It’s one of the most common questions we get here at SCM.
“How do I start over after becoming inconsistent?”
The assumption is that it must be a big production. After all, the result of inconsistency is big misbehavior.
Disrespect
Rudeness
Bullying
Meanness
Aggression
Inattentiveness
Immaturity
Chaos
There is also fear associated with being consistent. In fact, fear is one of the biggest reasons for not following through.
The possibility that students may push back even more aggressively in response to starting over is enough for many teachers to continue to appease, coddle, and walk on eggshells.
Thus, restarting must be a well-planned event, right?
A date and time must be selected. Strategies must be ordered and mapped out. Words, tone, feeling, timing, and temperament must be orchestrated.
Nerves on edge. A sleepless night. Deep breaths. “Let’s do this.”
But it isn’t true. As long as your classroom management plan has already been taught, then it doesn’t take much to start over again. You see, in inconsistent classrooms talk is cheap.
Little of what the teacher says, even when it comes to academics, has much impact. Seventy-five percent at the least goes in one ear and out the other.
All that planning comes in handy at the beginning of the school year when you have a captive audience. But once you’ve proven to your students that what you say isn’t really what you mean, more talk means next to nothing.
So what should you do?
Take responsibility first. Then keep it short and simple.
“I’m unhappy with how things are going, and it’s my fault. I haven’t protected your right to learn and enjoy being in this classroom. But it stops now. From this moment on, I will follow our classroom management plan as it’s written.”
And that’s it. Review your plan if there is any misunderstanding about what does and doesn’t constitute braking your rules. Take questions if needed. But far and away most important is that you actually do it.
It is the only way to convince your students that you’re a different person. That you’re not a pushover. That you have the spine to make the hard decisions and be a leader worth listening to. Only then will behavior change.
They may indeed push back. It may get worse before it gets better. You should be prepared for that. But here’s the thing:
If you’re committed, if you’ve made the decision that there is no going back and you will be consistent even if it costs your job (it won’t), they’ll know it. They’ll feel it like a dachshund sensing a coming storm.
It’s in your voice, your body language, your very being. True resolve is unmistakable.
To be consistent, you must leap out of the plane. It’s a full-on, no-going-back vow of loyalty. Becoming consistent after not being so isn’t about perfect timing or preparation. It isn’t about using the right words or tone or strategy or anything else.
It’s about action. It’s about doing what you promised no matter the cost.
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That is very true . Let me thank you first for your articles . I tried this last week ,but I can sense that some students just hate to see me now compared to when I was incosistent
Hi Mr. Linsin, Thank you. That gives me hope. I am a first grade teacher in an inner city district. I have had many problems controlling them all year. I have 2 at least going through trauma and about 5 others with severe behavior issues and now several who are catching onto the others’ behaviors like kicking and knocking down chairs, swearing, bullying pushing desks over, cussing etc. Several people have told me what to do in my school, which varies and causes me stress because I don’t know who to listen to. They say I need to use a teacher voice and am too nice. These kids have very little consistency at home . I truly love them but am stressed out of my mind. With one quarter to go and they are lagging so far behind because of the pandemic and because I have to stop to fix behaviors constantly, I feel the pressure. What are some step by step plans. I should follow. I loved your Dream Class book. I think I didn’t teach procedures well enough. That is a big part of the problem and my fault. I know you are busy, but can you give me some good advice to help these kids, please? I started out the year taking time to do the PATHS SEL lessons in a circle to start the day, then I had sporadic help from different eiple for reading groups that could only come at the very beginning of the day and pressure from others saying that I should start with reading skills and SEL went my the wayside.
What I’ve learned with my third graders is the single most important thing I can do to start the day off right is connect with everyone in the morning via a class morning meeting. We started doing that daily first thing because of the pandemic and now, on the mornings I try to push right into schoolwork instead, the rest of the day is chaos. That morning meeting is so important for students. Vicki, if you’re able, I would restart that again.
How can I do this in a PreK classroom?
I do believe that Michael’s approach to classroom management works very well with Pre-K but it needs to be done in a way that addresses the developmental stage. Procedures will need to be reviewed often and every procedure will need to broken down into small steps and modeled following the I Do, We Do, You Do method. Absolute consistency is important, which is sort of the point of this article. But my experience with very young children is that when inconsistency rears its ugly head the one saving grace is that they are very quickly brought back into your routine and order by simply practicing the procedure(s) again, starting with stating the expectations and then going through the modeling. Even little ones understand a statement like the following, short and to the point: “We are not doing our best job on following our classroom rules. We are going to practice today because the rules help us stay safe and be ready to learn.” Michael states in the article that it doesn’t have to be a big deal and with very young children that is even more true. Every day for them is a new day and they are quite willing to accept that today we start all over with the rules and how to follow them. Lots and lots of positive feedback ensures that pre-K students, who are not always sure what is the right way and what is the wrong way, start to form a clear picture of correct school behavior. Good luck with your young students and have fun with them!
