they behave so beautifully. On the days I get it really wrong, I feel like I need help, but I just think about what Michael would say to me and get on with it. Thank you Michael!
You guys rock! Because of you guys I have seen a change in my life and classroom! thank you!
Great advice as always thank you so much.
Dear Michael Linsin,
I have been looking for advice on classroom management for more than 20 years. Nothing I tried seemed to really work for me. It wouldn’t fit with my longing for being real and respectful to my students.
The SCM approach is the answer to all my problems! (Thank Google for knowing what I am looking for 😅!)
I started over with my (your) classroom management plan, promising to my first graders, I would protect their right to learn and enjoy school, no matter what, just six weeks ago.
The result is mind blowing!
I still make lots of mistakes of course. But I leave my classroom each afternoon smiling. And I come back each morning full of new energy and positive this is going to be another great day 🤩!
Thank you for writing down what you learned by observing and helping me – and thousands of other teachers – becoming the role models they want to be for their students.
I am reading The Happy Teacher Habits right now and am eagerly waiting for your next blog each week. This text about being a role model spoke straight to my heart. So I needed to write to you and say thank you right away.
Thank you very much!
If you ever should be in need of translation into German, (especially if you should plan on coming to Austria) you can contact me. I have worked on translating non-fiction and have translated at talks and seminars before.
Thank you so much for your work. I makes me love teaching even more!
Valentine Wimmer
Salzburg, Austria
http://www.vs-taxham.com
Your advice is always great and puts me in a great mindset! Thank you!
By the grace of God, I found your blog before I began my first year of teaching in my late 50’s. I knew it was the perfect fit for my personality. I have done my best to adhere to your principles for the last three years. It is truly an effective management policy, and has made me “one of the best teachers” (not my words) at our private school. The students do respect me and do their best because of that. Thank you for sharing all of this knowledge. It is the foundation of a successful classroom! I tell other teachers about it all of the time.
Hmmm…sorry about my navigational inabilities..I think I commented in the wrong spot…but the gist of my comment was that this article inspired me to be okay with asking the hard questions…..especially asking myself…the ultimate non listener. Having my own child….being his First Teacher….has refined me as a leader. It is exhausting work. That I survived those middle school years…and he is a productive citizen, smart and kind…..Thankful I Am!