The more polite students are, the fewer class rules are broken. Therefore, if we improve politeness, then we can save a lot of time and trouble holding students accountable. The problem, however, is that teaching politeness doesn’t work. Not in this day and age. … Read more
When students are uninterested and struggling to focus, the instinct is to back off. It’s to require fewer paragraphs and math problems and to stop being so nitpicky about rules and routines. It makes sense. If you’re demanding more than they can handle, then … Read more
In ways subtle but clear, scores of teachers are communicating to their students every day that they can’t do it. They don’t measure up. They’re not good enough, smart enough, or capable enough. Most troubling, these teachers have no idea they’re doing this. In … Read more
Having energetic students isn’t a bad thing. In fact, there are three big advantages: They’re primed for learning. They’re fun to teach. They’re eager to participate. However, they’re also prone to excessive talking and disruptive behavior. Therefore, even if you have solid classroom management … Read more
The essential ingredient of a well-behaved class is your belief that it’s possible. Because as soon as you accept the myriad reasons why it can’t be done, which bombard teachers like West Texas hail, you’ve sealed your fate. You’ll never have the classroom you … Read more
In the past five years, a new classroom management strategy has taken hold. The goal of this strategy is to calm and soothe the fragile psyches of the most difficult students. The way it works is that whenever they begin to feel overwhelmed, angry, … Read more
If you’re like most teachers, you’re in a hurry for much of the school day. Your curriculum is packed. Your schedule is overloaded. You never have enough time. And you’ve been led to believe that there is nothing you can do about it. Rushing … Read more
If you follow a classroom management plan consistently but are still frustrated by how often rules are broken, there is an easy fix. It’s also fast and effective. Here’s how it works: Step One – Identify 3-5 Misbehaviors You’ll notice the same few misbehaviors … Read more