Be consistant at all times. Classroom students learn the structure you teach them. It can take time but always have a plan, be prepared, set time limits for your plan, plan with the class, review successes and unsuccesses. Be willing to improve plans rather than to change them. Plan for success and stick to it. Involve every student at all times.
Hello Mr. Linsin,
I am a long time subscriber to your newsletter and have also purchased a few of your items. Last week, I ordered myself a copy of “Dream Class” and have just started reading it. Early on you mention a game the students played to review their vocabulary words that involved them being in groups and using index cards with letters on them. I was a little hesitant to try it, but I have to tell you that I played it with both of my 6th grade classes yesterday, and it was FANTASTIC! They had a blast and so did I! This is a game I know we will play over and over again to review not only vocabulary words, but also questions that have only one or two word answers. Thank you! Thank you!
More details please! Are all words mixed up together or single words put in ziplocks?
I tried to use your system and was told by admin after a parent complained that the system was too negative and not based on the positive behavior system our school uses so I have nothing to go back to. I am inconsistent because there is no system I can use to hold students accountable. I can only give out school tickets for a school store. They just end up on the floor so now I can only have control by placing them in an old school seating arrangement of individual desks. It sucks! Your system had me sending letters home everyday and frequently writing up referrals. As a result my phone and my principal’s phone was ringing with parent complaints. Each time I was directed to change my seating chart to separate students. Referrals are often not accepted by admin only acts of violence or crimes are allowed to be written up. Your example letter is also not allowed to be sent home as it is too negative. What do you suggest now?
Yes, Mr. Linsin, what are your thoughts here? I too would benefit as my situation is similar to Ms Yates. Thanks so much!
Hi Kylee,
It seems to me that you don’t have many choices. You can do the best you can with the system you’re being forced to use, or you can find a job at a school that believes kids need structure and discipline. Maybe for this year you could ask if you could bring in a sub for a day or half day and observe a teacher or two to see how they implement your school’s plan. Even if you had to pay for the sub yourself, it might be worth it to see what other teachers are doing, it would give you a little break, and you might find out it’s not really working for them either!
I am experiencing the same thing. We are supposed to use PBIS and no negative consequences. Admin is not wanting to deal with behavior issues and it has now been suggested that the teachers don’t know what they are doing. We have lost the teamwork approach to solving these problems to help the kids. I teach 3rd grade with 25 students. There are some intense needs in the class. I would also like to know what it looks like when your school and district does not support consistent consequences for lack of a better term.
PBIS is a total fraud. I’m amazed that there isn’t a class action lawsuit against it or at least an investigation to see if it’s being implemented correctly.
In my experience, most people don’t implement it correctly and the kids see it as a joke. There should only be one or two students in the isolation room if the principal’s office. Most schools have 20 plus kids in there. Major sign that there’s a problem with PBIS or how it’s done.
Origins online Developmental Design is one of the best Restorative Justice approaches I’ve seen. Still not 100 per cent though
This was perfectly timed for me. Though I have read and used advice from this newsletter for years, this school year and the students have gotten away from me.
I went from a charter school classroom with smaller classes and greater parent interaction to a public classroom with more students and next to no parent participation. As though that weren’t enough, my husband has been in and out of the hospital and rehab since last June and nearly died. All the while I was at school everyday possible, but I became so exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically that complacency is all I had left. I was truly running on fumes. Thankfully, my husband and life are slowly improving.
Yesterday afternoon I took big steps in reclaiming my classroom. Today’s newsletter gives me the hope and reassurance order is again possible. Thank you for your impeccable timing!
Hi Donna,
I was deeply moved by your post. I’m so sorry this has been such a negative year for you in so many ways! But I’m also heartened to see that your husband is in recovery and doing so much better!
I’m also sad about your classroom situation. I don’t really have any substantial advice to give—I don’t know anything about teaching primary. My best advice is always to follow Michael’s SCM plan. I’ve used it for years in my high school classroom and can testify that it works!
For all the folks here asking specific questions: read the blogs on the right! When I first found Michael and SCM years ago, I spent an entire weekend reading and re-reading every single blog post. You’ll get the entire SCM plan in bite-sized chunks! I also recommend all his books. The only ones I don’t have are recess and specials, since I don’t teach that, but I assume they’re the same great quality of thought as all his others.
Donna, I will pray 🙏 for you and your husband. I hope the best for the rest of your year.
Loved the article. Do you have any good advice for substitute teachers and classroom management since we are in different grades everyday?
Thank you